Projected Coaching Hires for the NFL’s 9 Vacancies
Steelers’ Mike Tomlin stepping down on Tuesday put NFL head coaching vacancies at 9. Here’s who could fill those roles.
Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on before the game against the Houston Texans at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Jan. 12, 2026. Joe Sargent/Getty Images
The NFL now has nine head coach vacancies after Mike Tomlin stepped down from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday.
That makes two head coaches of 18 years or longer leaving their respective jobs in the past week—the other being John Harbaugh, who was fired by the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 5. With over a quarter of the NFL teams looking for a new head coach, here’s a look at who could land where in the coming weeks.
Arizona Cardinals
Projected hire: Robert Saleh (San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator)
Arizona has an overhaul ahead after firing former head coach Jonathan Gannon. The Cardinals have quarterback questions ahead with Kyler Murray, who got benched for Jacoby Brissett, and Arizona’s defense needs serious retooling.
Matthew Davis
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Matthew Davis is an experienced, award-winning journalist who has covered major professional and college sports for years. His writing has appeared on Heavy, the Star Tribune, and The Catholic Spirit. He has a degree in mass communication from North Dakota State University.
