NFL Coaching Changes 2026: Who’s Set to Benefit, and Who Might be in Trouble?

You probably know the marquee moves from this coaching cycle. 

Think:

HC John Harbaugh to the Giants.

HC Klint Kubiak to the Raiders. 

HC Mike McCarthy to the Steelers.

But there's a lot more you'll want to know before your next fantasy football draft. Most importantly, what does each of these coaching changes mean for the team's offense? 

Let's examine all of the new HCs and OCs across the league.

AFC Coaching Changes 2026:

• Baltimore Ravens HC Jesse Minter and OC Declan Doyle
• Buffalo Bills HC Joe Brady and OC Pete Carmichael Jr.
• Cleveland Browns HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer
• Denver Broncos OC Davis Webb
• Kansas City Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy
• Los Angeles Chargers OC Mike McDaniel
• Las Vegas Raiders HC Klint Kubiak and OC Andrew Janocko
• Miami Dolphins HC Jeff Hafley and OC Bobby Slowik
• New York Jets OC Frank Reich
• Pittsburgh Steelers HC Mike McCarthy and OC Brian Angelichio
• Tennessee Titans HC Robert Saleh and OC Brian Daboll

NFC Coaching Changes 2026:

• Arizona Cardinals HC Mike LaFleur and OC Nathaniel Hackett
• Atlanta Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees
• Chicago Bears OC Press Taylor
• Detroit Lions OC Drew Petzing
• Los Angeles Rams OC Nate Scheelhaase
• New York Giants HC John Harbaugh and OC Matt Nagy
• Philadelphia Eagles OC Sean Mannion
• Seattle Seahawks OC Brian Fleury
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers OC Zac Robinson
• Washington Commanders OC David Blough

Arizona Cardinals Coaching Changes: HC Mike LaFleur and OC Nathaniel Hackett

• 2025 Pass Rate: 69.4%
• 2025 Run Rate: 30.6%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 58.0%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 42.0%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 63.1
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.2

LaFleur’s history as an OC/play caller:

Set Up to Fail in New York

LaFleur landed the Jets’ play-calling job after four years under Kyle Shanahan as a WRs coach and pass-game coordinator.

The results were underwhelming. New York ranked 26th in total yards and 28th in points in 2021, then slipped to 25th in yards and 29th in scoring in 2022. LaFleur inherited a raw rookie QB in Zach Wilson and a pass-catching corps short on proven talent, so it’s hard to hang too much of the failure on the coaching staff.

LaFleur then rebuilt his image over a three-year stint as Sean McVay’s OC.

LaFleur Earns Praise from One of the Best

McVay called the plays, but LaFleur still held a key role in Rams offenses that finished top-8 in yards and points in two of the past three seasons, including No. 1 finishes in both categories last year.

“Mike allowed me to be a better head coach because of the trust and autonomy that I gave him,” McVay said at the NFL meetings in April. “He's gonna be a great play caller. He knows how to sequence a game, he knows how to set it up, he understands both the run and the pass, he understands protection plans.”

McVay’s offense leans on pre-snap motion and play action to confuse defenses, with the Rams ranking top-5 in percentage use of both elements over the last two seasons.

They’ve also shown a willingness to reshape the offense to fit personnel. Traditionally heavy on “11” personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WR), the Rams dropped to 16th in that usage category in 2025 while jumping to first in “13” personnel (1 RB, 3 TE, 1 WR).

The Cardinals don’t have a stable of TEs behind Trey McBride, but the larger point stands: A proven, flexible approach bodes well for Arizona’s offensive efficiency.

Hackett Supplies a Veteran Voice (and Not Much Else)

Hackett brings 10 years of OC experience, but his recent record fails to inspire.

His 2022 Broncos finished 23rd in yards per play and 32nd in points, and his next two Jets offenses never finished better than 24th in yards or scoring.

Even before that, Hackett’s results were mostly forgettable. His Bills and Jags stops produced just one finish apiece better than 18th in points and 19th in yards. His best work came at the end of Aaron Rodgers’ prime, when two of his three Green Bay seasons produced top-10 finishes in both categories.

The good news for fantasy: Hackett’s role should stay limited because LaFleur will call plays. That said, it's unclear if there are any true fantasy winners here strictly based on the new staff.

Atlanta Falcons Coaching Changes: HC Kevin Stefanski and OC Tommy Rees

• 2025 Pass Rate: 55.9%
• 2025 Run Rate: 44.1%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 54.1%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 45.9%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 61.6
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.3

Stefanski’s history as a HC/play caller:

Stefanski Wants to Establish the Run

Stefanski leaned on the run game in each of his first five seasons as a play caller, from Minnesota in 2019 through his first four years in Cleveland.

Over that span, his offenses ranked fourth, fourth, ninth, fifth, and fourth in rushing attempts, and all but one finished top-9 in both rushing yards and rushing TDs.

That was no surprise with Dalvin Cook and then Nick Chubb around. But the tendency largely holds up even when you strip away blowouts.

Here’s how Stefanski’s units have finished in situation-neutral pass rate, starting in 2019:

• 25th 
• 28th
• 28th
• 24th
• 15th
• fifth
• 18th

Note: The past two seasons weren’t fully run by Stefanski. In 2024, OC Ken Dorsey took over play-calling duties in Week 8. Last season, OC Tommy Rees took over the job in Week 10.

Stefanski won’t call plays for the Falcons, delegating that task to Rees.

OC Brings Experience From Top College Programs

Rees’ lone season as Browns OC found the team ranking 22nd in pace and 23rd in neutral pass rate, and Cleveland topped 20 points only twice. The setup hardly lent itself to production, though, with Joe Flacco, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders at QB.

Rees -- a former undrafted QB -- brings OC experience at Notre Dame (2020-2022) and Alabama (2023). He helped the Fighting Irish score at least 31 points per game in all three seasons and leaned run-heavy, averaging 39.1 rushes per game. 

His Alabama unit averaged a huge 172.6 rushing yards and 2.3 rushing TDs per game. That unit was led by a top running QB in Jalen Milroe, who posted a 161-531-12 rushing line. Alabama’s 34.0 points per game ranked 24th nationally.

Bijan Robinson Will Remain Busy

Based on their roots, Stefanski and Rees are expected to deploy a zone-heavy run game that fits Robinson, who has made 75% of his career runs behind zone blocking.

Overall, we’d expect Atlanta to feature a balanced offense that’ll supply Robinson with 20+ weekly touches. An unsettled QB duo of Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. should help to keep the run game in focus.

Robinson easily stands as a top-5 pick in our PPR rankings.

Baltimore Ravens Coaching Changes: HC Jesse Minter and OC Declan Doyle

• 2025 Pass Rate: 51.7%
• 2025 Run Rate: 48.3%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 50.5%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 49.5%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 57.3
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.4

Meet the Latest Sean Payton Disciple

Minter’s a former defensive coordinator. So Doyle, a first-time play caller, will run the offense.

Doyle spent his first six years on Sean Payton’s staff, including four seasons as an offensive assistant in New Orleans before coaching TEs in Denver from 2023 to 2024.

He then moved to Chicago as OC under HC Ben Johnson, and last season’s results vaulted him into a play-calling role with Baltimore.

Doyle Earns Praise From His Boss

Johnson called the plays, but Doyle played a big role in the Bears’ successful 2025 offense.

“Declan is a phenomenal football coach,” Johnson said at the NFL Combine. “The guy is seasoned beyond his years … [He's] very detail-oriented, extremely smart, has a great way of communicating; he’s very clear. Those guys are getting someone really, really good. I’m disappointed that we lost him as quickly as we did. I was hoping that we’d be able to hold onto him for longer.”

The Bears ranked top-10 in points, yards per play, pass attempts, and rush attempts. They ran the second-most plays, boosted by a No. 5 finish in neutral pace.

New Scheme Helps Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry

Jackson spoke highly of the new offense in June.

“It’s a different system than what I’m accustomed to being in, and I feel like there’s going to be a lot of explosiveness this year. The way Declan calls plays and his creativity with his mind -- how detailed he is -- it’s mind-blowing. I’m excited.”

The Bears ranked seventh in explosive pass rate last season. While the Ravens can’t match Chicago’s receiving talent, Doyle brings the schematic background to help Jackson rebound from 2025. The Ravens also added a couple of mid-round rookie WRs in Ja’Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt, with Lane supplying more big-play help. He posted a career-high 15.3 yards per catch last season at USC.

The Bears generated explosive plays even more efficiently on the ground, ranking second in explosive run rate with a backfield of D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai.

Henry continues to defy the typical age progression at RB. He enters his age-32 season after his third 1,500-yard campaign over the past four years. He showed no signs of slowing down late, ending last season with games of 9.1, 7.1, 6.0, and 6.3 yards per carry. The Ravens lost C Tyler Linderbaum in free agency, but they upgraded both guard spots with Round 1 pick Olaivavega Ioane and veteran John Simpson.

Henry certainly could remain an RB1 if his highly durable stretch continues.

Buffalo Bills Coaching Changes: HC Joe Brady and OC Pete Carmichael Jr.

• 2025 Pass Rate: 54.1%
• 2025 Run Rate: 45.9%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 51.2%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 48.8%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 63.6
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 63.0

Brady’s history as an OC/play caller

Same Play Caller, Same Formula

Brady took over Buffalo’s play-calling in Week 11 of 2023, when the team elevated him to replace fired OC Ken Dorsey. He’ll retain those duties in his first season as head coach.

Brady has engineered a clear run lean, and the Bills have generated excellent per-play efficiency with it. Brady also kept the pace controlled, with Buffalo posting below-average no-huddle rates in 2024 (6.3%) and 2025 (6.1%), per SumerSports.

The offensive success translated to fantasy production. Josh Allen finished as the QB4 in fantasy points per game in 2024, then regained the top spot last season. James Cook went from RB11 in 2024 to RB6 last season.

Veteran Help Arrives

The Bills paired 36-year-old Brady with Pete Carmichael Jr., a veteran coach with 15 years of OC experience in New Orleans. The two spent the 2017 and 2018 seasons together on Sean Payton’s staff. 

Brady will call plays in 2026, but Carmichael’s experience and familiarity with him should benefit the entire operation.

“Pete is one of the smartest guys I have ever met. He is a football savant. He was one of my mentors going back to my time in New Orleans,” Brady said in February.

“He has worked closely with a Hall of Fame coach in Sean Payton and a Hall of Fame quarterback in Drew Brees, both of whom I obviously have a ton of respect for. Pete is a great communicator and has no ego. One of the most important things about having Pete on staff is that I have full trust in his vision and his ability to run the meetings and installs, which will allow me to focus on my other duties as a head coach.”

The Entire Offense Looks Like a Fantasy Winner

Josh Allen and James Cook are established fantasy studs who should benefit from the continuity at play caller. Cook might even see his receiving usage rise under Carmichael’s watch.

D.J. Moore previously commanded strong usage under Brady, drawing a 23.1% target share in 2020 and a 26.4% share in 2021. He still topped out at WR27 in fantasy points per game, dragged down by shaky QB play from Teddy Bridgewater and a pre-breakout Sam Darnold. 

Buffalo solves that issue, giving Moore a much better setup to rebound as the Bills’ lead WR after leaving a crowded situation in Chicago.

Chicago Bears Coaching  Change: OC Press Taylor

• 2025 Pass Rate: 58.2%
• 2025 Run Rate: 41.8%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 54.7%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 45.3%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 64.8
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 64.6

Another New OC ... But Fantasy Owners Shouldn't Worry

Chicago is on its fourth OC since 2023, but the offense remains in good hands with HC Ben Johnson again calling plays.

Last year, Chicago finished:

• Second in plays
• Sixth in yards per game
• Ninth in yards per play
• Ninth in points per game

Johnson opted for continuity, as Taylor coordinated the Bears’ passing game in 2025 after spending three seasons as the Jags’ OC. 

"He's extremely smart," Johnson said in March. "He's the most organized coach I've ever been around at this level.” 

“He's got libraries of plays. He knows when we're going against this defensive coordinator, we can go to this little section that he's already got labeled for that guy and that particular scheme and the things that have given them issues in the past. And that gives us a good starting point each and every week of where we can start with a game plan. So I feel really good about the transition (to OC).”

There’s no reason to expect this unit to regress because of the OC change.

Cleveland Browns Coaching Changes: HC Todd Monken and OC Travis Switzer

• 2025 Pass Rate: 62.2%
• 2025 Run Rate: 37.8%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 57.8%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 42.2%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 60.5
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 60.4

Monken’s history as an OC/play caller:

Monken’s Offense Can Shift Approaches

Monken has shown flexibility across stops, overseeing higher-volume passing with Jameis Winston in Tampa and Baker Mayfield in Cleveland before building more run-focused offenses around Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in Baltimore.

The available pace data shows Monken didn’t emphasize up-tempo play, but his Ravens stint still delivered plenty of success. And he wasn’t just boosted by the Jackson-Henry tandem. Monken helped Winston to strong marks of 7.9 yards per attempt in 2017 and 2018.

Switzer’s Brings Expertise on the Ground

Switzer served on Baltimore’s staff from 2017-2025, most recently holding the title of run-game coordinator (2024-2025). 

Derrick Henry starred, but Baltimore’s run-game efficiency still stood out. The Ravens led the league in rushing yards and yards per carry in 2024, then finished second in yards and first in YPC in 2025.

Monken has highlighted Switzer’s ability and reinforced his desire to build through the run.

"He was our run-game coordinator [in Baltimore], and that's where it all starts with your ability to run the football," Monken said. "So, he's ready for this challenge. He's intentional, he's intelligent, and he can teach."

QB Questions Favor Quinshon Judkins

The Browns still haven’t named a starting QB, and the Deshaun Watson-Shedeur Sanders battle doesn’t inspire much confidence. That should push Cleveland toward the run, and Monken has already praised Judkins’ skill set and recovery from a broken leg.

“[Judkins] looked pretty good to me,” Monken said at OTAs. “Obviously, there’s been a couple of days he gets a little sore, which is normal, but no one works harder. And you talk about a competitive spirit, and we don’t even get to see him run.  I think his rare trait is he’s a bull, like refuses to go down, and we don’t even get to see that here. So, I’m excited.”

Denver Broncos Coaching Change: OC Davis Webb

• 2025 Pass Rate: 61.6%
• 2025 Run Rate: 38.4%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 57.8%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 42.2%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 64.1
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 63.0

A Quick Player-to-Coach Transition

Webb -- a former third-round QB -- only retired in 2023.

He joined Sean Payton in Denver as the QBs coach from 2023-2024, then added pass-game coordinator to his resume in 2025.

Don’t Expect Major Changes

We don’t have any sample of Webb as a play caller, the role he’ll hold in September. But his comments from June confirm that this offense won’t look much different from last season.

"I trust him [Payton], he trusts me, we think very similar. I know how he wants the game to be played," Webb said at OTAs. "It's the same offense for the most part, just little tweaks here and there. But this is a Sean Payton-coached football team with Sean Payton offensive philosophy. We're just going to grow with our QB and our skill players and our offensive line."

One element that’ll remain prominent is the quick passing game, according to Luca Evans of the Denver Post. Nix led the league in throws under 10 air yards last season, but the Broncos ranked just 27th in yards per attempt on such passes.

A significant trade acquisition should raise that efficiency.

Jaylen Waddle Fits the Quick Game

Denver traded a Round 1 pick for Waddle, who’s a nice fit for a scheme that’ll highlight catch-and-run opportunities. The former Dolphin has averaged 5.0 yards after catch per reception for his career, a mark that would have ranked 11th last year in a sample of 46 WRs with 80+ targets.

Waddle’s rookie year showed what a shorter-range role can do for his PPR value. His career-low 7.0-yard aDOT helped produce career highs in catches (104) and catch rate (75.4%). Another 100-catch season is unlikely, but Waddle still fits well as a higher-percentage target next to a downfield threat like Courtland Sutton.

Detroit Lions Coaching Change: OC Drew Petzing 

• 2025 Pass Rate: 58.9%
• 2025 Run Rate: 41.1%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 55.8%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 44.2%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 62.4
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 63.4

Petzing’s history as an OC/play caller:

Petzing’s Results Need Framing

Petzing’s three-year run as Arizona’s OC delivered uneven results, but the QB situation deserves some blame. He called 21 games without Kyler Murray over that span.

His unit peaked with a healthy Murray in 2024, ranking 11th in yards and 12th in points. 

Petzing also orchestrated offenses that finished second in team yards per carry in both 2023 and 2024 before dropping to 16th last season. Injuries certainly contributed, with James Conner and Trey Benson combining to play just seven games.

Petzing predictably leaned hard into Trey McBride, helping Arizona lead the league in TE target share in 2023, 2024, and 2025. The Cardinals also used a second TE at an above-average rate, ranking 15th, 10th, and ninth in “12”-personnel usage.

Don’t Expect Huge Changes

Petzing will handle play calling, a role Dan Campbell took over in the middle of last season after demoting OC John Morton. But this unit probably won’t look drastically different from how it has under Campbell.

“We’re not going to completely depart from anything that they’ve done very well,” Petzing said. “There’s things that I want to introduce that I think we’re going to do well.” 

The Lions' offseason moves added back O-line talent after losing C Frank Ragnow and RT Taylor Decker in recent seasons. RT Blake Miller arrived in Round 1 of the draft, while C Cade Mays signed a three-year deal worth $25 million. 

David Montgomery left via a trade, only to be replaced by a similar (albeit less accomplished) power back in Isiah Pacheco. 

Expect More Explosive Runs From Jahmyr Gibbs

Gibbs' competition for carries is lighter than it's been since he entered the league. But he also gets the benefit of Petzing's proven run-game design, which helped the Cardinals finish first in explosive run rate in 2024 and second in 2023. 

That bodes well for Gibbs, whose explosive run rate fell to a career-low 11.1% last season after marks of 17.4% and 15.6% in his first two years.

Kansas City Chiefs Coaching Change: OC Eric Bieniemy

• 2025 Pass Rate: 64.9%
• 2025 Run Rate: 35.1%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 58.5%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 41.5%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 62.4
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 64.0

Bieniemy Needs to Solve One Huge Problem

Bieniemy rejoins Kansas City after serving as Chiefs OC from 2018-2022, when the offense ranked first, sixth, first, third, and first in yards and first, fifth, sixth, fourth, and first in points.

Those offenses featured peak Travis Kelce, though. Tyreek Hill also played for the Chiefs in all but one of those seasons, and Andy Reid called plays then, as he still does now.

Bieniemy’s biggest impact should come in the running game; he broke into the NFL as an RBs coach in 2006 after playing the position and has spent 11 pro seasons in that role. 

Kansas City needs help after finishing bottom-3 in explosive run rate in consecutive seasons. His recent stops offer optimism: Chicago ranked third in explosive-run rate last year with Bieniemy coaching RBs. Washington ranked fourth in 2023 with Bieniemy calling plays.

Kenneth Walker’s Big Play Talent Should Remain Prominent

Walker’s already one of the most explosive runners in the league, posting 33 runs of 10+ yards last season (sixth most).

Joining an OC with a history of creating explosive run games should only help Walker’s chances of delivering efficiency for his new team.

Los Angeles Chargers Coaching Change: OC Mike McDaniel

• 2025 Pass Rate: 62.6%
• 2025 Run Rate: 37.4%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 57.2%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 42.8%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 64.4
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.0

McDaniel’s history as a HC/play caller:

McDaniel Brings Efficiency Upside

McDaniel spent 2021 as Kyle Shanahan’s OC in San Francisco before taking over as Miami’s HC for the past four seasons.

The Dolphins peaked early under his leadership. They ranked sixth in yards and 11th in points in Year 1, then jumped to first in yards and second in points the following season.

Tua Tagovailoa’s injuries helped slow the past two years, leading to finishes of 18th or worse in points and yards. 

But McDaniel’s offense still produced high-end efficiency overall around a QB with arm-strength limitations. Tua posted 8.9 and 8.3 yards per attempt under McDaniel, along with two completion rates north of 69%.

The run game also delivered. Miami finished top-5 in yards per carry in two of the past three seasons, led by De’Von Achane’s speed.

Three Chargers Set to Benefit From New OC

McDaniel has worked to quicken Justin Herbert’s footwork during offseason practices. The goal is to get the ball out earlier, create more catch-and-run chances, and help Herbert avoid some of the hits that have limited him in recent seasons.

“You want to get the ball into a position where the receivers can run with it,” Herbert explained. “Getting the ball out earlier and in timing and rhythm allows them to do that. I think we've got the guys that are explosive and able to make guys miss. So I think the better that I can do that, the more successful we'll be.”

The Chargers have room to grow there after ranking 20th last season in share of receiving yardage coming after the catch. McDaniel’s Dolphins ranked second in 2025 and fourth in 2024.

McDaniel's approach should aid Ladd McConkey, who’s drawn nearly 47% of his career targets in the 0-9 yard range.

Meanwhile, Omarion Hampton gets the benefit of running in a proven scheme. McDaniel worked as Kyle Shanahan’s run-game specialist in 2017 before serving as run-game coordinator for 2018-20. In Miami, he helped turn De’Von Achane into one of the league’s most explosive runners, leading all RBs in explosive run rate in 2023 and 2025. Raheem Mostert also finished third as Miami’s lead back in 2022.

If Hampton secures the lead role, McDaniel’s run-game history gives him a strong top-10 RB case.

Los Angeles Rams Coaching Change: OC Nate Scheelhaase

• 2025 Pass Rate: 57.8%
• 2025 Run Rate: 42.2%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 57.2%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 42.8%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 63.8
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 63.3

Rams Promote a Rising Coach

Scheelhaase went from Iowa State’s OC and QBs coach in 2023 to Rams offensive assistant and passing-game specialist in 2024.

He moved to pass-game coordinator in 2025, one of Matthew Stafford’s most productive and efficient seasons: 

• 4,707 yards
• 46 TDs
• 7.9 yards per attempt
• career-best 54.4% passing-success rate

Scheelhaase received several HC interviews this offseason, signaling his status around the league. He ultimately returned to the Rams, where he elevates to OC but won’t call plays.

HC Sean McVay praised the 35-year-old’s coaching ability and said he’ll be “involved in all parts of the game plan”:

The Offense Looks Poised For Similar Success

This unit returns all of its key pieces from a 12-5 team that reached the NFC Championship. Stafford finished as the fantasy QB2. Kyren Williams ranked as the PPR RB9. And both Puka Nacua (WR1) and Davante Adams (WR9) cracked the top 10.

Elevating Scheelhaase -- a trusted, third-year assistant to McVay -- should ensure a smooth transition away from 2025 OC Mike LaFleur.

Las Vegas Raiders Coaching Change: HC Klint Kubiak and OC Andrew Janocko

• 2025 Pass Rate: 63.5%
• 2025 Run Rate: 36.5%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 57.2%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 42.8%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 55.7
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 60.5

Kubiak’s history as an OC/play caller:

Kubiak’s Run Game Travels Well

Kubiak has generally built balanced offenses, while showing a willingness to play with pace. The 2021 Vikings finished 12th in neutral pass rate, but Kubiak’s last two units finished 20th (Saints) and 24th (Seahawks).

That approach has helped produce useful RB results at each stop. Dalvin Cook rushed for 1,159 yards on 4.7 yards per carry in 2021 despite missing four games. Alvin Kamara delivered his best YPC since 2020 in 2024, and Seattle’s Kenneth Walker-Zach Charbonnet duo pushed the Seahawks from 27th to seventh in RB rushing yards last season.

Kubiak’s passing game leans on under-center concepts, play action, and designed movement outside the pocket. His offenses ranked 12th in yards per pass attempt with Kirk Cousins in 2021, 20th with Derek Carr and Spencer Rattler in 2024, and second with Sam Darnold last season.

Kubiak Brings a Buddy to Build the Offense

Janocko spent three years with Kubiak in Minnesota, working as assistant OL coach, WRs coach, and QBs coach. The pair reunited in New Orleans, where Janocko coached QBs, then continued together in Seattle with Janocko again handling the QB room.

He’ll fill a game-planning and support role for Kubiak, who’ll call plays.

RB1 and TE1 Won’t Hurt For Volume

Ashton Jeanty could be used like Christian McCaffrey under Kubiak. He disappointed as a rookie, but better QB play and an upgraded O-line bring the potential for more consistent fantasy production.

Kubiak called Brock Bowers a “football robot from heaven” and talked about maximizing his talents this offseason. That lines up with his past usage of top pass catchers.

Year 2 Justin Jefferson drew a 28.9% target share in Kubiak’s 2021 Vikings offense and exploded for a 108-1,616-10 receiving line. And Kubiak’s Seahawks fed Jaxon Smith-Njigba a league-leading 33.9% target share last year, well up from 24% the year before.

Bowers is the clear centerpiece for an offense with questionable WR depth. He sits atop our TE rankings.

Miami Dolphins Coaching Changes: HC Jeff Hafley and OC Bobby Slowik

• 2025 Pass Rate: 56.1%
• 2025 Run Rate: 43.9%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 47.6%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 52.4%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 55.7
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 59.5

Slowik’s history as an OC/play caller:

Slowik Gets Another Chance to Call Plays

Hafley spent the past two seasons as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator. That leaves offensive play calling to Slowik.

The 39-year-old spent six years under Kyle Shanahan, holding roles such as offensive assistant, pass-game specialist, and pass-game coordinator. That background earned Slowik Houston’s OC job for a two-year run that produced uneven results.

The high point came in 2023, when he helped C.J. Stroud to a breakout rookie season: 4,108 yards, only 5 INTs, and 8.2 yards per attempt. That YPA mark sits first all-time among rookie QBs with 300+ attempts, and the yardage ranks third behind Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert.

Regression hit in 2024, with Stroud's YPA dropping by 1.2 yards and his yards per game dropping by 54.7. Slowik got fired after his unit finished 19th in points and 22nd in yards.

He spent last season on Mike McDaniel’s Miami staff as the passing-game coordinator.

Slowik Deepens Miami’s Fantasy Mystery

His quick rise in Houston unraveled just as quickly, which makes it difficult to pick a fantasy winner in Miami. 

He’s talked about balance and using Malik Willis’ legs, but that mostly reflects the obvious strength of the QB room. Slowik also stopped short of suggesting he’ll lean heavily on designed QB runs, saying Willis’ mobility “shows up more in off-schedule situations than it does anything.”

Slowik’s zone-based scheme shouldn’t require much of an adjustment from De’Von Achane, who has run 79.6% of his career carries in that scheme. Slowik’s Texans simply had unspectacular results on the efficiency front, finishing 29th in YPC in 2023 and 15th in 2024.

New York Giants Coaching Changes: HC John Harbaugh and OC Matt Nagy

• 2025 Pass Rate: 57.6%
• 2025 Run Rate: 42.4%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 54.0%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 46.0%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 63.8
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.1

Nagy’s history as a HC/play caller:

Nagy’s History Looks Unsettling

Harbaugh hasn't held an offensive coaching position since 1987 at the University of Pittsburgh, so play-calling duties will fall to Nagy.

That’s not especially encouraging. Nagy spent the past three years as a non-play-calling OC under Andy Reid, with Kansas City’s offense slipping to ninth, 16th, and 20th in yards and 15th, 15th, and 21st in points.

His play-calling history in Chicago looks even shakier. Nagy gave up those duties twice during his HC run, and the results explain why.

The Bears cracked the top 20 in scoring only once across his four seasons and never finished better than 21st in yards. Nagy didn’t consistently boost play volume with tempo, either. Chicago ranked 10th, 24th, and 17th in situation-neutral pace across the three seasons of available data (2019-2021).

His four Bears units showed flashes of high-end rushing volume, finishing ninth and sixth in run rate in two seasons, along with finishes of 22nd and 27th in the other two. Nagy’s lead backs averaged 18.5 touches per game, with David Montgomery peaking at 20.5 in 2021.

All Clues Point to Cam Skattebo

Nagy’s history leaves us skeptical that he’ll maximize this unit’s potential. But the Giants have given us plenty of run-game signals. 

Harbaugh called Skattebo a “starting running back” and a “top-tier back” over the offseason. New York also signed 300-pound FB Patrick Ricard, drafted a 329-pound college OT to shift inside to guard, and added OC Greg Roman to the staff. Roman’s 12-year OC record includes 10 top-10 finishes in rush attempts.

Just remember that Skattebo will need to prove he’s back to full health after his rookie season ended with a midseason broken leg and dislocated ankle. We’ll closely track his participation in training camp.

New York Jets Coaching Change: OC Frank Reich

• 2025 Pass Rate: 60.6%
• 2025 Run Rate: 39.4%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 56.5%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 43.5%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 59.1
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 61.0

Reich’s history as a HC/play caller:

Reich’s Recent Stops Raise Concerns

Reich has spent 10 seasons as an OC or HC and worked with the likes of Philip Rivers, Andrew Luck, and Matt Ryan. 

Reich’s scheme has leaned West Coast, emphasizing timing and anticipation in the passing game. He has also favored 11 personnel of late, ranking top-10 in usage of the grouping in three of his past four stops.

Reich’s last two NFL seasons create the obvious concern, with bottom-tier finishes across the board. The 2022 Colts had a major QB problem, getting 12 starts from 37-year-old Ryan, three from Sam Ehlinger, and two from Nick Foles. 

The situation wasn’t any better in Carolina. Reich failed to unlock rookie Bryce Young, who averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt and absorbed 62 sacks.

Breece Hall Should Get Fed

Reich already said that the offense starts with the run game. That lines up with his recent history, which includes situation-neutral run-rate finishes of ninth, 24th, sixth, 13th, and second from 2019-23.

That type of approach also makes sense with 35-year-old Geno Smith at QB and Hall entering on a big new contract.

Philadelphia Eagles Coaching Change: OC Sean Mannion 

• 2025 Pass Rate: 57.0%
• 2025 Run Rate: 43.0%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 51.6%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 48.4%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 59.3
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.1

Eagles’ OC Turnover Continues

The Eagles are on their fifth OC since 2021, as Mannion will replace one-and-done play caller Kevin Patullo.

It’s Mannion’s first stop as a play caller following an NFL playing career that ran 2015-2023 and found him playing for top coaches such as Sean McVay and Kevin O’Connell. The former backup QB took an offensive-assistant role in Green Bay in 2024, then coached Packers QBs last season.

Jordan Love posted career highs in completion rate (66.3%), passing success rate (50.2%), Pro Football Focus passing grade (88.8), and QBR (72.7). 

Will Mannion Mesh With Jalen Hurts?

The Eagles are expected to run more under-center plays, a shift away from previous Jalen Hurts seasons. Philly ranked seventh in shotgun usage (76.3%) last year, well ahead of Green Bay (61.8%).

Mannion’s biggest challenge might be getting Hurts to use the middle of the field more often. Since 2020, Hurts ranks 85th of 88 qualifying QBs in percentage of throws between the numbers within 15 air yards, per The Athletic.

The arrival of Round 1 WR Makai Lemon -- a quick, sure-handed separator -- could signal a desire to generate more production in that area.

Mannion will also install a wide-zone running scheme after the Eagles parted ways with longtime OL coach and run-game coordinator Jeff Stoutland, whose unit bottomed out in 2025. Saquon Barkley’s yards before contact dropped from 2.64 in 2024 to 1.36 behind a line that dealt with multiple injuries to key players.

All of these changes arrive as the Eagles move on without top WR A.J. Brown. The roster and coaching turnover make this one of the league’s bigger offensive wild cards for 2026.

Pittsburgh Steelers Coaching Changes: HC Mike McCarthy and OC Brian Angelichio

• 2025 Pass Rate: 60.1%
• 2025 Run Rate: 39.9%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 58.7%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 41.3%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 58.1
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.6

McCarthy’s recent history as a HC/play caller:

Steelers Opt for Experience With McCarthy

McCarthy’s head coaching career spans 18 seasons: 13 in Green Bay and five in Dallas.

The available data shows a coach willing to push the pace, even in 2024 when Dak Prescott missed nine games. As you can see above, McCarthy’s units have generally leaned pass, no surprise with Prescott and prime Aaron Rodgers as his QBs.

McCarthy will call plays while breaking in a familiar face as a first-time OC.

New Coordinator Brings a Distinct Specialty

Angelichio has coached TEs every season since 2006, beginning at the University of Pittsburgh before moving to Rutgers and then six different NFL teams. He spent three years on McCarthy’s staff in Green Bay.

Angelichio most recently worked for the Vikings as the TEs coach and pass-game coordinator.

Aaron Rodgers Benefits … But it Doesn’t Matter for Most Fantasy Leagues

Rodgers recently talked about the offensive approach carrying over from his Green Bay days.

"I spent 13 years in (McCarthy's offense)," Rodgers said. "He's changed some stuff when he was in Dallas. ... It's stuff that we used to run, but he's just called it something different now."

Rodgers later said the offense is about “the quarterback’s timing,” which makes sense given McCarthy’s West Coast roots.

The familiarity is nice for Rodgers, but it’s unlikely to make him a useful fantasy piece outside of superflex leagues. He finished just 26th in fantasy points per game last season.

Seattle Seahawks Coaching Change: OC Brian Fleury

• 2025 Pass Rate: 51.4%
• 2025 Run Rate: 48.6%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 51.9%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 48.1%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 59.7
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 60.9

Fleury Brings Experience on Both Sides

Fleury spent the past seven years on Kyle Shanahan’s staff, working his way up from defensive quality-control coach to run-game coordinator and TEs coach last season.

He’ll be a first-time play caller in 2026.

New Guy Faces a Big Challenge

Fleury will replace Klint Kubiak, whose Super Bowl-winning offense finished:

• Third in points
• Eighth in yards
• Eighth in passing yards
• 10th in rushing yards

The good news is that this offense profiles similarly under Fleury’s leadership. He and Kubiak worked together with the 2023 Niners, Kubiak as pass-game coordinator and Fleury the TEs coach.

"It's a lot of the same stuff [with] Fleury obviously coming from San Francisco, but a couple different wrinkles here and there," Sam Darnold said this offseason. "So it's been good that way to be able to get some of that same verbiage but just a couple different wrinkles."

One potential wrinkle may involve a slight redistribution of targets.

Second-Year Seahawk Looks Like a Sneaky Fantasy Winner

Kubiak was the driver behind Jaxson Smith-Njigba’s league-high 33.9% target share. That was way up from 24% in 2024.

Smith-Njigba could hit that lofty mark again, but there’s buzz on another Seattle WR seeing an uptick in targets. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler cited Seattle sources in saying that Rashid Shaheed had a “major spring” in the new offense and will handle more of the short to intermediate routes that JSN thrives on. 

We’ll see just how much. But at a minimum, Shaheed’s connection with Darnold should improve after a full offseason with the team. The former Saint arrived in a midseason trade, which meant limited reps with his new QB. 

Even a small shift toward shorter-range targets could make Shaheed less volatile. His career average depth of target sits high at 14.0 yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Coaching Change: OC Zac Robinson

• 2025 Pass Rate: 59.8%
• 2025 Run Rate: 40.2%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 55.2%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 44.8%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 62.8
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.7

Robinson’s history as an OC/play caller:

Another Sean McVay Disciple Shows Promise

Robinson’s career began as McVay’s assistant QB coach in 2019. He worked up to QBs coach and pass-game coordinator for 2022-2023.

Atlanta gave him his first OC job in 2024, and his offenses have displayed balance, above-average pace, and heavy pre-snap motion. (The Falcons finished second in pre-snap motion rate each of the past two seasons.)

Despite uneven QB play from Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr., Robinson’s 2024 Falcons finished sixth in yards and 13th in points. The offense slipped in his final season, ranking 14th in yards and 24th in points while dealing with Cousins’ decline and Penix’s missed time.

A Trusted Voice For Baker Mayfield

Mayfield spent a brief time with Robinson in Los Angeles, but the QB came away with a strong impression:

Mayfield must adjust to not having Mike Evans, but the WR corps retains promise with Emeka Egbuka, Chris Godwin, Jalen McMillan, and rookie Ted Hurst. Robinson has also signaled a willingness to mold his offense to his personnel, finishing 2024 first in use of “11” personnel (86.2%) before dropping to 26th (45.1%) last season.

Tennessee Titans Coaching Changes: HC Robert Saleh and OC Brian Daboll

• 2025 Pass Rate: 64.6%
• 2025 Run Rate: 35.4%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 58.0%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 42.0%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 59.0
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.4

Daboll’s history as a HC/play caller:

The Josh Allen Connection

Saleh brings 26 years of NFL coaching experience, including 25 on the defensive side. He’ll hand play-calling responsibilities to another NFL veteran.

Daboll’s best work came in Buffalo, where he helped fuel Josh Allen’s 2020 breakout. The Bills ranked just 11th in pass attempts that year but finished third in passing yards and second in scoring at 31.3 points per game.

That momentum continued in 2021 before Daboll took over as Giants HC and helped Daniel Jones deliver the best efficiency of his career. But the success proved brief. Jones couldn’t sustain it, and a 2023 ACL tear further stalled his career in New York.

In Daboll’s three full seasons with the Giants, his offenses ranked 19th, 29th, and 30th in yards and 15th, 30th, and 31st in points. The chart above shows their fluctuating pass rates.

The Giants did show a clear preference for “11” personnel, finishing 15th, sixth, and fifth in usage.

Ward, Robinson Demand Your Attention

Cam Ward shouldn’t be expected to deliver an Allen-like breakout, but the second-year QB has the mobility and arm talent to make gains under Daboll. He also had limited help as a rookie, when Elic Ayomanor, Chig Okonkwo, and Chimere Dike finished as his leading receivers.

That supporting cast looks stronger in 2026. Ayomanor and Dike return alongside a healthy Calvin Ridley, top pick Carnell Tate, and free-agent addition Wan’Dale Robinson. 

Robinson gets the spotlight here because of his history with Daboll. The two spent four seasons together, with Robinson drawing 140 targets in each of the past two. That target level is unlikely in Tennessee, but his four-year deal with $38 million guaranteed locks in a key role.

Washington Commanders Coaching Change: OC David Blough

• 2025 Pass Rate: 57.6%
• 2025 Run Rate: 42.4%
• Projected 2026 Pass Rate: 52.0%
• Projected 2026 Run Rate: 48.0%
• 2025 Plays Per Game: 58.2
• Projected 2026 Plays Per Game: 62.0

Commanders Hand Play Calling Keys to a 31-Year-Old

Blough ranks among the youngest OCs in the league. He was still playing three seasons ago, but the former undrafted QB moved quickly through the coaching ranks, landing the OC promotion after two years as assistant QB coach in Washington.

That gives him some connection to Jayden Daniels’ near-unanimous AP Offensive Rookie of the Year season in 2024. Last year went much differently, with Washington’s QB play suffering while Daniels missed 10 games.

Blough’s Offense Will Feature New Elements

Blough will call plays under defensive-minded HC Dan Quinn. It’s a new role for Blough, but a few offensive changes already appear likely.

After leading the league in shotgun rate (86.9%) and no-huddle rate (60.8%), the Commanders will shift to more under-center looks and play action.

What’s the motivation? Here’s Blough (via The Athletic):

Blough’s also expected to move Terry McLaurin around the formation, a departure from his static usage under former OC Kliff Kingsbury. Per Pro Football Focus, 86.5% of his snaps have come as a left outside receiver over the past two seasons.

McLaurin says the less-predictable approach will challenge defenses: “That forces them to have to communicate more and forces them to have to study my route stems and where I’m lining up versus just being able to know, like, ‘Hey, you know 17 is going to be on the left side. We can shift our defense and play it to that.’”

The Beneficiary is Obvious

McLaurin’s more varied usage should help him find better matchups. Blough even talked about getting his top WR “10 targets a game” while prioritizing “explosive receptions.” 

Those factors bolster McLaurin’s fantasy appeal following an injury-riddled and unproductive 2025.

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