The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL Hop aboard the 2026 Coaching Carousel
Dec 11, 2025
Conor Orr, a journalist for Sports Illustrated specializing in NFL coaching, dives into the intricacies of the forthcoming 2026 coaching carousel. He discusses why this cycle feels unique, emphasizing a thin offensive candidate pool. The conversation covers which teams might seek new coaches, spotlighting names like Vance Joseph and Jesse Minter, and discusses the growing interest in defensive hires. Orr also highlights emerging candidates like Kelvin Sheppard and the potential impact of analytics-savvy leaders. It’s a deep exploration of what the future may hold for NFL coaching.
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Offensive Talent Drought Fuels Defensive Demand
- Offensive play-callers have been over-hired and the pool is thin, making teams consider riskier young candidates or defensive hires.
- Conor Orr sees defensive coaches rising because they can neutralize elite offenses and are abundant in this cycle.
McDonald's Defense Rewrote Owner Preferences
- Mike McDonald's Seahawks success created a new defensive archetype owners now chase instead of imitating high-scoring offenses.
- That archetype increases interest in defensive coordinators like Jesse Minter and Jeff Hafley.
Joe Burrow Job Would Crash The Market
- Cincinnati becoming available would trigger a cascade because coaching Joe Burrow is a coveted opportunity.
- Conor Orr calls that job the 'golden goose' that can shake the market.