Some teams are chasing a Super Bowl in the upcoming season, while others already have their fans loading up 2027 mock drafts.
Whether it's a new head coach or coordinator, a concerning position group, or a quarterback controversy, every fanbase has a reason to be watching closely during the 2026 season.
Some of these storylines we'll be watching throughout the season, while others might be resolved or become completely irrelevant weeks into the season. Ah, the beauty of the NFL.
The key storyline for each team heading into the season
Arizona Cardinals
Mike Lafleur, who most recently served as the offensive coordinator for Sean McVay in Los Angeles, was hired as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals this past offseason. Lafleur replaces Jonathan Gannon, who had a 15-36 record during his 3 years as Head Coach.
LaFleur, the younger brother of Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur, grew up in the Shanahan coaching tree, working under Kyle Shanahan for seven seasons across three different stops from 2014-20. He then served as offensive coordinator for the New York Jets in 2021 and 2022. Lafleur's 2 seasons as the Jets' offensive play-caller were rocky, as the Jets offense finished in the bottom 5 in points scored in both years.
Given that his experience as a play-caller is limited to his underwhelming time in New York, it's fair to question whether Lafleur can build a successful offense and a winning culture in Arizona in his first year, especially given the uncertainty around the Cardinals' quarterback situation.
Atlanta Falcons
While Michael Penix Jr. has reportedly taken the lead in the quarterback competition against free-agent signing Tua Tagovailoa, neither southpaw should give Atlanta Falcons fans too much confidence heading into the year.
After being drafted 8th overall by Atlanta in 2024, Penix is entering his 3rd year. Durability was a massive concern for Penix coming out of college and has followed him to the NFL, as he has failed to play double-digit games in either of his 2 years. When he has played, there have been flashes of the dynamic thrower he was at Washington, but he hasn't been nearly consistent enough.
Given Penix's inconsistency and unavailability, the Falcons signed Tagovailoa to a one-year deal in March. Tagovailoa has reportedly struggled in training camp and is coming off a disappointing season in Miami, leading to his release.
New head coach Kevin Stefanski, formerly of the Cleveland Browns, has a lot of weapons to work with, including running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts.
However, questions remain about the quarterback situation: Which quarterback will start Week 1, and will he be effective in leading this offense?
Baltimore Ravens
John Harbaugh, former Baltimore Ravens head coach, was fired this offseason after 18 seasons with the team. Granted, Harbaugh's last few years in Baltimore were underwhelming, consistently falling short in the playoffs and even missing the postseason this past year, which led to his firing. However, Harbaugh cultivated an excellent culture in Baltimore and posted a very respectable 60.9 percent winning percentage throughout his time with the Ravens.
Former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter was hired as Baltimore's new head coach this offseason. Jesse Minter is one of the best defensive minds in football and, funny enough, worked under John's brother, Jim, for the past four years at Michigan and Los Angeles.
Minter has proven to be an excellent defensive coach, as his defenses finished top 10 in points allowed in each of his 2 years in Los Angeles. However, he has never been a head coach, which naturally leads to questions about Minter's ability to lead an entire operation.
Not only is Minter new to his responsibilities, but his new offensive coordinator, Declan Doyle, formerly of the Bears, has never called plays at any level. Doyle has learned under Sean Payton in Denver and, most recently, Ben Johnson in Chicago. He has the resume and offensive influences to succeed in Baltimore but will need to prove he can build a productive offense on his own.
Although Minter and Doyle should inspire confidence in Ravens fans, this coaching staff still needs to prove it can preserve and build upon the winning culture Harbaugh built in Baltimore.
Buffalo Bills
Joe Brady, who has been with the Buffalo Bills organization since 2022, was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach this offseason, replacing Sean McDermott.
Brady has had an interesting coaching career, first becoming known after a record-breaking season as LSU's offensive coordinator in 2019. From there, he served as offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers in 2021 and 2022. While his years in Carolina were underwhelming, his time as offensive coordinator in Buffalo was superb, finishing in the top 5 in scoring in both 2024 and 2025.
Entering 2026, Brady's responsibilities extend beyond the offense, as he takes on the challenge of overseeing the entire team while remaining its play-caller.
Unlike most coaching hires, Brady provides continuity, having been with Buffalo for the previous 4 years. He has an excellent relationship with 2024 MVP Josh Allen and knows Buffalo's personnel well. But given that Brady has never been a head coach, questions remain about whether he can lead an entire locker room.
Add us as a preferred source on Google