November 13, 2026, 6:07 a.m. ET
When will the first NFL head coach be fired?
As pessimistic as that may sound, the question arises as the 2026 NFL regular season reaches Week 10. This marks the first time since 2022 that no NFL head coach has lost their job through the first nine weeks of the season. But time is running out and the list of coaches in the hot seat continues to grow.
Many fans are already calling for action, although the owners seem more hesitant than usual to make a major decision at this point. But change is inevitable in a results-driven business like the NFL. Ten teams hired new head coaches this past offseason, meaning 10 more were shown the door.
The debate now centers on which coach will be eliminated first this year. Washington Commanders Dan Quinn and Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh are among those feeling the most pressure, but they’re not the only coaches who have reason to worry about their job security.
Here’s a look at where all 32 NFL coaches stand heading into Week 10, with an assessment of how their seats are changing:
NFL Coach Rankings
New at work
- Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills
- Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins
- Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens
- Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns
- Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans
- Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders
- John Harbaugh, New York Giants
- Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons
- Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals
None of the 10 coaches hired last offseason should be in immediate danger of being fired, although perhaps retread coaches like Stefanski and Saleh might want to be careful. Last year, the Raiders fired Pete Carroll after one season. The year before, the New England Patriots parted ways with Jerod Mayo after just one season on the job. But it seems unlikely that the season will be ended midway through the season, despite the recent one-and-done trend.
No way they’re going to get fired
These eight coaches aren’t going anywhere unless they choose to leave on their own terms. It’s no coincidence that all eight coaches are also leading teams with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations this season. Reid, McVay and Shanahan are currently the three longest-tenured coaches in the NFL, while MacDonald just won the Super Bowl. Campbell re-established the Lions as perennial contenders, and Payton, Johnson and Coen quickly did the same with their respective teams.
Safe for now
These five coaches have all been successful in their current roles and do not appear to be in danger of losing their jobs. But it’s also a bad run, or an ugly exit from the playoffs, because of feeling uncomfortable for a variety of reasons. The Patriots haven’t looked entirely healthy since Vrabel’s offseason drama with Dianna Russini. The Texans failed to overcome the hurdle as an AFC contender under Ryans. O’Connell messed up the Vikings quarterback situation. LaFleur is 1-4 in playoff games over the last five years.
It’s getting annoying
Each of these teams is struggling, underperforming against expectations, or facing a combination of the two. Sirianni’s tenure with the Eagles has produced the incredible highs of two Super Bowl appearances, but the Eagles are facing questions about the direction of the franchise and a rebuild could be on the horizon. Schottenheimer wasn’t a particularly popular choice when he was hired less than two years ago, and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is already fielding questions about his job security. Bowles might be able to lead Tampa Bay to another NFC South title, but the Buccaneers haven’t made much progress in the playoffs under his watch. Canales and Moore have shown intriguing flashes, but it’s time for those moments to translate into more consistent results.
Burning seat
These are the coaches most likely to be fired, and possibly before the end of the 2026 regular season. Quinn is 8-17-1 since leading the Commanders to the 2024 NFC Championship Game and this season’s problems include some embarrassing game management mistakes. Harbaugh owns the NFL’s only winless team heading into Week 10 and his decision to hire Mike McDaniel as offensive coordinator completely backfired on him. Glenn’s Jets have shown signs of improvement, but he’s just 5-21 in 26 games as head coach and he’s dealing with a notoriously fickle owner and fan base. The Colts have already fired general manager Chris Ballard and traded away several key players before the NFL trade deadline. Steichen’s days also seem numbered.
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