NFL Coaching Cycle Timeline: A Look at Every Coaching Change of the 2025 Season

There has been a flurry of activity in the NFL when it comes to head coaching changes, as teams have begun to reassess in the aftermath of the 2025 season. Of course, not every front office waited until after the season ended to make their respective changes to leadership.

In total, there have been nine coaching moves since the beginning of the 2025 season. The first coach to be relieved of his duties was former Titans boss Brian Callahan in a move that dates back to Oct. 13. He and former Giants coach Brian Daboll were the only two head coaches to be let go during the regular season this year, with seven teams electing to wait until after they had played their final game to make a change.

Only two head coaching vacancies remain unfilled now that Todd Monken landed in Cleveland. The Cardinals, who parted ways with Jonathan Gannon, are still in the midst of finding their next head coach, while the Raiders, who parted ways with Pete Carroll, are also still prowling the market.

Let’s take a look at the full timeline of NFL head coaching changes during and after the 2025 season.

Coaches fired during the NFL regular season

Oct. 13, 2025: Tennessee Titans fire Brian Callahan

The Titans fired Callahan just six games into the 2025 season after Tennessee limped to a 1–5 start. A 20–10 loss to the Raiders in Week 6 was the final nail in the coffin for Callahan’s short-lived tenure as coach of the Titans. Callahan was hired ahead of the 2024 season. In total, he coached 23 games for the Titans and had a record of 4–19. Mike McCoy was named interim head coach after Callahan was fired.

Nov. 10, 2025: New York Giants fire Brian Daboll

Daboll’s time in New York came to an early end during the 2025 season, when he was fired in the aftermath of a loss to the Bears in which the Giants blew a late lead. That had become something of a theme for the team towards the end of Daboll’s tenure in New York, simply unable to close out games and secure a win. At the time of his firing, the Giants were 2–8. Daboll had been the franchise’s coach since 2022 and posted a 20-40-1 record. After making the playoffs in year one with nine wins, Daboll’s Giants tallied just 11 wins over his last three seasons. Mike Kafka stepped in as interim head coach after Daboll’s dismissal.

NFL Black Monday coaching changes

Jan. 5, 2026: Atlanta Falcons fire Raheem Morris

The Falcons ended the season on a strong note, but a late four-game winning streak wasn’t enough to save Morris from the chopping block. Atlanta finished the season 8–9 and missed the playoffs yet again, prompting the organization to clean house, dismissing Morris and GM Terry Fontenot. The Falcons didn’t make a single postseason appearance in Morris’s tenure, which spanned two seasons. He had a record of 16–18, but couldn’t get a talented Falcons roster over the hump.

Jan. 5, 2026: Cleveland Browns fire Kevin Stefanski

Stefanski’s six-year stint in Cleveland came to an end on Black Monday, as the Browns opted to fire him after a 5–12 season. The Browns made two trips to the playoffs in Stefanski’s tenure, but after going 8–26 in the last two seasons, the front office decided it was time for a change. Stefanski had two winning campaigns in Cleveland but was 45–56 overall as the team’s head coach.

Jan. 5, 2026: Las Vegas Raiders fire Pete Carroll

Carroll was a one-and-done in Las Vegas after failing to find his footing with the Raiders in 2025. The team won just three games and had one of the worst offenses in the league. Carroll was hired during the offseason and there was plenty of allure around what he could do reunited with Geno Smith, but things didn’t go to plan. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty also struggled under Carroll’s watch. After a disappointing 3–14 season, the Raiders are once again in the market for a new coach.

Jan. 5, 2026: Arizona Cardinals fire Jonathan Gannon

Gannon was let go on Black Monday after the Cardinals limped to the finish line of the 2025 season on a nine-game losing streak. The team ended the year 3–14 and promptly fired Gannon after what was his third season as head coach. Overall, Gannon went 15–36 across his three years in Arizona, but never led the Cardinals to the playoffs, or even to a winning season.

Post-Black Monday NFL coaching changes

Jan. 6, 2026: Baltimore Ravens fire John Harbaugh

After the Ravens missed out on the playoffs due to a missed game-winning field goal in Week 18 vs. the Steelers, Harbaugh’s lengthy tenure in Baltimore reached its end. Two days after the season-ending loss, owner Steve Bisciotti fired Harbaugh over the phone, and the Ravens had their first head coaching vacancy since 2008. Harbaugh had been in the role for 18 years and had a 180–113 record as a head coach in Baltimore. He won a Super Bowl with the team in 2012 and made the playoffs in 12 of his 18 seasons.

Jan. 8, 2026: Miami Dolphins fire Mike McDaniel

McDaniel’s ousting was somewhat of a surprise, given he’d spoken to reporters a few days prior and said he’d be part of the search for a new GM after Miami fired Chris Grier during the season. Instead, following a meeting with owner Stephen Ross, McDaniel also found himself out of a job. McDaniel had been the Dolphins’ coach since 2022, and made two trips to the playoffs with the team, though they missed out in each of the last two years. Overall, he had a 35–33 record, but back-to-back losing seasons cut short his time as the Dolphins’ boss.

Jan. 13, 2026: Mike Tomlin steps down as Pittsburgh Steelers coach

Mike Tomlin was the NFL’s longest tenured head coach, up until Tuesday when he stepped down from his role with the Steelers. The decision came on the heels of Pittsburgh’s wild-card playoff round loss to the Texans, which marked the franchise’s seventh straight playoff loss, and fifth in a row by double digits. Tomlin won a Super Bowl with the team in his second season back in 2008 and never endured a losing campaign in Pittsburgh. Still, even after sneaking into the playoffs after a third-straight 10-win season, the team’s inability to get it done on the biggest stages led to Tomlin’s ousting.

Tomlin is reportedly considering taking his talents to TV. It’s worth noting that because he stepped down, as opposed to being fired, if he were to return to coaching, the Steelers would have his coaching rights. Any team that would be interested in hiring him, at least through the 2026 season, would need to trade for him.

Jan. 19, 2026: Sean McDermott fired by Bills after divisional round loss to Broncos

The Bills made a move that shocked many across the football world on Monday morning, firing head coach Sean McDermott following the club’s loss to the Broncos on Saturday.

McDermott amassed a 98–50 regular-season record in Buffalo since being hired in 2017. Equipped with star Josh Allen at quarterback, the Bills' job immediately rises to the top of the coaching market. According to multiple reports, general manager Brandon Beane will remain in his role and will spearhead Buffalo’s search for its next head coach.

Coaches hired during NFL offseason

Jan. 14, 2026: John Harbaugh agrees to become head coach of Giants

The deal wasn’t finalized for a few more days, but Harbaugh agreed to join the Giants on a five-year contract. He was introduced by the organization as its new head coach on Tuesday, Jan. 20.

It’s a major splash for New York, who secured arguably the most coveted coach on the market. Harbaugh will report directly to ownership, as opposed to GM Joe Schoen, something that was a sticking point in his side of contract negotiations. Now, he’ll get to work looking to bring the organization back to the postseason for the first time since 2022, as well as working to unlock Jaxson Dart’s potential as a franchise quarterback.

Jan. 17, 2026: Falcons agree to hire Kevin Stefanski as next head coach

After Morris’s departure, the Falcons moved quickly to bring in one of the most respected coaches in the business in Stefanski. It was the first major move of Matt Ryan’s return to the franchise in his new role of president of football.

Following an up-and-down tenure with the Browns, during which Stefanski led Cleveland to two playoff appearances and was named Coach of the Year in both of those seasons, the 43-year-old will get to work aiming to return the Falcons to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. He’ll have a significantly enhanced arsenal of weapons to work with on offense in Atlanta, highlighted by Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts.

Jan. 19, 2026: Dolphins hire former Packers DC Jeff Hafley as new head coach

Hafley gets his first shot as an NFL head coach just a few years removed from impressing during his stint at Boston College. He spent the last two seasons commanding a stalwart Packers defense, and now he’ll take over the top job in Miami after the team parted ways with Mike McDaniel.

The Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game since 2000, a streak they’ll be hopeful Hafley can bring to an end. He’ll have some major questions to answer in the offseason, though the biggest one is at quarterback.

Jan. 20, 2026: Titans hire Robert Saleh as head coach

The former 49ers defensive coordinator is back in a head coaching role for the second time in his career, just a couple of years removed from an unceremonious exit from the Jets organization. Saleh, a well respected defensive mind in the NFL, impressed the Titans during his visit on Monday night, so much so that they went ahead and offered him the role.

With former No. 1 pick Cam Ward expected to take some big strides in year two, Saleh will inherit a team with plenty of cap space, another early draft pick, and some key pieces in place. Tennessee has endured four straight losing seasons, but the franchise is hopeful Saleh will turn things around.

Jan. 22, 2026: Ravens hire Jesse Minter as head coach

Minter was a candidate for the Browns’ head coaching vacancy, but he informed Cleveland he was withdrawing from the running on Thursday, and a few hours later was announced as the Ravens’ new head coach.

Minter spent the last two seasons as the defensive coordinator for the Chargers on Jim Harbaugh’s staff. He also worked under Harbaugh at Michigan. Minter has also spent time with the Ravens, having been a defensive assistant in Baltimore from 2017 to ‘19, and was the defensive backs coach in 2020. Now, he’s back with the team in its top coaching role, hoping to lead them back to the playoffs after they missed out this past season.

Jan. 24, 2026: Steelers hire Mike McCarthy as head coach

The Steelers made a big splash on the coaching market, hiring veteran head coach Mike McCarthy to replace Mike Tomlin. McCarthy wasn’t coaching in 2025, having been let go by the Cowboys after the ‘24 campaign. Following a brief hiatus, he’s back in the seat and will look to give this Pittsburgh team a truer sense of direction.

This will be McCarthy’s third head coaching job. In addition to the Cowboys and now the Steelers, McCarthy was the head coach of the Packers from 2006 to 2018. In all, he brings 18 years of head coaching experience to the table, and his hire could potentially play a factor in whether Aaron Rodgers decides to return to Pittsburgh for another year.

Jan. 27, 2026: Bills promote OC Joe Brady to head coach

The Bills had a lengthy head coaching search, but ultimately decided the best man for the job was already in the building. Brady has served as Buffalo’s offensive coordinator since 2023, and the team hasn’t finished outside the top 10 in total yards or points throughout his tenure. Now, he’ll take over the top job and hope to help guide Josh Allen to his first Super Bowl, and Bills Mafia to its first Super Bowl title.

Jan. 28, 2026: Browns hire Todd Monken as head coach

After an extensive and lengthy search process, the Browns named Todd Monken as their new head coach on Wednesday. John Harbaugh’s former offensive coordinator for the Ravens will remain in the AFC North, filling the seat vacated by Kevin Stefanski. Monken edged out Cleveland’s defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for the position, something which reportedly did not sit well with Schwartz.

Monken is the 19th head coach in Browns franchise history. It’s his first head coaching opportunity, though he has plenty of coaching experience, and he’ll be tasked with trying to get Cleveland back to the playoffs after the team won just eight games over the last two seasons.

Feb. 1, 2026: Cardinals hire Mike LaFleur as head coach

The Cardinals’ vacancy was one of the least reported on throughout this coaching cycle. Having been linked with a number of coaches throughout the process, including former Commanders and Panthers coach Ron Rivera, Arizona announced Mike LaFleur would be taking the reins, replacing Jonathan Gannon.

LaFleur, brother of Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, has been the offensive coordinator of the Rams for the last three seasons. Prior to that, he was in the same role with the Jets. At just 38 years old, this will be his first opportunity as a head coach, and he’ll look to turn around a Cardinals team that won just three games in 2025.

Feb. 1 2026: Raiders expected to hire Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak

Although it can’t be finalized until after the Super Bowl, the Raiders and Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak are reportedly in agreement on a deal to make him the franchise’s next head coach. The Pete Carroll experiment didn’t work out in Las Vegas, so after parting ways with the veteran head coach, the team is bringing in a rookie in Kubiak.

Kubiak is just 38 years old, but he’s already got plenty of coaching experience under his belt, including stints as an offensive coordinator for three different teams.