8 NFL Head Coaches Have Now Been Fired

The NFL coaching carousel is whipping at a high rate of speed. Currently, there are eight open head coaching roles, which accounts for 25% of the league.

The most recent firing came Thursday morning, with the Miami Dolphins electing to move on from Mike McDaniel. McDaniel is the sixth coach fired since Sunday night and the eighth removed overall.

McDaniel done after four seasons

Hired by the Dolphins in 2022, Mike McDaniel went 9-8 and 11-6 with a pair of playoff appearances in his first two seasons. However, Miami fell to 8-9 in 2024 and 7-10 this past season.

"After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change," Dolphins owner Stephen Ross said in a statement Thursday. "I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach. I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought to our organization. Mike is an incredibly creative football mind whose passion for the game and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward."

The Dolphins were already looking for a new general manager, with four reported finalists. Now, they're in the market for a head coach too, and are being linked to the biggest available name: John Harbaugh, who was let go earlier this week by the Baltimore Ravens.

Harbaugh era over in Baltimore. What's next?

After 18 seasons, which included a victory in Super Bowl XLVII, the Ravens fired John Harbaugh on Tuesday. He finished his tenure with an overall regular season record of 180-113 with 12 trips to the postseason.

Harbaugh has been significantly connected to the New York Giants, who are one of the eight teams with an opening at head coach, but with the Dolphins getting rid of McDaniel today, speculation is rising that he may be a fit in Miami.

Ross, the Dolphins' owner, is a University of Michigan graduate who tried to hire Jim Harbaugh before and knows the family well, and Chad Alexander, one of the four remaining candidates for Miami's GM position, worked with John Harbaugh in Baltimore for more than a decade.

Four other coaches fired this week, two dismissed in season

The carousel started turning Sunday night when the Atlanta Falcons fired Raheem Morris and continued with three more dismissals on "Black Monday."

The four teams, along with the coaches they fired, were:

• Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon
• Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris
• Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski
• Las Vegas Raiders: Pete Carroll

Additionally, the New York Giants (Brian Daboll) and Tennessee Titans (Brian Callahan) axed their head coaches during the season, which brings the total of openings to eight.

Could more moves be coming?

It's certainly possible. Would early playoff exits by the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers or Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend mean those organizations will look elsewhere? Is another surprise in store?

Stay tuned.