What has gone right -- and wrong -- for 10 new NFL head coaches in 2026 season

The 2026 NFL offseason featured 10 head coaching changes, which tied with 1978, 1997, 2006 and 2022 for the most ever in an offseason, per ESPN Research.

The Raiders hired Klint Kubiak after his Super Bowl win as the Seahawks' offensive coordinator. Three AFC North teams -- the Browns (Todd Monken), Steelers (Mike McCarthy) and Ravens (Jesse Minter) -- also changed coaches. Elsewhere in the AFC, the Bills promoted offensive coordinator Joe Brady to head coach, the Dolphins hired former Packers DC Jeff Hafley, and the Titans brought in Robert Saleh. In the NFC, Mike LaFleur, Kevin Stefanski and John Harbaugh were hired by the Cardinals, Falcons and Giants, respectively.

How have these new coaches fared at their new destinations? We called on our NFL Nation reporters to evaluate both the positive and concerning signs from each team so far. Then, we provided a key stat on each team's start.

The 10 teams with new coaches are listed below by ESPN Football Power Index's playoff odds. We'll start in Western New York.

Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CLE
LV | MIA | NYG | PIT | TEN

Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills

Record: 6-1
FPI chance to make playoffs: 99.4%

What has gone right this season: Brady's offense, and his partnership with quarterback Josh Allen, is working. The Bills lead the NFL in points per game (33.3) and rank second in both yards per game and yards per play. The trade for wide receiver DJ Moore in the spring has made the Bills' offense more vertical, with Allen leading the NFL in yards per pass attempt (8.7). And their red zone rushing attack, led by Allen and RB James Cook III, has them converting red zone trips into touchdowns at a 70% clip.

What has gone wrong this season: The pass defense has been a mess. The Bills have already moved on from safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson and benched cornerback Maxwell Hairston. Nickelback Dee Alford has been in and out of the lineup with injuries. Now, the Bills are relying on a rookie and a couple of players who started the season on the practice squad to take significant snaps for a unit that ranks 30th in yards allowed per game. -- Nick Suss, Bills reporter

Key stat to know: This is the second time in the past 30 seasons that Buffalo has started 6-1 or better. The last such start was in 2022, when it finished 13-3 and lost to the Bengals in the divisional round of the playoffs. -- ESPN Research

Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers

Record: 6-2
FPI chance to make playoffs: 81.0%

What has gone right this season: A Pittsburgh native, McCarthy took the job with a special understanding of the core identity of the team. Halfway through his first season, he has upheld that in a big way. Led by running back Jaylen Warren and a young core of offensive linemen, the Steelers' offense is a physical unit capable of creating explosive plays in the run game. Defensively, McCarthy brought in coordinator Patrick Graham to reinforce those classic principles with his 3-4 front. The Steelers have held opponents to a league-best 51.3 rushing yards per game in the past three games.

What has gone wrong this season: While McCarthy was brought in to maximize quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the passing game still lacks consistency. The Steelers rank 20th in passing yards per game (210.5) and 21st in air yards per attempt (6.5). And it's not all on Rodgers. Top receiver DK Metcalf has been plagued by drops, including one this past Sunday that resulted in an interception. The strong run game has carried the offense in the open field, but the Steelers are scoring touchdowns on only 50% of their red zone trips (tied for 26th in the NFL). Part of the problem is the playcalling. In the past four games, the Steelers utilized designed runs on just 31% of plays in goal-to-go situations. -- Brooke Pryor, Steelers reporter

Key stat to know: The Steelers have a 4-0 record at home in 2026, which is their first such start since going 6-0 at home in 2020. And McCarthy's offense has shown up at Acrisure Stadium, averaging 27.8 points per game in Pittsburgh versus 17.3 on the road. -- ESPN Research

John Harbaugh, New York Giants

Record: 4-2-1
FPI chance to make playoffs: 47.0%

What has gone right this season: A lot. The Giants have already matched their win total from 2025. They're clearly a more buttoned-up and fundamentally sound team after repping situational football endlessly in training camp. And they're 3-1-1 in one-score games after finishing 1-7 last season. The biggest gains have been made by their special teams (ranked eighth in EPA) and defense (ninth overall). Hiring defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson has worked out, as Wilson has done a solid job with a group that isn't loaded with talent and lost its best player in edge rusher Brian Burns (torn ACL). They're allowing 46.5 fewer yards per game than last season.

What has gone wrong this season: Injuries have hit the Giants hard. They lost Burns and starting quarterback Jaxson Dart (left knee injury), arguably the two most important players on each side of the ball, for the season. New York spent the spring and summer creating an offense that prioritizes the quarterback's legs and had to pivot. Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy has made it work relatively well with Dart, Jameis Winston and now J.J. McCarthy. But the injuries still have the Giants working with limitations. Their quarterbacks are averaging 13.2 yards rushing per game since Dart's injury. -- Jordan Raanan, Giants reporter

Key stat to know: After their Week 7 win over the Texans, the Giants became the favorites to win the NFC East (-150 on DraftKings), the first time since 2016 that has happened at any point during a season. That year, they finished 11-5 and lost in the wild-card round to the Packers.

Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns

Record: 5-3
FPI chance to make playoffs: 16.8%

What has gone right this season: The Browns are the second-youngest team in the NFL but have taken on a gritty, resilient persona behind Monken to help them dominate late-game situations. All five of Cleveland's wins have been courtesy of game-winning drives. "Coach Monk has put us in these situations in practice time after time ... so whenever we get into the game and whenever we get into these situations, we already have the confidence to go down there and set up a game-winning drive," rookie wide receiver KC Concepcion said.

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What has gone wrong this season: The offense -- Monken's area of expertise -- remains a work in progress. Quarterback Deshaun Watson has raised his level of play this season but still ranks 28th out of 30 qualifying players in QBR, and he could miss Week 9 after being put in concussion protocol. Inconsistent play from a new-look offensive line has also contributed to an offense that ranks 29th in points per game (17.4). "It's been a little bit of an up-and-down challenge," Monken said. "But that's part of the NFL, right? That's part of when you play the best in the world as you're trying to find your way, your footing, your players, coaches, schematically, to be consistent." -- Daniel Oyefusi, Browns reporter

Key stat to know: Monken's team has already surpassed the Browns' win total from 2024 (three) and is one win away from beating Cleveland's 2025 total. Before Sunday's loss to the Steelers, Cleveland's four straight wins in division games (dating back to last season) were its longest streak since 1987. -- ESPN Research

Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders

Record: 4-4
FPI chance to make playoffs: 10.7%

What has gone right this season: Despite the Raiders having an insufficient run game and weak WR room, they rank sixth in points per game (27.6) and 12th in total yards (342.4). That's because the dynamic between Kubiak and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins has orchestrated one of the league's best passing games. Kubiak has been a good play designer, while Cousins' knowledge of the system has allowed him to execute those calls at a high rate. Cousins is third in passing yards (2,124) and second in touchdowns (19). Cousins' performance under center has led to the Raiders playing well on third down. Las Vegas has the 10th-best third-down conversion rate (41.7%).

What has gone wrong this season: The Raiders cannot run the ball or stop the run. They are 31st in yards per attempt (3.0), 30th in rushing first downs (36) and last in yards before first contact (1.22). Las Vegas has been held to fewer than 100 rushing yards in six of its past seven games. Defensively, the Raiders are allowing opponents to run over them at a high rate. They have given up 146.4 rushing yards per game. Part of that issue is the Raiders' interior defensive line. No one has emerged as a consistent run stopper, as the Raiders are 30th in run stop win rate by interior linemen (24.8%). -- Ryan McFadden, Raiders reporter

Key stat to know: Before defeating the Jets in Week 8, the Raiders were the third team in the past 10 seasons to start 3-0 and lose its next four games. And if the Raiders continue to average 27.6 points per game, it would be their most in a single season since 2002, when they averaged 28.1 and reached Super Bowl XXXVII. -- ESPN Research

Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons

Record: 3-5
FPI chance to make playoffs: 7.7%

What has gone right this season: The Falcons have been perhaps the league's strangest team. But there have been positives on offense, which is Stefanski's specialty. After quarterback Michael Penix Jr. returned from a torn ACL in Week 3, the Falcons led the NFL in points per game in that span (31.0). Last season, Atlanta was 24th in points per game (20.8). The biggest change Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees have made? Getting Penix to play more under center. In 2025, he was under center a league-low 2.7% of the time and in the pistol a league-high 52.1%. This season, he has been under center 49.1% of the time, the fifth-highest rate in the NFL.

What has gone wrong this season: The Falcons followed up beating the previously undefeated 49ers by losing to the Buccaneers despite quarterback Baker Mayfield not completing a single pass. It was the first time since 1974 such a thing had happened. That Week 8 game was played in a driving rain, and the entire thing might have been an anomaly. But Stefanski said in his introductory news conference that he wants Atlanta to run the football effectively and stop the run. The Bucs outrushed the Falcons 324-99 in that matchup. So Atlanta is still struggling with finding its identity. -- Marc Raimondi, Falcons reporter

Key stat to know: The NFC South race is the most wide-open division race this late in the season since 2015 after the Panthers, Falcons and Buccaneers all took turns as favorites during Week 8. Atlanta could emerge from the group if it slows down on turnovers, as its 16 are the second most in the NFL and its most through eight games since 2003. -- ESPN Research

Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens

Record: 4-4
FPI chance to make playoffs: 6.4%

What has gone right this season: Not much, quite honestly. When the Ravens started 4-1 -- tying the best start in team history -- Minter had the Ravens looking like a Super Bowl contender and had quarterback Lamar Jackson playing like an MVP again. With the creativity of first-year playcaller Declan Doyle, Baltimore ranked No. 6 in scoring (29.2 points per game) and No. 5 in yards (394.2) after five weeks. But injuries to Jackson caused everything to crumble. "It's definitely my job to make sure that we stay together, that we don't point fingers, that we have each other's back, that we believe in the next-man-up mentality," Minter said. The Ravens are finalizing a trade with the Cardinals for quarterback Jacoby Brissett, so maybe that helps.

What has gone wrong this season: The obvious answer is the loss of Jackson, who has played 14 full quarters this season because of injuries to his ankle and right thumb. But, beyond Jackson's injuries, the biggest disappointment has been the continued second-half collapses. From the time he was hired, Minter's mantra has been: "Be your best when your best is required." But he has failed to get the Ravens to finish games, which was one of the reasons why former coach John Harbaugh was fired. Baltimore held double-digit leads in three of its four losses this season. "There's something there that's missing," linebacker Roquan Smith said of the second-half flops. -- Jamison Hensley, Ravens reporter

Key stat to know: The Ravens have been held to fewer than 14 points in three straight games, which hasn't been done since Weeks 1-4 in 2005. That team went 6-10, allowing them to land defensive tackle Haloti Ngata with the 12th pick of the 2006 draft. -- ESPN Research

Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals

Record: 3-5
FPI chance to make playoffs: 1.1%

What has gone right this season: When the offense works, it really works, showing off LaFleur's offensive ingenuity and playcalling. Granted, that hasn't happened often through eight games. When Arizona's offense gets rolling, it's easy to see the vision LaFleur has for his scheme because it can eat up yards and move downfield in a hurry. And it's clear how LaFleur wants to use his skill players, like wide receiver Michael Wilson and tight end Trey McBride, in those situations. It's just getting the offense to the point where it's rolling that has been an issue.

What has gone wrong this season: The list is long and mighty. Injuries have decimated Arizona's skill positions with RB Jeremiyah Love (high ankle sprain) and WR Kendrick Bourne (tibia) going on IR. The Marvin Harrison Jr. experiment under LaFleur didn't work out, so they traded him to Houston. The red zone offense came to a screeching halt recently. And the Cardinals changed quarterbacks at the end of Sunday's game. More has gone wrong than right this season for LaFleur.

Key stat to know: LaFleur's team is 3-0 this season as an underdog of seven-plus points (7 at Cowboys, 8.5 at Chargers and 13.5 at Rams), which is tied with 11 others for second-most since 1966. The record of 4-0 was set by the 1933 Bears. -- ESPN Research

Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins

Record: 1-6
FPI chance to make playoffs: <1%

What has gone right this season: Their rookie class is making an early impact. Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is a contender for Defensive Rookie of Year, ranking sixth in the NFL in tackles per game. And despite their record, the Dolphins have also shown fight in most games this season -- even after losing running back De'Von Achane, their best player, to an ACL injury in Week 2. This season is more about development than wins and losses, and Miami's young core is starting to take shape. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, rookies have accounted for more than a quarter of the team's defensive snaps this season.

What has gone wrong this season: The aforementioned season-ending injury to Achane left the team without its offensive focal point and one of its captains. The Dolphins also blew a two-score halftime lead to the Patriots and lost winnable games to the Vikings and Chiefs. Quarterback Malik Willis has shown development over the first half of the season, but he has yet to reach the same level of production and efficiency he showed in limited action with Green Bay. Miami's pass rush wasn't expected to be anywhere close to the league's best, but it has been one of the league's worst with an NFL-low nine sacks. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques, Dolphins reporter

Key stat to know: Miami currently has a 29% chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2027 draft, according to ESPN's Football Power Index. That's second behind the Titans (39%) and would increase to 34% with a loss to the Lions in Week 9. -- ESPN Research

Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans

Record: 1-7
FPI chance to make playoffs: <1%

What has gone right this season: Saleh has done a really good job navigating some adverse situations, which most recently was the trade of franchise cornerstone Jeffery Simmons. Saleh's message to those remaining on the roster was a challenge to take advantage of the opportunity created by the Simmons trade. Despite losing their clear team leader, the Titans took the high-powered Bengals to overtime and forced a season-high four turnovers. It would be easy to point fingers or splinter apart, but Saleh has the Titans fighting every week. "These guys are resilient, man," Saleh said. "They've seen it all. Once the initial shock is over and we get to the grass, the world kind of goes away."

What has gone wrong this season: Tennessee has not figured out how to win close games, with a 1-5 record in games decided by one score (eight points) or less. Quarterback Cam Ward has led multiple drives to take a lead in the fourth quarter, but the defense allowed game-winning drives to the Eagles, Browns and Bengals. Conversely, when the defense set the offense up for a game-winning drive against the Giants, Ward threw a crushing interception in New York's end zone. "I feel like I stand up here every week and say the same thing," Saleh said after the 43-36 loss to the Bengals last Sunday. "We've gotta figure it out, the end-of-game situations." -- Turron Davenport, Titans reporter

Key stat to know: The Titans have trailed at halftime in every game this season, including four matchups where they scored first. They have had consecutive 1-7 or worse starts, which is their worst since three straight from 1982 to 1984. -- ESPN Research