The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL The duality of this cycle's coaching hires, and the moves still to come, with Jourdan Rodrigue
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Jan 22, 2026 Jourdan Rodrigue, Senior NFL writer at The Athletic, joins to dissect the latest coaching hires in the league. They analyze why some hires, like John Harbaugh to the Giants, have potential while others, like Kevin Stefanski to the Falcons, may repeat past mistakes. The conversation shifts to the Cardinals and Bills, highlighting the pressures and challenges unique to each job. The duo also debates the best candidates for open positions, offering insights on defensive hires and their potential pitfalls.
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Harbaugh As Organizational Fix
- John Harbaugh can reset the Giants' organizational infrastructure and establish a reliable floor for competence.
- Success depends heavily on coordinator hires who set the team's ceiling.
Stefanski Fits Short-Term Win Window
- Kevin Stefanski fits a Falcons job that offers immediate competitiveness and division winnability.
- The main risk is repeating Cleveland-era misalignment where the coach loses his voice amid meddling.
Hafley As Cultural Rebuilder
- Jeff Hafley's best-case is a cultural reset like Sean McDermott produced in Buffalo, rebuilding through defensive identity.
- The main failure mode is the quarterback gap and organizational flux undermining defensive hires.