> At a Glance
> – Seven teams-Ravens, Giants, Titans, Raiders, Falcons, Browns, Cardinals-have fired their head coaches
> – Playoff assistants can begin virtual interviews this week, capped at three hours
> – In-person interviews open Jan. 19, but Super Bowl staffs are barred until Feb. 9
> – Why it matters: Playoff contenders risk losing key assistants while rebuilding franchises race to secure the next boss before competitors
While 14 franchises chase a Super Bowl, seven others are already scrambling for 2026. The league’s annual coaching carousel kicked off with a flurry of dismissals, forcing playoff assistants to juggle game plans and job prospects simultaneously.
Interview Calendar
Teams seeking new coaches must navigate a tightly-scripted timeline:
- Monday marked the first day interview requests could be sent to assistants under contract elsewhere
- Tuesday/Wednesday: Virtual sessions open for assistants on non-playoff clubs (Tampa Bay Tuesday, everyone else Wednesday)
- This week: Seattle and Denver assistants (bye teams) can meet virtually through Wild-Card weekend
Assistants coaching Wild-Card games get their first crack on Jan. 13, except Houston and Pittsburgh staffs who must wait until Jan. 14 after Monday Night Football.
| Interview Type | Start Date | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Virtual, non-playoff | Tue/Wed after season | 3-hour max |
| Virtual, playoff | Jan. 13 (Jan. 14 for HOU/PIT) | 3-hour max |
| In-person | Jan. 19 | Not if team still alive |
| Super Bowl staffs | Feb. 1 deadline | No contact Feb. 2-8 |
Rooney Rule & GM Rules
Every head-coach search must include:
- Two external in-person interviews with diverse (minority or female) candidates
- One diverse candidate for any QB coach opening
- The same two-interview requirement applies to coordinator posts
General-manager searches follow a similar script. Permission requests for non-primary decision-makers began Monday, and playoff executives can accept offers if their club provides written consent.
Key Takeaways
- Seven head-coach vacancies opened before the postseason began
- Playoff assistants face a three-hour virtual interview limit until their team exits
- No coach can sign a contract until his current season ends
- The Rooney Rule mandates multiple external diverse interviews for every HC, coordinator and QB coach role
- GM candidates need two external diverse interviews as well
The league’s balancing act between competitive integrity and hiring urgency keeps the carousel spinning at playoff time, with franchises one loss away from full access to their next potential leader.
