There was a ton of turnover with head coaches across the NFL this past offseason, and it's clear now, more than ever, that teams are either not very patient or not hiring the right person to lead their franchise. This bodes well for teams that have head coaches who are the best at what they do.
It's not a coincidence that the best head coaches in the NFL are the ones left standing during the conference title games and the Super Bowl. Last year, the four head coaches left were Mike Vrabel, Sean Payton, Mike Macdonald, and Sean McVay, and it's not a stretch to argue that all four will end up in the Hall of Fame one day.
However, the flip side is a lot more disappointing, and even with the regular season still months away, these head coaches may already be on the hot seat for the 2026 NFL Season.
Power-ranking notable head coaches who are already on the hot seat for 2026
5. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
Now 13-21 in two years as the Carolina Panthers head coach, Dave Canales did lead the Panthers to three more wins from the prior season and an NFC South title. It's important to note, though, that Carolina just barely won the division at a mediocre 8-9, so this isn't some playoff-caliber team that we should be taking seriously.
A slow start in 2026 and a potential regression could have Canales on the hot seat, and if the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stabilize and the New Orleans Saints build on how they ended 2025, it's not a stretch to think that Carolina could go from first to third, perhaps, when 2026 is underway.
4. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
Through three seasons, Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen is 25-26 with a 9-win season and two 8-win seasons. The absolute definition of average, the Colts were 7-1 at one point in 2025, but things then proceeded to fall off the rails.
If Indy ends up playing as they did in the back half of 2025 when 2026 begins, Steichen might not be able to dig out of it, and the front office could end up making a change. Sure, the Colts haven't necessarily had a stellar quarterback situation, but the roster is typically always quite solid, and given how 2025 ended, this could be a 'playoffs or bust' season.
3. Aaron Glenn, New York Jets
I wouldn't say that Aaron Glenn was necessarily set up for success in 2025 with the New York Jets, but some of the in-game management and communication with the media at times really didn't do Glenn any favors.
He did look lost for much of the season, and it ended in a 3-win season in which the Jets defense couldn't register a single interception. The roster did get a lot better this offseason, and Geno Smith is now in at quarterback.
I guess, if nothing else, the Jets could scrape together a few more wins and perhaps hit that 6 or 7-win mark, at best, but if Glenn can't take a leap himself and find a stronger grip on this group, another slow start could be a quick end to his tenure.
The Jets began the year 0-7 in 2025. If that happens again, it's hard to imagine that Glenn stays.
2. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In four years as head coach of the Buccaneers, Todd Bowles has won a single playoff game and has seasons of 8, 9, 10, and 8 wins. This team is thoroughly average with a low ceiling, and it's gone on for four years now.
That's a trend, and trends are set by the head coach. Another non-playoff season, for example, could be the end of Bowles' line. He's entering year five as the head coach in 2026 and has just about nothing to show for it.
1. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
Zac Taylor has been the Cincinnati Bengals head coach for seven years. In those seven years, they've made the playoffs twice, and Taylor now has a 52-63-1 record with four winning seasons, but two of those seasons were 9-8 campaigns.
Sure, there have been some quarterback injuries, and the front office hasn't exactly come through all the time, but the Bengals front office did add a ton of talent this offseason. On paper, this is a top-10 team, and it feels like a 'boom or bust' type of year.
Another non-playoff season could not only have Taylor out as the head coach, but franchise quarterback Joe Burrow might even be at the end of his rope. After an active offseason, there are simply zero excuses this year. Taylor is approaching 10 years on the job with the Bengals and really doesn't have a ton to show for it.