Ranking first-year NFL head coaches with the toughest jobs
· Yahoo Sports
The NFL preseason got underway last Thursday night with the Hall of Fame Game. This week, the remaining 30 NFL teams will begin their preseasons. There are a number of franchises with new faces at head coach.
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Some teams, like the New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers, have new head coaches who bring veteran experience. There are also six rookie head coaches this season, all of whom face some level of challenge.
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With that in mind, here are those six NFL first-year head coaches ranked from the most ideal to the hardest jobs in the NFL.
Joe Brady – Buffalo Bills
Bills head coach Joe Brady leads the offense through drills during day five of Buffalo Bills training camp at St. John Fisher University Tuesday, August 4, 2026 in Pittsford. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Brady has worked for the Bills since 2022 and has developed a particularly close relationship with Josh Allen. He took over as offensive coordinator in 2023 and received another promotion this past offseason.
The Bills made it to the divisional round last year and are the only playoff team with a first-year head coach in 2026. Brady, understandably, is expected to remain closely involved with the offense after hiring Jim Leonhard as his defensive coordinator.
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If there’s a team most poised to make a Super Bowl run, it is Brady’s Bills.
Jesse Minter – Baltimore Ravens
Feb 24, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Baltimore Ravens coach Jesse Minter speaks at the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Minter was an exceptional defensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers after making the jump from college to the NFL with Jim Harbaugh. Now, he takes over for John Harbaugh as the head coach of the Ravens.
Baltimore was a Tyler Loop kick away from making the playoffs last year. Instead, the Ravens parted ways with their longest-tenured head coach and Minter inherits a playoff-caliber team.
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Having Lamar Jackson as your quarterback makes things a sweet deal. Now, Minter just needs to get the Ravens’ defense to play like a Baltimore defense.
Klint Kubiak – Las Vegas Raiders
Jun 9, 2026; Henderson, NV, USA; Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak (left) and quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during minicamp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Kubiak is following in his father’s footsteps, becoming another installment in an NFL family legacy. He has the No. 1 overall pick at quarterback to develop and plenty of promising offensive tools around him.
The Raiders made a significant investment in free agency. Kubiak doesn’t have the same expectations as the first two coaches on this list.
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Raiders fans, though, want one thing from Kubiak in the long run: Just Win, Baby!
Mike LaFleur – Arizona Cardinals
Aug 6, 2026; Canton, Ohio, USA;Arizona Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur reacts during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)One might put LaFleur in the conversation for the toughest job. However, he at least has some semblance of talent to work with. Carson Beck looked solid in his NFL debut, though it is only the preseason. The Cardinals also have a crowded running back room with a nice complement of receiving weapons.
LaFleur also has some pieces along the offensive line and some veteran leadership on the Cardinals’ defense. Unfortunately, they play in the NFC West, where there are arguably up to three legitimate contenders.
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It’s not the greatest spot to be in, but LaFleur has a little bit of something to work with.
Todd Monken – Cleveland Browns
Browns coach Todd Monken addresses his players after Browns training camp at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus of the Cleveland Browns in Berea, Ohio on June 9, 2026. on July, 31, 2026. Credit: USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect (Reuters)No one wanted the Browns’ job. Chris Shula declined to interview, Grant Udinski withdrew early, and Nathan Scheelhaase removed his name from consideration after ownership and the front office couldn’t agree on whom to hire.
Monken was far from their top choice. But to be fair, Monken probably didn’t necessarily have Cleveland as his top choice, either. The cupboard isn’t bare in Cleveland.
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The Browns have some solid receivers, especially after the NFL Draft. They still have core defensive pieces like Denzel Ward and Carson Schwesinger. They also have a haul of first-round picks in the future. They just don’t have a quarterback.
Jeff Hafley – Miami Dolphins
Aug 8, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley speaks to special teams coordinator Chris Tabor during practice at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)Hafley has his preferred quarterback after the Dolphins signed Malik Willis. They just don’t have much else on offense. There are a few solid pieces on defense as well, but nothing that stands out like the Browns’ once-dominant unit.
Hafley is in a big uphill battle, to say the least. He does, though, have a pretty supportive ownership group that routinely grades well on the NFLPA Report Cards.
It was a toss-up between Cleveland and Miami for the last spot. The only reason Hafley has it worse is the fact that his offensive situation is just really, really tough. The Browns have some promise but no quarterback, while the Dolphins have the opposite issue.