NFL coaching fires loom large as the season unfolds. Brian Callahan is the first head coach to be dismissed at 1-5, with the Titans on the hook for a hefty buyout after a 3-14 stretch in the year prior to Cam Ward’s No. 1 pick trajectory. The Dolphins sit at 1-5, with McDaniel under growing scrutiny amid culture chatter following Tagovailoa’s late-week remarks. Aaron Glenn, the hot candidate, navigates a rocky Jets start as New York limps through early losses. Baltimore’s Harbaugh endures criticism with Lamar Jackson sidelined as the Ravens stumble to 1-5.

Midseason firings from 2024 are contrasted with post-season cuts this year: Saleh, Allen and Eberflus fell in 2024, while Mayo, Pierce, Pederson and McCarthy lead their teams with varying results; Vrabel and Cohen have elevated New England and Jacksonville, respectively. The debate swings to interim versus full-time stability, with some successors delivering better results than the fired incumbents’ last seasons. Cam Ward’s arc at Tennessee remains a focal point for fantasy rosters, while Belichick’s lingering chatter about job security and recruiting tempo in college adds another layer to the national coaching narrative.