Four candidates who could headline NFL coaching carousel in 2027

A record-tying 10 NFL head-coaching vacancies were created at the conclusion of the 2025 season, leading to considerable buzz before the opening of the offseason. 

Several teams made bold changes, leaving numerous coaches on the sidelines waiting for their next opportunity. While it's still early, and how teams perform next season will change a lot, there are numerous candidates to keep an eye on ahead of next year's coaching carousel.

Sean McDermott

Sean McDermott will be part of the 2027 head-coaching discussion. Despite being fired by the Buffalo Bills, McDermott proved he can take a fledgling organization and make it a perennial playoff contender. 

His time in Buffalo is similar to Andy Reid’s in Philadelphia. Reid performed well in Philly but could never win the big one. Once he moved to Kansas City, he won three Super Bowls. Look for McDermott to be an NFL head coach again in 2027 and make Buffalo regret ever letting him go.

Mike Tomlin

Mike Tomlin may be the most likely candidate on this list to secure a head-coaching job in 2027, if he wants it. Tomlin is the only candidate here who has won a Super Bowl. However, since that victory, he struggled in the playoffs, which ultimately led to him stepping down in January as Steelers HC. 

Tomlin never had a losing season in Pittsburgh and can be seen as a coach who can develop a winning culture. With the right coordinators around him, Tomlin could revamp his image as not just a coach who can win games in the regular season, but as one who can execute well in the playoffs and prove his doubters wrong.

Mike McDaniel

This may be premature, but it depends on how well he performs as the new offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers. Learning under Jim Harbaugh and working with a standout quarterback like Justin Herbert could revitalize McDaniel’s career and put him in a position for another head-coaching opportunity with a team seeking an offensive mind. 

If the Chargers offense takes a big step forward in efficiency and advances far in the playoffs, McDaniel’s name will easily be thrown back into the mix of 2027 head-coaching candidates.

Lincoln Riley

It is easy to name dismissed head coaches as contenders, but it also makes sense to look at who in the NCAA could make the jump. Lincoln Riley of USC could plausibly be next. 

Riley has yet to interview for an NFL coaching job despite always being in discussion. For years, he denied taking calls, but many believe 2027 may be the year he leaps. Riley is known for developing quarterbacks at USC. If the right situation opens up, it may entice him to finally test his offensive system in the NFL.

The carousel keeps turning

The NFL coaching carousel never fully stops, and January 2027 will be an interesting time. While new names will always be in contention, there are plenty of experienced coaches ready to return to a head role. Whether it is a veteran like Tomlin or a relatively young former head coach like McDaniel, sometimes a fresh environment is all it takes for a tenured coach to reset and thrive.