We’ve seen two NFL coaches fired this season, with the Tennessee Titans (Brian Callahan) and New York Giants (Brian Daboll) parting ways with their head coaches several weeks ago. As we enter the final weeks of the regular season, there seems to be a real chance no more NFL head coaches are fired until after Week 18.
While coaches on the hot seat might be spared for now, Black Monday is coming. So, just a month out from the big day when organizations will make make major changes, we’re predicting what NFL coaches will be fired at the end of the season.
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns gave two-time NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski the benefit of the doubt after a three-win campaign in 2024. What the organization got in return for that vote of confidence was a Browns offense that looks even worse this season under Stefanski. This will be the second consecutive season with double-digit losses for Cleveland, the first time that’s happened since the Hue Jackson era. Stefanski is all out of leeway with this franchise; there’s just no way to excuse losing 24-plus games over the last two seasons. Stefanski will be fired and we tend to believe that the Browns will use their top pick on a quarterback, while keeping general manager Andrew Berry.
Related: Cleveland Browns Coaching Candidates 2026
Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
We see one of two things happening for the Las Vegas Raiders. Either Pete Carroll is fired or he announces his retirement, taking a more graceful exit from the National Football League. Either way, the 74-year-old won’t be back as the Raiders coach in 2026. Las Vegas effectively gave him the keys to the franchise, allowing him to hire his son as offensive line coach, to make Chip Kelly the highest-paid coordinator in NFL history, and to trade for and then extend quarterback Geno Smith. All three moves have proven disastrous. What’s particularly alarming is that for a head coach who was viewed as player-friendly, the Raiders locker room seemed to quit on Carroll early. The end result is a team that looks even worse than it did under Antonio Pierce. Carroll is gone this offseason.
Related: Las Vegas Raiders Coaching Candidates to Replace Pete Carroll
Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons have gone all-in on this core, pouring massive resources (draft capital and cash) with the expectation of winning the NFC South. What Raheem Morris has delivered is a club that seems to be regressing, dropping from second place in the division with an 8-9 record to a team that is poised for double-digit losses in 2025. To make matters worse, the Carolina Panthers have overtaken Atlanta as the second-best team in the division. Maybe Morris would make it to 2026 as the Falcons head coach if this was his first head coaching gig, but he has a career .375 winning percentage across six seasons as a head coach with a losing record in five of those six seasons. When he gets fired this offseason, we’d expect him to wind up back in Los Angeles on Sean McVay’s coaching staff.
Related: NFL Coaching Hot Seat Rankings 2025
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s time for Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers to part ways. He’s one of the most successful head coaches of his era, but it’s evident that a fresh start is needed for all parties. After all, the Steelers haven’t won a playoff game since January 8, 2017, a drought this storied franchise certainly views as inexcusable. Just as damaging for Tomlin’s job security, Pittsburgh has experienced a dramatic second-half collapse in consecutive seasons now. We expect Tomlin to be on the short list of NFL coaches fired after the season, but it’s easy to predict that he’ll instantly become one of the most coveted coaches available and likely will be unemployed for just a few weeks.
Related: NFL Coaching Candidates 2026
