2026 Next NFL Head Coach Odds: Top Betting Favorites, Picks, and Predictions
The first domino in the 2026 NFL head coaching carousel has apparently fallen. The New York Giants are expected to finalize a deal to make former Baltimore Ravens shot-caller John Harbaugh their next head coach.
From there, madness may ensue.
Counting the Giants, there were eight open NFL head coach positions in all, with the Green Bay Packers and Matt LaFleur currently trying to figure out what their collective future holds.
All of the drama and intrigue plays into a compelling market, and it’s one that you can potentially profit from. DraftKings has a series of bets surrounding the NFL’s next coach odds, with some interesting favorites and some possible value bets to exploit.
If you’re interested in taking advantage of these betting markets, I’ll walk you through the next NFL head coach odds for the key vacancies, while also offering my top picks and predictions.
What Are NFL Coach Odds?
Just to avoid any confusion, this is a betting market where you predict (and bet on) who specific NFL teams will hire to be their next head coach. These types of wagers can be presented in one of two ways; odds for where a coach will sign next, or odds for which coaches a specific team is likely to sign.
Keep in mind that this is an extremely fluid and reactive betting market. Why? Because nobody outside of the team or coach circles really knows what will happen, and once the first big domino falls, odds start changing rapidly.
The Harbaugh news, for instance, immediately removed Harbaugh from consideration to be hired by any other NFL team. Most sportsbooks reacted by pulling him from their market pricing, or by pausing or taking down those bets entirely.
When betting on the next head coach for any NFL team, consider the following:
- Coaching connections
- Coaching fit
- Team strengths & weaknesses
- Previous stops
- Recent NFL hires
Coaching connections can be huge for this betting market, so pay attention to coaching trees and any kind of previous relationship a coach may have with a member of a given team’s front office.
In addition, a coach’s fit and what they bring to the table, as well as key strengths or weaknesses a team has or needs to address can be very important in making a successful prediction.
Where that head coach has worked can also play into their odds. If they used to work for a franchise (but likely not as the head coach), they may have a leg up.
Lastly, keep an eye on every big transaction – most notably head coaching hires. Ie, with the Harbaugh hire, every coach that was in position to strike for the Giants’ job is now going to see an odds shift for every other available head coaching gig.
Current NFL Coach Odds by Team
DraftKings has a few NFL head coach betting markets we can take advantage of. There are more open slots, but I’ll go over the NFL head coaching vacancies you can bet on, their latest odds, and who I think is the best bet to get the job.
Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Odds
| Head Coach Candidate | NFL Head Coach Odds |
|---|---|
Chris Shula | +150 |
Brian Flores | +350 |
Robert Saleh | +700 |
Jesse Minter | +800 |
Vance Joseph | +850 |
Nate Scheelhaase | +1000 |
Mike McDaniel | +1000 |
Klink Kubiak | +1000 |
Kevin Stefanski | +1000 |
Chris Shula leads the way with the best odds to be the next head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers are notorious for being extremely selective and loyal with their head coaches, while Mike Tomlin stepped down very recently.
Naturally, the Steelers may take a bit longer than some other teams to decide on their next head coach. Considering their history of defensive-minded coaches, they could go either way. They could continue with that tradition, or, based on their lack of offensive success over the past decade, they could opt for a younger coach with a bright offensive mind.
That is where Shula comes in. The offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, Shula, is just 39 and has experience running a high-level offense. Whether he’s cut out to lead a team is open for debate, but coming from the Sean McVay tree is another thing most NFL teams looking for a coach will find appealing.
Brian Flores is in the mix here, too, but I think Saleh has a better chance of becoming the next Steelers head coach. Flores has a lot of baggage, whether it be negative feedback from his time at the helm of the Miami Dolphins or his lawsuit against the NFL.
Saleh may be the better option, as he doesn’t come with that sort of negativity, while he also flashed the ability to lead a team into the gray while with the dysfunctional New York Jets.
If the Steelers prefer to stay the course with a hard-nosed leader that relies on toughness, defense, and leadership, then Saleh makes a lot of sense. And unlike his opportunity with the Jets, Saleh would be walking into a situation where the organization is cohesive and puts full support behind their new hires.
Should the Steelers opt for an offensive guru, stealing Stefanski from the rival Cleveland Browns has to be considered. He’s still pretty young at 43, he’s a proven offensive mastermind, and he has plenty of experience after coaching the Browns for the past six seasons.
Stefanski did remarkably well considering the state of the franchise, twice leading them to 11-win seasons and playoff appearances. He had two other seasons with seven or more wins despite constantly having to deal with the fallout of the botched Deshaun Watson signing.
Shula is the favorite, but he’s arguably the OC who is in the highest demand. That means he can probably pick his spot after the top retreads find a landing spot. Or he may do what Ben Johnson did two years ago and go through the interview process, but wait for a better situation.
Stefanski and Saleh would see this as a marked upgrade. Saleh is very much in play, but I am leaning toward Stefanski. The Steelers have seen the positive work he’s done up close, so they know he will be an effective leader and is a pivot away from their usual defensive-minded approach.
Las Vegas Raiders Next Coach Odds
| Head Coach Candidate | NFL Head Coach Odds |
|---|---|
Brian Flores | +150 |
Klint Kubiak | +350 |
Robert Saleh | +550 |
Davis Webb | +700 |
Kliff Kingsbury | +800 |
Kevin Stefanski | +1000 |
Vance Joseph | +1000 |
Brian Flores leads the way with the best odds to coach the Raiders next, but with the team moving on from Pete Carroll after one year, they are likely to make a better foundational move.
Flores would get their defense right, but their biggest issue is on the offensive side of the ball.
Bringing in a quarterback whisper and successful offensive mind like Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak is probably the way to go.
Tom Brady and the Las Vegas ownership team needs a long-term move that coincides with the current state of the team. Their status is that they own the top pick in the draft, they’re going to need to develop a young quarterback, and they have the worst offense in football.
Kubiak is only 38 and clearly untested, but he’s probably the exact type of coach they need.
Unless the Raiders opt for a CEO-type or defensive-minded coach, the next best bet has to be Mike McDaniel. The 42-year old got bounced by the Miami Dolphins, but he largely pieced together creative and explosive offenses and kept Miami competitive.
The Dolphins made the playoffs twice under his guidance and never won fewer than seven games in any of his four years in South Beach. The Raiders brass should take note of his underrated leadership and ability to keep his team in contention even when dealing with injuries and an inconsistent defense.
The Raiders have tried retreads. They have tried icons. And they have tried defensive-minded coaches. None of it has worked, and in 2025, they had a truly abysmal offense.
Las Vegas enters the 2026 NFL Draft with the top pick, and they need a total reset with an eye on the future. Hiring an older coach or someone who specializes in defense isn’t the way to go, which makes someone like Kubiak really stand out.
Mike McDaniel might be too smart to take this job. It is an uphill climb, and he’d be better served finding a comfy OC gig to boost his stock. Kubiak could opt to go full Ben Johnson here, but ultimately, I think he and Shula will make the jump and try to carve out their own legend in the NFL.
Miami Dolphins Next Coach Odds
| Head Coach Candidate | NFL Head Coach Odds |
|---|---|
Jeff Hafley | +175 |
Chris Shula | +400 |
Kevin Stefanski | +800 |
Anthony Campanile | +900 |
Patrick Graham | +1000 |
Mike McCarthy | +1000 |
Klint Kubiak | +1000 |
Kliff Kingsbury | +1000 |
Green Bay Packers DC Jeff Hafley was one of the top contenders to be the next head coach of the Giants, but that dream has died. He’s now the tentative favorite to be hired by Miami, although nothing concrete connects him to this job.
Miami could go either way with their hire. They tried the young OC approach, and it had its moments, but they could be deterred from doing that again in 2026.
Predicting Miami’s next head coach isn’t easy, as they definitely will not be in on the Brian Flores sweepstakes, and Mike McDaniel may have ruined them for the “bright offensive coordinator” approach.
That certainly doesn’t rule out Chris Shula, as the Dolphins could take a second crack at the Sean McVay coaching tree and see if they can avoid a poison apple this time around.
The other option is the favored Hafley, who has head coaching experience from his time at Boston College, and beefed up a struggling Green Bay Packers defense over the past two seasons.
If Miami passes on flashiness and just wants substance that can grow with them, Hafley is a logical fit.
Miami has been trying to win with newbies, so one option is to change course and go grab a retread with legit experience. Jason Garrett or Jon Gruden are also in the mix with this strategy, but the most accomplished coach left on the market has to be Mike McCarthy.
He’s not the sexiest hire, and he’s now in his 60’s, but many seem to forget he led the Dallas Cowboys to three 12-win seasons during his four years in Texas. McCarthy can run a vanilla offense at times, but he knows how to move the ball, and he knows how to lead.
Ultimately, I think this is the spot Chris Shula wants to land in. Miami’s front office has been a trainwreck for a while now, but they clearly want an offensive team, and they will probably need someone to help either save Tua Tagovailoa or bridge the gap between him and their next starting quarterback.
Shula or Klint Kubiak figure to be the two most likely options in that scenario, while Shula being from the McVay family could give him a leg up.
Odds for Next Baltimore Ravens’ Head Coach
| Head Coach Candidate | NFL Head Coach Odds |
|---|---|
Klint Kubiak | +400 |
Jesse Minter | +200 |
Brian Flores | +550 |
Kevin Stefanski | +600 |
Robert Saleh | +650 |
Mike McDaniel | +850 |
Chris Shula | +1000 |
Davis Webb | +1000 |
Matt LaFleur | +1200 |
The Ravens moved on from longtime head coach John Harbaugh and will need to replace him with someone who can lead a team built to win now. Baltimore has a talented defense and a loaded offense in place, but something has been missing.
Do the Ravens bring someone in that has similar experience to Harbaugh, but a different voice or specialty? Or do they opt for a young OC or DC to grow with? That option is presently in the lead, with Jesse Minter and Klint Kubiak holding the best Ravens head coach odds.
Judging by the press conference from Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti, Baltimore is definitely eager to start fresh, and they probably want a totally different direction than what they’ve had.
Baltimore should be careful not to get too crazy, though, as Lamar Jackson gives them a leg up on a lot of would-be rebuilding franchises. The coach who comes into town needs to have a plan for how to maximize Jackson and this offense, as well as a strategy for boosting a defense that was inconsistent in 2025.
Minter fixes the defensive side of things, as he led a nasty Chargers defense and would be a very natural John Harbaugh replacement. He’s only 42 and has an elite ceiling as a head coach, but he may not appease Baltimore’s offensive needs, short of landing the right OC.
This one is a total wild card. Matt LaFleur is still under contract with the Green Bay Packers, but he is priced at +1200 and is pretty interesting. He’s quite the pivot away from Harbaugh, who was more of a leader and locker room guy than a true X’s and O’s coach.
LaFleur is very possibly staying in Green Bay, but with the team negotiating a long-term deal as I write this, it’s not crazy to think a firing or even a trade could come down the pipeline.
If LaFleur becomes available, I think the Ravens will jump at him. LaFleur’s system gets receivers open, and the sky is the limit as far as what he could do with an explosive rusher like Jackson.
I like Minter to get the job. With Harbaugh’s staff departing, the defense gets a full reset, and the team gets a fiery new leader with upside to be tapped into.
Based on Baltimore’s owner’s comments, I think he wants someone who can lead the team, but will ultimately fall in line. Bringing in an established head coach may not be the proper fit, while younger offensive coaches may not offer enough balance for this job.
Minter will need to corral a strong offensive coordinator to align with what Lamar Jackson does well, but there’s a good chance whatever he does will be an upgrade over what Baltimore had in town recently.
Best Bets & Value Angles
- Safest Betting Favorite: Jesse Minter to Ravens (+200)
- Best Value Bet: Kevin Stefanski to the Steelers (+1000)
- Top Longshot: Jon Gruden to Dolphins (+6000)
There’s nothing truly safe about the next NFL coach betting markets. Even the most obvious favorites can get passed over, pick a different team, or bow out of the race altogether.
Chris Shula and Klint Kubiak are frontrunners for just about every NFL head coaching vacancy, but each respective team is looking for something different. Whatever the case, based on circumstance and team need, Minter to Baltimore feels like the safest bet.
If you’re looking for pure value, Stefanski to the Steelers really stands out. Pittsburgh is a true wild card as they look to replace Tomlin. They could replace from within, they could hire a retread, they could opt for a young offensive mind, or they could stick with someone similar to Tomlin.
Ultimately, Stefanski is an elite value on the open market. He has proven experience, he was well received in the locker room, he will boost a weak offense, and he’s a good fit for a team that needs to draft and develop someone under center.
There are some interesting favorites and some clear value, but the longshot bets are what could be the most fun. That brings me to Jon Gruden heading to South Beach at +6000 odds. I don’t think it actually happens, but Gruden has been tossing his hat into the ring ever since the Raiders handed him his pink slip.
If someone will have him, Gruden will take just about any job. Miami is an ideal landing spot for a veteran offensive-minded coach, especially since you could argue the Dolphins are not that far from contending.
When Do NFL Coach Odds Change the Most?
Before betting on who NFL teams will hire for their sideline gigs, be sure to do your due diligence and research each vacancy, and also be aware of when and why odds can shift.
Here are a few things to keep in mind for why NFL head coach odds change:
- Team losing streaks
- Bye week rumors
- Late-season collapses
- Teams eliminated from the playoffs
- Older coaches at the end of their contracts
- Locker room negativity
- Social media buzz
A lot of the current NFL head coach betting markets were born out of rumors. But what sparks the whispering behind closed doors? Teams that start falling apart during the season, slow starts, bye week buzz, late-season free falls, and of course, playoff exits.
In addition, we can always start projecting the departure of older head coaches, while negative feedback from players or buzzworthy social media posts and media clips can contribute to rumors actually developing some legs.
None of this guarantees a move will be made – and it certainly doesn’t tell us who the new hire will be – but combining it all together can help you digest odds before, during, and after they’ve changed.
Where to Bet on Next NFL Coach Odds
There are a lot of great NFL betting sites online that offer next NFL coach odds, but the best ones offer several markets, are safe to bet at, and have competitive pricing.
As long as you’re using trustworthy football sportsbooks, which are among the best options out there, the big difference-maker is going to be pricing.
If one site has Chris Shula to Miami at +150 and another has him going there at +200, the call is made pretty easy for you.
Betting on NFL Coach Odds in 2026
There you have it; my top NFL head coaching picks for 2026. My favorite pick of the lot is Stefanski to the Steelers, as he offers the best combination of logic and value out of all the NFL head coach bets.
If there is one coach I am wary of backing at virtually any job, it has to be Brian Flores. He is an elite defensive coordinator and deserves another opportunity to run the show somewhere, but he carries a lot of negative baggage. He may be a case where he gets a lot of interviews, but ultimately gets passed over by younger options or more offensive-minded coaches.
Some vacant jobs do not have odds up at the moment, but DraftKings still gives you a few markets to hit before news drops.
Be sure to pay attention to any reports or rumors online, try to connect the dots as far as coach connection and fit, and above all else, make sure you choose a reputable sportsbook that offers fair pricing.
