The NFL coaching carousel keeps spinning.
Eight teams are seeking a new head coach after Baltimore fired John Harbaugh on Tuesday and Miami fired Mike McDaniel on Thursday. Others could join the search if their team is one-and-done in the playoffs. Harbaugh’s sudden availability after 18 seasons with the Ravens could create a new opening.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Jan. 4, in Pittsburgh.
Multiple teams are interested in Harbaugh, including a club without a current opening, two people with knowledge of the conversations told The Associated Press. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions are private.
Teams with head coaches can’t secretly work behind the scenes to hire Harbaugh or anyone else because the NFL adopted the Rooney Rule in 2003. It requires teams to conduct in-person interviews with at least two diverse — minority or female — candidates who don’t currently work for the team.
The Buccaneers aren’t among the teams looking for a new coach because Todd Bowles is staying put in Tampa Bay, a person with knowledge of the team’s thinking told the AP.
Bowles is under contract for three more seasons and is returning for a fifth year as head coach despite a major collapse in the second half. The Bucs went from 6-2 to 8-9 and missed the playoffs after winning the NFC South for four straight seasons. Bowles was the defensive coordinator under Bruce Arians when Tom Brady led the Bucs to a Super Bowl title five years ago.
The New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders also have current openings for a head coach.
Here are three more teams that could decide to make a coaching change:
Buffalo Bills
Sean McDermott has led the Bills (12-5) to the playoffs in eight of his nine seasons. But after five straight AFC East titles, they enter this postseason as a wild-card team with the No. 6 seed.
McDermott and Josh Allen have been under pressure to get to the Super Bowl after falling short in the conference championship game last year. They lost in the divisional round the previous three seasons. The Bills won't have to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, who knocked them out four times in the last five years.
The Bills are 1-point favorites on the road against Jacksonville on Sunday. If Buffalo loses, it might force a change despite McDermott's success.
Green Bay Packers
Matt LaFleur has led the Packers (9-7-1) to the playoffs six times in seven seasons. He guided them to three straight 13-win seasons in his first three years, but they lost at home in the NFC championship game twice. They've been the No. 7 seed each of the last three seasons.
Green Bay is a 1-point road favorite against division rival Chicago on Saturday night. The Packers and Bears split their season series.
Losing star pass rusher Micah Parsons was a major blow for Green Bay's Super Bowl hopes. LaFleur has a tough task this postseason.
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, left, and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, right, talk before an NFL football game, Jan. 4, in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin was a missed 44-yard field goal from being eliminated and Harbaugh and the Ravens would be hosting the Houston Texans this week as the AFC North champion instead of the Steelers.
Tomlin is a Super Bowl champion coach who has led Pittsburgh for 19 seasons, one longer than Harbaugh was in Baltimore. He's 193-114-2 in the regular season and 8-11 in the playoffs. But the Steelers (10-7) haven't won a playoff game since 2016, and there's been speculation about Tomlin throughout the season. A loss Monday night to the Texans could lead to a change.
Top photos from Week 18 of the NFL season
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (15) runs for a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys during the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger)
Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett (95) celebrates after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) to set an NFL record for sacks in the regular season during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, left, escapes pressure from Miami Dolphins linebacker Quinton Bell during the first half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Washington Commanders safety Jeremy Reaves (39) celebrates after making an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Los Angeles Rams tight end Tyler Higbee (89) scores a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)
An Atlanta Falcons fan celebrates in the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Houston Texans linebacker Henry To'oto'o (39) celebrates his fumble recovery against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. (24) commits pass interference near the goal line against New Orleans Saints wide receiver Dante Pettis (11) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs (2) makes a catch for first down against the Houston Texans during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (11) fails to make a catch in front of Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jacksonville Jaguars place-kicker Cam Little (39) celebrates his 67-yard field goal during the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a touchdown pass against Cleveland Browns cornerback Sam Webb during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Green Bay Packers running back Chris Brooks (30) is tackled by Minnesota Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers (2) and linebacker Eric Wilson (55) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle, right, is tackled Seattle Seahawks safety Ty Okada (39) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, left, talks with Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold after an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Deven Thompkins (83) carries against New Orleans Saints cornerback Isaac Yiadom (27) in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) scores a touchdown as he is hit by Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun (23) during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. runs onto the field before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Ellen Schmidt)
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Parker Washington (11) makes a catch for a touchdown over Tennessee Titans safety Sanoussi Kane, below, during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Cleveland Browns cornerback Sam Webb celebrates after returning a fumble for a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)
An Atlanta Falcons fan cheers in the second half of an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (12) pulls in a touchdown pass that was called back on a penalty in the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Carolina Panthers running back Chuba Hubbard (30) runs around the tackle attempt from Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Benjamin Morrison (21) during the first half of an NFL football game Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
