Thirteen teams are heading into their final three games of the 2025 NFL season already eliminated from postseason contention. So, how many of them could make big changes for 2026?
Two of the teams, the Titans and Giants, already fired their head coaches during the season and remain in the early phases of their respective searches.
Here's a thumbnail look at where things stand with the other 11 eliminated teams, based on recent conversations with NFL sources. Teams are listed alphabetically:
Arizona Cardinals
It feels like ages ago that the Cardinals started 2-0. Since then, they've lost 11 out of 12 games as the offense was increasingly decimated by injuries, including a foot sprain that has sidelined quarterback Kyler Murray since Week 5 and countless hits to receivers and running backs.
Owner Michael Bidwill has been supportive of coach Jonathan Gannon, who overachieved with a rebuilding roster in his first two seasons, jumping from 4-13 to 8-9 last season. His young staff, including offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis, has continued to grow into their roles on the job. And Gannon and general manager Monti Ossenfort have yet to pick their own QB, taking on Murray -- with a contract that fully guarantees him $36.8 million next season, plus another $19.5 million if he's on the roster March 15 -- when they were hired in 2023.
With potentially a new QB, can the Cardinals make a leap back toward contention next season in a division in which the other three teams are all currently competing for the NFC's No. 1 seed? If Bidwill decides the answer is yes, the sense is he'll stay the course. Putting all the factors together and noting the overwhelming number of injuries this year, one wouldn't expect a change in Arizona.
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons got a positive jolt last on Thursday night of Week 15 when they stunned the Buccaneers. But the season remains a resounding disappointment thanks to a 5-9 record, a season-ending ACL injury to quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and no shot at the playoffs.
Owner Arthur Blank has shown patience in the past, but is it running out with a franchise that hasn't made the playoffs in eight years? He plans to evaluate the futures of coach Raheem Morris and general manager Terry Fontenot as the season draws to a close, as most owners do following trying campaigns.
Fontenot, who signed a six-year contract in 2021, has just one year left on his deal. Morris is under contract through 2028.
A strong finish certainly wouldn't hurt their cause, and if Kirk Cousins finishes strong, it would justify a part of the QB decisions made last year. But people familiar with Blank's thinking expect potential changes in some form to the football operation regardless. Nothing is decided and won't be until after the season.
Cincinnati Bengals
Despite a third straight non-playoff season and quarterback Joe Burrow's recent musings about the future, there are no signs the Bengals are preparing to make major changes.
Coach Zac Taylor has two years left on his contract, and all indications are that Taylor should return. Burrow's injuries -- including a severe turf toe injury that required surgery in September, costing him nine games -- have been a driving force in the team's struggles. Bengals owner Mike Brown believes in Taylor, who led Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI during the 2021 season and the AFC title game the year after, and historically has not wanted to pay coaches not to coach.
Assuming Taylor is back, the biggest question is whether he'll make a defensive coordinator change for the second consecutive year. The unit has been one of the NFL's worst this season under Al Golden, as injuries to star pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and first-round pick Shemar Stewart crippled the pass rush. But when Taylor was asked about the defense recently, he indicated beefing up the D-line to make the entire unit better was the priority, rather than wholesale changes. And there does seems to be an argument, as Cincy's defense from Weeks 11-15 gave up six fewer points per game and allowed nearly 70 fewer passing yards per game compared to the first 10 weeks. The Bengals also rank sixth in the NFL in takeaways since Week 11. Progress.
Cleveland Browns
No decisions have been made on the future of Kevin Stefanski, the two-time NFL Coach of the Year. The Browns know Stefanski can coach, and he has maintained a consistent approach amid the adversity of a transition year with a young roster. But the hard reality is the Browns are 6-25 over the past two seasons, putting everything up for evaluation.
The organization has already undergone a major change this year: chief strategy officer Paul DePodesta, who presided over football matters for 10 seasons remotely from his San Diego home, left the organization last month to become the Colorado Rockies' president of baseball operations. A Harvard graduate who appeared in the book Moneyball, which was later adapted into the movie of the same title, DePodesta influenced the hires of fellow Ivy Leaguers as head coach (Stefanski) and general manager (Andrew Berry). He also built out one of the NFL's most robust data and analytics staffs -- infrastructure that will largely remain in place, though it's unclear if his old role will continue to exist.
The Browns' rookie class has been one of the NFL's best, and it'll look even better if quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel or Shedeur Sanders can develop into a long-term option. How Stefanski and his staff continue to bring along Sanders will be part of the evaluation over the final three games as Cleveland approaches a QB crossroads. Deshaun Watson is (finally) entering the final year of his $230 million fully guaranteed contract in 2026. And the team has significant draft capital -- including two first-round picks -- to potentially target another QB in April.
Does owner Jimmy Haslam believe Stefanski is the right coach to bring a young team and young quarterback(s) into the next phase of the Browns' build? If not, Haslam might opt to move on, and Stefanski would immediately become a top candidate elsewhere.
Kansas City Chiefs
Legendary coach Andy Reid isn't getting fired, and people who know Reid well say he has given no indications he'll walk away at age 67. For the first time in years, he'll finally have a full offseason to recharge. As one person close to him said: "Coach Reid ain't going out like this."
Another said simply: "He'll be back."
But after seven consecutive AFC championship game appearances, five Super Bowls and three rings, the Chiefs find themselves in the unfamiliar position of playing out the string. Patrick Mahomes will spend the offseason rehabbing from ACL and LCL surgery, one that challenges whether he'll be ready to start the season. Travis Kelce could retire, though no decision has been made. Another roster reboot, as GM Brett Veach has executed adeptly in the past, could be afoot.
One situation to watch: Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy chose not to sign an extension in the offseason and is set to become a free agent. Nagy will be a top head coaching candidate and could well land a job. If he doesn't, Nagy could become a hot candidate for a play-calling job elsewhere. That would mean Reid needs a new OC, with several of his former assistants -- including Eric Bieniemy and perhaps Giants interim HC Mike Kafka -- among potential candidates.
Las Vegas Raiders
What hasn't gone wrong this season in Las Vegas?
The Raiders are 2-12. Two coordinators (OC Chip Kelly and special teams coordinator Tom McMahon) have been fired. Veteran quarterback Geno Smith, acquired for a third-round pick, has thrown 14 interceptions. No. 6 overall pick Ashton Jeanty has rushed 200 times for only 700 yards, with little running room. Superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby, who signed a contract extension last March, appeared to hit a breaking point in last week's shutout loss to the Eagles.
It all has the fate of 74-year-old coach Pete Carroll very much in doubt. No stranger to making changes, mercurial owner Mark Davis will weigh the feedback he gets from all sides of his building as he considers the possibility of another. Meanwhile, Carroll is intent on convincing the owner he should return.
Legendary quarterback Tom Brady and his business partner Egon Durban have wielded significant influence since becoming Raiders minority owners last year. Brady is close with former Michigan teammate and current GM John Spytek, with both serving as the sounding board for one another. While Spytek was Brady's GM target last year, Brady's prime target for head coach was Ben Johnson, who took the Bears job instead. Expect Brady -- who has spent little time in the Raiders building as he balances his broadcasting duties on Fox and other business interests -- to increase his presence as the decision closes in.
Many of those in the building who know Carroll well understand change may be necessary.
Davis is his own man, though. And all the voices around him report to him. He has won three titles in four years with the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces and believes he can replicate that success with the Raiders. Whatever Davis wants to do ultimately is what will happen, and it's not yet clear what that will be.
Miami Dolphins
When Miami parted ways with GM Chris Grier in October after a 2-7 start, the message publicly and privately was clear: Coach Mike McDaniel would finish the season, with hopes of the team responding and showing McDaniel is the right man for the job.
And while Monday night’s loss at Pittsburgh eliminated Miami from playoff contention and contributed to the seismic decision to bench quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the preceding four-game winning streak has strengthened the belief McDaniel will be back in 2026.
The Dolphins face major organizational decisions on several other fronts: Do they bite the bullet and release Tagovailoa, who is due $54 million fully guaranteed next season (and would count over $99 million in dead cap over two years)? Do they go into a deeper rebuild by trading other assets in the coming months? And who will take over as GM to navigate it all?
First, owner Stephen Ross must decide the fate of McDaniel, who still has a winning record (34-31) and two playoff appearances in four seasons. Ross has long been a believer in McDaniel, and last year extended his contract through 2028.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings extended Kevin O'Connell's contract last January, and nothing that's happened since has affected ownership's belief in their head coach.
To be sure, this 6-8 season has been a disappointment. After going 14-3 last season, the Vikings have experienced a mess of injuries -- including to quarterback J.J. McCarthy, whose development was a priority after he missed his entire rookie season because of meniscus surgery. (McCarthy has played better in recent weeks and now is 4-4 as the starter.)
Minnesota has many decisions to make this offseason with an expensive, veteran roster.
Another issue to address: Defensive coordinator Brian Flores' contract is up after the season. The Vikings hope to work out a deal to retain him.
New York Jets
Aaron Glenn's first season as head coach has been filled with adversity: An 0-7 start. Trading two of the franchise's best players (Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams). Benching quarterback Justin Fields. A 3-11 record that has them in the running for the No. 1 pick.
But faith in Glenn -- once a Jets defensive back -- remains strong inside the building. The culture is forming. The expectation is he'll return in 2026.
Glenn already made one move with an eye toward next season, firing defensive coordinator Steve Wilks after a no-show performance in Jacksonville. Interim DC Chris Harris is a respected assistant and could be a candidate for the full-time job.
Additional staff changes are possible. And the Jets' next swing at the QB position will be critical, with plenty of ammunition for GM Darren Mougey to work with thanks to those deadline trades.
New Orleans Saints
At 4-10, the Saints are long out of the playoff chase. However, there's a case to be made that not only has Kellen Moore's first season been a success, but that New Orleans is also the hottest team in the division, with wins over the Bucs and Panthers in a five-day span.
After a 1-8 start, the Saints have won three of their last five games, including a sweep of Carolina behind promising rookie quarterback Tyler Shough.
This was never going to be a championship season in New Orleans, and Moore's work has impressed people around the league. He'll be back in 2026 with a roster that will continue to evolve as he builds the program.
Washington Commanders
Few teams have been more disappointing than Washington, which has fallen from 12-5 and a surprise NFC Championship Game appearance last season to 4-10 amid a rash of injuries to key players, including quarterback Jayden Daniels.
But Dan Quinn has held the locker room together, owner Josh Harris believes in his head coach and all indications are Quinn will be back for a third season.
That doesn't mean there won't be changes. After a brutal first half of the season on defense, Quinn took over play-calling duties from his longtime assistant Joe Whitt Jr., who seems unlikely to return as defensive coordinator.
A season like this puts everything under evaluation. Other staff changes are possible, and it's virtually certain there will be a significant overhaul to one of the NFL's oldest rosters in hopes of rebounding in 2026.
