NFL Coaching Carousel Overview

Exactly one-quarter of the NFL’s 32 teams are looking for a new coach. And a few more could happen if contract extensions aren’t reached in the coming days.

Who’s looking? Who’s in line for the jobs? Here is a look at the eight current openings and the coaches who may fill them.

Atlanta

If QB Michael Pennix can get coached up properly and more importantly stay healthy this might be one of the best jobs available. That’s a really big if, however. The Falcons have really good skill players on offense and some good young players on defense. So who’s in line? It’s hard to say since the Falcons also need a GM. Keep in mind they flirted with Bill Belichick before hiring Raheem Morris, so a big name is not out of the question. This might be a reach, but is Georgia coach Kirby Smart tired of the transfer portal and NIL?

Arizona

What the new coach has to decide before he even gets the job is what to do with QB Kyler Murray. It appears the Cards are going to trade him and start over, but then who will be their next QB? Arizona’s recent MO suggests they will go for a hot coordinator so keep Buffalo OC Joe Brady and Seattle OC Klint Kubiak (if he wants to stay in the division) near the top of your list.

Baltimore

John Harbaugh hadn’t gotten out of the Ravens building yet when I got a text from a very reliable source that read “Jesse Minter to Baltimore, book it.’’ It’s a little ironic that Jim Harbaugh’s right-hand man in L.A. would take John’s job in Baltimore. Minter was with the Ravens from 2017-20 before joining Jim at Michigan as DC.

Cleveland

This might surprise some, but I truly believe the Browns win the Harbaugh Sweepstakes. If you fire a two-time Coach of the Year you better hire someone good. The Browns will be willing to give John what he wants in terms of money and control. And he gets to stay in the AFC North to play the Ravens twice a year. He also goes home to Ohio where he still has a lot of family.

Las Vegas

Looks like Tom Brady is going to be real involved and that could mean one-time Patriots assistant and former Falcons head coach Raheem Morris is on the way with former Giants head coach Brian Daboll as his OC. This is probably the least attractive job available, although you do have the No. 1 pick in the draft for what that’s worth.

Miami

John Harbaugh’s name will be mentioned here a lot. Former Green Bay Packers executive Jon Eric Sullivan was just named general manager of the Dolphins, however, which could lead to a Packers connection. The team’s defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley, who was also the head coach of Boston College, is a possibility. Hafley is on a few team’s list. Sullivan had been with the Packers since 2008, so there is also a connection to former Green Bay and Dallas head coach Mike McCarthy.

New York Giants

The Giants want Harbaugh, but are they willing to get rid of general manager Joe Schoen to get him. That might have to be a prerequisite. Former Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who will surface on a lot of lists, could be Plan B for the Giants and the Giants might actually be Stefanski’s preferred choice. That wouldn’t be the worst thing for QB Jaxson Dart.

Tennessee

This might be the best place for McCarthy and McCarthy might be the ideal hire for the Titans and young QB Cam Ward. Consider that in his career McCarthy revitalized Brett Favre, developed Aaron Rodgers and got the most out of Dak Prescott. This could be the most perfect marriage of the entire group.

Mark Allen overcame Mark Williams in a match that failed to live up to its potential, as day two of the 2026 Masters concluded with Allen and Zhao Xintong adding their names to the quarter-final line-up.

The Northern Irishman has come under criticism in recent years for slowing his game down, often leading to energy-sapping marathons. It is something he is keen to address, yet after a bout of food poisoning scuppered his preparations, the priority was simply getting over the line – helped by a below-par display from the two-time former champion.

In the evening match, reigning world champion Zhao Xintong swept aside Gary Wilson to reach the quarter-finals of the Masters for the first time.

Mark Allen overcomes illness and errors to defeat Williams

Mark Allen 6 – 2 Mark Williams (best of 11 frames)

2018 Masters champion Mark Allen overcame a bout of food poisoning and an error-riddled start to the session to prevail over two-time champion Mark Williams.

After taking the lead with a break of 54, errors crept into both players games, with Williams almost bemused at taking a 2-1 lead given his pot success was well below 80%.

However, Allen overcame his own poor play to level the match going into the mid-session interval. He then produced breaks of 60, 125, and 70 to move 5–2 ahead. Despite his efforts, Williams could not offer anything to suggest a comeback, and Allen closed out the next frame to secure the win.

Allen will play the winner of Wednesday’s match between Judd Trump and Ding Junhui in the quarter-finals.

Zhao purring in victory over Wilson

Zhao Xintong 6 – 2 Gary Wilson (best of 11 frames)

After making history as China’s first world champion, Zhao Xintong struggled for form early in the season. Encouragingly, after winning November’s Riyadh Season Championship, Zhao has re-entered the conversation as a contender to claim his second Triple Crown title this week.

After taking the opening frame, Wilson’s poor shot choices handed Zhao the initiative, as the Chinese star built a 3–1 lead by the mid-session interval with breaks of 50, 51 and 54.

After the interval, Zhao continued his fine form, compiling breaks of 72 and 67 to wrap up a 6–2 victory and earn his first quarter-final berth at Alexandra Palace.

Zhao awaits the winner of Tuesday’s match between John Higgins and Barry Hawkins.

Alonso was only in charge since June

Real Madrid have confirmed that Xabi Alonso has left his role as first team head coach after just over seven months in charge, with Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final proving decisive. The loss to their biggest rivals, combined with Madrid sitting four points behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga, brought an abrupt end to Alonso’s brief tenure on the Bernabéu bench.

Alvaro Arbeloa will take over effective immediately.

Alonso officially began his role on June 1, arriving in Madrid after a highly successful spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the domestic double in the 2023/24 season and guided the club to the Europa League final. His start in Madrid was encouraging. After overseeing a run to the Club World Cup semi-finals, Alonso led the team to 13 wins in his next 14 matches, with the only blemish a heavy derby defeat to Atlético Madrid.

Momentum shifted in early November, however, when a loss at Liverpool on 4 November triggered a downturn in form. Madrid managed just two wins in an eight-game stretch, raising concerns inside the club hierarchy. Although Alonso steadied the ship with a subsequent run of five consecutive victories, it ultimately failed to restore full confidence among decision-makers.

With Barcelona pulling clear in the title race and another Clásico defeat on a major stage, Real Madrid’s leadership opted for change. Alonso departs with his reputation intact, but his first managerial chapter at the club he once captained has come to an unexpectedly swift conclusion.

Real Madrid Official Statement

“Real Madrid C. F. wishes to announce that, by mutual agreement between the club and Xabi Alonso, it has been decided to bring his time as first team coach to an end.
 
“Xabi Alonso will always carry the affection and admiration of all Madridistas because he is a Real Madrid legend and has always represented the values of our club. Real Madrid will always be his home.
 
“We would like to thank Xabi Alonso and all his coaching staff for their hard work and dedication throughout this time, and wish them the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”