The AFC North is notorious for its high level of competition. Until this year, which saw both the Browns and Bengals fall victim to losing seasons, the division had a three-year streak with three out of four teams having a winning record.
Joe Burrow’s arrival in Cincinnati, Lamar Jackson’s dominance in Baltimore, and Mike Tomlin’s consistency in Pittsburgh have given the AFC North one heck of a run in the 2020s.
Cleveland has even seen two successful seasons in the decade, with now former Head Coach Kevin Stefanski winning Coach of the Year in 2020 and 2023.
2025, of course, hasn’t been as kind to the North, and they now have three head coach openings as a result.
Tomlin stepped down after a blowout Wild Card loss, despite winning the division title and finishing with a 19th-straight winning season; John Harbaugh was fired in Baltimore for failing to win the big one time and time again; Kevin Stefanski was let go after two poor seasons in a row.
In short, all eyes are on this division in January, but not for the postseason. Fans everywhere are fascinated by the AFC North’s coaching carousel, and here, I’ll give you the best three candidates for each job.
Baltimore Ravens: Robert Saleh — 49ers Defensive Coordinator
Betting Odds Favorites: LAC DC Jesse Minter (+200) — SEA OC Klint Kubiak (+500) – Fmr. MIN DC Brian Flores (+600)
The second the Lamar Jackson-led Ravens announced they were firing Harbaugh, they became the premier destination for any head coach opening this year.
It is an organization that is highly respected, from top to bottom, and has the kind of roster you almost never see in the coaching carousel; this means they will have their choice of just about whoever they want.
In a rare press conference, Baltimore’s owner, Steve Bisciotti, laid out some potential hints that could point in the direction of where they want to go with that wide array of options.
“We are keen to their circumstance,” Bisciotti said.
Bisciotti specifically named former head coaches who didn’t receive a fair shake from their original team; if you’ve paid attention to the main candidates of the cycle, you know who he is referring to.
Generally, that list is Robert Saleh, Brian Flores, Kevin Stefanski, and Mike McDaniel.
Within that group, I see Saleh and Flores emerging to the top, with Stefanski likely headed to Atlanta and McDaniel not seeming like a great fit in “B-More.” While Flores, the former Dolphins HC and Vikings DC, is the betting favorite, I’m predicting Saleh as the Ravens man.
His tenure with the Jets was a rough one, but who doesn’t have a hard time in that building? This guy is a great defensive mind and culture builder; that’s what the Ravens need.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Chris Shula — Rams Defensive Coordinator
Betting Odds Favorites: LAR DC Chris Shula (+150) — Fmr. MIN DC Brian Flores (+350) — SF DC Robert Saleh (+700)
Moving into Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Steelers search is a bit more straightforward, at least in my mind.
Saleh and Flores are also top contenders for this job, as Pittsburgh seems to be prioritizing defensive-minded coaches that fit the “Steeler Way.” Simply put, that’s a young, smart, and tough-as-hell culture guy.
As previously mentioned in the Ravens discussion, those two fit that, but a young man out west just seems like their perfect match.
Chris Shula, the grandson of legendary coach Don Shula, has made a name for himself in two seasons with Sean McVay’s Rams as the defensive coordinator. At just 39-years old, he’s stacked up an impressive resume that has made him a top head coach candidate.
His grandfather’s old team, the Dolphins, is also interviewing him, but they seem more set on Packers DC Jeff Hafley.
In Pittsburgh, the Shula name has deep ties, and it just feels like he is the breath of fresh air they are looking for as they aim to finally get back into the postseason win column.
They’ll still need a quarterback, unless they see Will Howard as the future, but this is a step in the right direction for the Steeler faithful.
Cleveland Browns: Grant Udinski — Jaguars Offensive Coordinator
Betting Odds Favorites: CLE DC Jim Schwartz (+150) — JAC OC Grant Udinski (+315) — Fmr. MIA HC Mike McDaniel (+600)
Lastly, we have what many have called the least attractive job in this coaching cycle, the Cleveland Browns.
They don’t really have any money available to use, thanks in large part to the Deshaun Watson contract, and their offensive talent, with respect, is just dreadful. If Shedeur Sanders has earned himself another year at QB, he won’t be surrounded by much help, no matter what, in 2026.
Yet, there are a few strong candidates for this job, and one of them is currently in-house.
Jim Schwartz, the team’s fantastic defensive coordinator and former head coach of the Detroit Lions, is a top candidate who is receiving a second interview for the job. He is the betting odds favorite right now.
Following him in that order, however, are two young offensive minds with Jags OC Grant Udinski and McDaniel, the aforementioned fired Dolphins HC. Between these three, I see Jacksonville’s budding coaching star emerging on top.
Udinski is just 30-years old, but he is praised everywhere he goes for his offensive intelligence and passion for the game. Cleveland needs to be ahead of the curve for once, and they can do that by getting in early on Udinski.
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