The NFL’s end-of-regular-season churn has already begun, with trades, injuries and looming coaching decisions reshaping front offices and rosters ahead of the playoffs. In late December Micah Parsons declared he wanted out of Dallas; by weeks later he had been traded to Green Bay and then suffered an ACL tear on Dec. 14 that required surgery. As teams prepare for postseason games and the first round of coaching interviews, organizations from Las Vegas to Cleveland are weighing firings, internal audits and potential rebuilds that could echo through the 2026 draft and free-agency periods.
Key Takeaways
- Micah Parsons publicly sought to leave the Dallas Cowboys and was traded to the Green Bay Packers; Parsons suffered an ACL tear on Dec. 14 and underwent surgery the following week.
- The Las Vegas Raiders appear likely to change head coaches in 2026 and hold an inside track to the No. 1 pick in April’s draft; ownership and decision-making roles (Mark Davis, Tom Brady, GM John Spytek) are central to that question.
- The New York Giants and Tennessee Titans have immediate openings and will begin remote interviews next week, with formal interview requests set for Monday and in-person interviews able to start Jan. 19.
- Several coordinators and assistants are rising on the candidate radar, including Jeff Hafley, Chris Shula, Robert Saleh, Klint Kubiak, Matt Nagy, Lou Anarumo and Kliff Kingsbury.
- The Cleveland Browns are leaning toward replacing Kevin Stefanski despite front-office stability around EVP/GM Andrew Berry; the Browns are 4–12 this season after a 3–14 finish in 2024.
- Tampa Bay’s Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht, who signed multiyear extensions in June, appear likely to remain in place even if the Buccaneers miss the playoffs amid significant injury issues this season.
- Multiple franchises — Washington, Atlanta, Cincinnati and others — are evaluating staff changes but may delay final decisions until the broader market clears and Week 18 results are known.
Background
The NFL’s annual postseason and coaching-cycle rhythm intensifies in January: playoff brackets are finalized, teams assess staff performance and ownership groups decide whether to retain or replace leaders. In recent offseasons, high-profile hirings have included both first-time head coaches and coordinators elevated to top roles; this cycle looks more likely to center on coordinator turnover rather than an abundance of clear head-coach prospects. That evaluation context is shaping how franchises approach interviews and internal reviews now.
Las Vegas’ situation highlights how ownership dynamics and player relationships can accelerate change. The Raiders’ rumored openness to trading Maxx Crosby — a five-time Pro Bowler turned age-29 this summer — underscores how roster-management friction can interact with coaching evaluations. Meanwhile, teams with official openings, like the Giants and Titans, move faster in interviews but still must choose from a candidate pool that includes both established NFL coordinators and college coaches with mixed interest in leaving the college game.
Main Event
The Micah Parsons sequence has been emblematic of the season’s volatility: an early-December declaration of discontent, a trade to Green Bay weeks later and then a Dec. 14 ACL injury that required surgery. That chain of events shifted both Dallas’ defensive outlook and the Packers’ short-term competitiveness, complicating offseason roster planning for both clubs. Dallas concluded the regular season out of playoff contention, and questions now focus on defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus’ future after an acknowledged underwhelming season.
In Las Vegas, ownership deliberations are as consequential as coaching decisions. The franchise has signaled it may pursue a new head coach in 2026 while also confronting internal questions about who leads those decisions — principal owner Mark Davis, high-profile minority stakeholders such as Tom Brady, or newly arrived GM John Spytek. The Raiders’ potential willingness to trade Crosby, after previously blocking moves, reflects how strained player–front-office relationships can push a franchise toward larger restructuring.
The Giants and Titans have already opened formal searches. Both clubs plan remote interviews next week and will submit formal interview requests on Monday; in-person interviews can commence Jan. 19. Those searches are expected to include a mix of NFL coordinators (Jeff Hafley, Robert Saleh, Chris Shula, Anthony Campanile, Klint Kubiak) and offensive-minded candidates such as Matt Nagy, Lou Anarumo and Kliff Kingsbury, with each franchise narrowing a list of 10–15 names down to a handful of interviewees.
Analysis & Implications
The broader coaching market looks likely to emphasize coordinator movement more than wholesale head-coach replacements because the perceived pool of ready head-coach candidates is limited. Several general managers have told league colleagues they expect a heavier cycle of coordinator turnover, and that a raft of first-time head-coach hires like last offseason’s Ben Johnson and Mike Vrabel may not repeat. For teams, that means prioritizing defensive and offensive schematic fits and leveraging coordinators who have proven adaptable across personnel changes.
Las Vegas’ trajectory carries ripple effects around the league. If the Raiders pivot to a rebuild and trade key veterans such as Maxx Crosby, that could reshape pass-rusher valuations and accelerate other teams’ win-now moves. Ownership inputs — especially when a celebrity minority owner or founder has influence — can lengthen decision timelines or change expected outcomes, affecting candidate willingness to take a job amidst uncertainty about final authority.
For teams with internal continuity — Cincinnati’s retention of Zac Taylor has been buoyed by Joe Burrow’s explicit support — the calculus is different. Organizations that prioritize QB stability may be more inclined to preserve coaching staffs even after disappointing seasons. Conversely, clubs without a clear franchise quarterback or with ownership wanting a faster rebuild will be more aggressive in changing head coaches and coordinators, which will in turn populate the candidate market and influence the upcoming draft’s perceived value.
Comparison & Data
| Team | 2025 Record | Coaching Status |
|---|---|---|
| Las Vegas Raiders | — (insiders note possible No. 1 pick) | Likely head-coach change in 2026 |
| New York Giants | — (opening) | Search active; remote interviews next week |
| Tennessee Titans | — (opening) | Search active; remote interviews next week |
| Cleveland Browns | 4–12 | Leaning toward coaching change (Kevin Stefanski) |
The table above summarizes several situations entering the postseason and coaching-cycle window. Teams with openings (Giants, Titans) are already conducting candidate outreach; clubs with troubled seasons (Browns at 4–12) are evaluating whether to move on from current leadership. This snapshot should be seen as a cross-section: Week 18 outcomes and injury reports will still influence final decisions, particularly where the front office values a strong finish.
Reactions & Quotes
Front-office and league voices differ in tone depending on club context. For teams with stable quarterback situations, internal support can insulate coaches; for franchises grappling with identity and ownership input, the conversation is more open-ended.
“I don’t think teams are going to be quick to fire head coaches who are already in place. This isn’t like last offseason… The pool of head-coach candidates just isn’t strong.”
NFL general manager (anonymized)
The general manager’s assessment captures why many expect this offseason to be coordinator-driven rather than head-coach heavy. Other reactions emphasize process: some owners prefer to wait, others have already retained consultants or initiated audits to guide decisions.
“We’re weighing the entire football operation — two seasons under the coach, roster construction, and outside audits — before making a long-term call.”
Team executive (involved in Atlanta review)
Unconfirmed
- Reports that the Raiders will definitively trade Maxx Crosby remain unconfirmed; league sources say the relationship is strained but a trade is only a possibility if impasse persists.
- Speculation that Tom Brady will exert final say over a Raiders coaching hire is unverified; ownership roles and voting structures have not been publicly amended.
- Interest from NFL teams in Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman was discussed internally, but claims that he agreed to interview for specific NFL vacancies are not confirmed.
Bottom Line
The week between the regular season and playoffs is often the NFL’s truth serum: injuries, front-office dynamics and playoff positioning force candid assessments. This cycle looks likely to produce a heavier slate of coordinator movement than headline-grabbing head-coach hires because the candidate pool for top jobs is comparatively shallow and teams prefer to prioritize schematic upgrades.
Las Vegas represents a focal point where ownership dynamics, player relations and draft positioning converge; decisions there could influence trade markets and hiring patterns across the league. Meanwhile, clubs with stable quarterback situations or clear ownership timelines will make more conservative choices, while others will embrace accelerated turnover.
Expect the first wave of firings and formal interviews to become public as soon as Week 18 concludes and remote-to-in-person interview transitions begin. The coaching carousel is spinning — but this year it may turn more coordinators than head coaches into new hires.