As of January 2026, the landscape of NFL coaching has shifted dramatically with the recent departures of longtime icons Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers) and John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens).
Tomlin had been with Pittsburgh for 19 years, while Harbaugh had been with the Ravens for 18. Following their exits, Andy Reid is now the clear leader in tenure. Only six active head coaches have been with their current team for more than five years.
| Rank | Coach | Team | Hired | Seasons Completed* |
| 1 | Andy Reid | Kansas City Chiefs | Jan 7, 2013 | 13 |
| 2 | Sean McDermott | Buffalo Bills | Jan 11, 2017 | 9 |
| 3 | Sean McVay | Los Angeles Rams | Jan 12, 2017 | 9 |
| 4 | Kyle Shanahan | San Francisco 49ers | Feb 6, 2017 | 9 |
| 5 | Matt LaFleur | Green Bay Packers | Jan 8, 2019 | 7 |
| 6 | Zac Taylor | Cincinnati Bengals | Feb 4, 2019 | 7 |
| 7 | Dan Campbell | Detroit Lions | Jan 20, 2021 | 5 |
| 8 | Nick Sirianni | Philadelphia Eagles | Jan 24, 2021 | 5 |
| 9 | Kevin O’Connell | Minnesota Vikings | Feb 16, 2022 | 4 |
| 10 | Todd Bowles | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Mar 30, 2022 | 4 |
When an NFL franchise has only had three head coaches since 1969, choosing a new one must be handled delicately.
NFL sportsbooks are suggesting that John Harbaugh is the most likely candidate to land the job, but there are also reports that he’s nearly inked a deal with the New York Giants.
Breaking: John Harbaugh and the New York Giants are working to finalize an agreement to make him their next head coach and, barring a setback, a deal is expected, multiple sources tell @AdamSchefter.
The deal is not final and contract numbers still are being negotiated, per… pic.twitter.com/UkRA0HUn14
— ESPN (@espn) January 15, 2026
Who will be the Next Full Time Head Coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers
- John Harbaugh +400
- Brian Flores +450
- Mike McDaniel +575
- Kevin Stefanski +650
- Jim Schwartz +800
- Klint Kubiak +950
- Kliff Kingsbury +950
- Mike McCarthy +1100
- Raheem Morris +1200
- Anthony Weaver +1200
- Arthur Smith +1200
- Vance Joseph +1400
- Teryl Austin +1800
- Curt Cignetti +1100
If Harbaugh does indeed have his sights set on the Big Apple, a defensive mind like Brian Flores would make a lot of sense. NFL futures suggest that Flores would be the hire if Harbaugh passes on the opportunity.
Pittsburgh has reportedly requested an interview with Flores, who is currently serving as the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.
Kevin Stefanski presents another intriguing option for the Steelers. He is a former offensive coordinator for the Vikings and a two-time NFL Coach of the Year while with the Cleveland Browns.
Stefanski would represent a modern shift for a franchise that has struggled with offensive consistency and quarterback development since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement in 2022.
Sleeper Candidates
Vance Joseph
Vance Joseph is coming off a dominant 2025 season where his Broncos defense ranked No. 1 in the NFL in sacks (68) and was a top-3 unit in points allowed (18.3 per game).
The downside of Joseph is that he’s already botched his only opportunity to be a head coach in the league, compiling an 11-21 record in his two seasons with Denver.
Curt Cignetti
Curt Cignetti is a native of Pittsburgh and has deep ties to the area. He played quarterback at West Virginia and is the current head coach of the Indiana Hoosiers, who will compete for the CFP National Championship in four days.
What is working against Cignetti is his age. He is 64 years old, and historically, the Steelers hire very young coaches. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher, and Mike Tomlin were all 37 or younger when they were hired.
