Ranking the NFL's remaining head-coaching vacancies: Ravens, Steelers top list

Now that the New York Giants have reportedly closed in on John Harbaugh to be their next head coach, there are still eight head-coaching vacancies remaining. All of them are attractive to some degree because they are NFL head-coaching jobs, and there are only 32 of them. 

Some, however, are more attractive than others. So, let's take a look at the eight remaining vacancies and rank them in order of which should be the most attractive to potential candidates.  

1. Baltimore Ravens 

They have the most important piece that a contending NFL team needs— the quarterback. The presence of two-time MVP Lamar Jackson immediately makes this the best remaining open vacancy in the NFL. There really is nothing else that matters more. Consistent winning franchise. Quarterback in place. This should be the top of every head-coaching wish list.  

2. Pittsburgh Steelers

Based on the Steelers' track record of three head coaches since 1969, you have to think job security will be strong. For all of their flaws, the Steelers have still won 10 games three years in a row (one of only five teams in the league to do that the past three years), have plenty of salary-cap space and could have as many as 12 draft picks in 2026. It is a historic franchise with a track record of success and is set up to win right away. 

3. Atlanta Falcons

The most attractive thing about this job: Winning should be possible early on. The Falcons finished in a three-way tie for the top spot in the NFC South. There is no dominant team in the division, and the presence of Michael Penix Jr. at least gives a new coach a young quarterback to work with. The biggest concern with that is Penix's injury history. 

4. Tennessee Titans

The presence of quarterback Cam Ward is something that could be a big deal here. While he is still a work in progress and far from a guarantee to be a star, he is still a big-time talent who showed great improvement as the season went on. A talented young quarterback on a rookie contract is a key piece to have, and a lot of offensive minds should be excited about that potential. 

5. Miami Dolphins

An underrated mess of a franchise that gets shielded by playing in the same division as the New York Jets. But even the Jets have had more playoff success recently than Miami has. The Dolphins have made the playoffs just four times in 24 years and have not won a playoff game in 25 years. You also have to try to figure out a way to work with an unimpressive quarterback (Tua Tagovailoa) on a terrible contract. 

6. Arizona Cardinals

Pretty much the NFC version of the Dolphins. A franchise that has no recent history of winning and has a bad quarterback situation where the wrong guy (Kyler Murray) is signed to a bad contract. What makes Arizona an even worse situation is the roster around that quarterback, which is worse from top to bottom.  

7. Las Vegas Raiders

Yes, they have the No. 1 overall pick. Yes, they could land their potential quarterback of the future with that pick. But there is a reason the Raiders keep cycling through head coaches, coordinators, quarterbacks and players every couple of years and produce the same results. It is an ownership problem. Who can actually win here? Is it even possible? The plus side: Las Vegas is probably a fun place to live. 

8. Cleveland Browns

This is pretty much the same situation as the Raiders. Can you actually win here with this ownership? The Browns have no quarterback, have a terrible salary-cap situation for this season with the Deshaun Watson contract and are not in as good a position as the Raiders in the draft to potentially land their next quarterback. The defense has enough talent to compete, but the quarterback room and ownership are massive hurdles to overcome.