Coaching Changes
When coaches switch teams, they bring their system. For offensive players, this means learning a new playbook. Some players enter a new system with a skill set that blends in perfectly, while others find their role diminished. Knowing what a coaching change means for an offense and the players in that offense can give you an advantage over your league mates on draft day and during the season.
This offseason we saw 10 head coaching changes, and 21 offensive coordinator changes. We rarely see this many coaching changes in a single offseason. Typically, we see around seven head coaching changes each season. Also, over the last couple of seasons we’ve seen fourteen or fifteen offensive coordinator changes. The teams that hired new head coaches are the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Tennessee Titans. All of these teams also got new offensive coordinators. Eleven more teams brought in new offensive coordinators and kept the same head coach. Those teams are the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Washington Commanders.
Let’s examine some of the biggest impacts these coaching changes have heading into the 2026 NFL season.
Head Coach
Atlanta Falcons - Kevin Stefanski
The Falcons brought in Kevin Stefanski as their new head coach. Stefanski is one of the earliest branches of the coaching tree that would eventually produce Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan, Matt and Mike LaFleur, and Mike McDaniel. He brings an offensive system known for producing great running backs through an outside zone scheme.
Last year’s second-best running back Bijan Robinson should see an even higher point total this season due to the scheme change, potentially finishing as the league’s best running back. Drake London has been one of the best wide receivers on 10+ yard passes according to PFF’s pass route grades. As a field stretcher, London’s job will be easier as teams will focus on the rushing threat. This outside zone system focuses on the rushing attack and utilizes the defense’s focus on the run to open passing lanes over the middle of the field. This should improve Kyle Pitts’ opportunities to showcase his skills in this area of the field.
Even with all three of those players being drafted early and carrying those high expectations, this offensive scheme will help them produce that for fantasy managers.
Miami Dolphins - Jeff Hafley
The Miami Dolphins hit the reset button this offseason. They sent away their starting QB, moved on from their starting wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and fired head coach Mike McDaniel. They brought in first-time head coach Jeff Hafley and quarterback Malik Willis from the Green Bay Packers to run the offense. For the Dolphins franchise, this means they’re in full rebuild mode. For fantasy, this changes the equation for running back De’Von Achane and Malik Willis.
De’Von Achane’s value for Dynasty and Redraft doesn’t fluctuate, but it does change. Previously, Achane’s value came from being a workhorse running back in a well-balanced offense with a great offensive mind at head coach. Coming into this season, his value centers around the volume of touches he is expected to receive because of the lack of talented players around him at the other offensive skill positions. For Willis, his value skyrockets from last season as his role changes from backup to starter. With his rushing upside, Willis could be fantasy relevant in leagues with multiple quarterback positions. Depending on how much rushing he has to do during the season and how well he uses the limited weapons in this offense, Willis could be startable in one-QB formats as well.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Mike McCarthy
The Pittsburgh Steelers reunited Aaron Rodgers with his former head coach Mike McCarthy this offseason. McCarthy’s offensive system leans heavily on wide receiver production. This explains the addition of Michael Pittman Jr. from the Indianapolis Colts this offseason. McCarthy’s wide receiver-heavy offensive system, with Aaron Rodgers ability to improvise, has been successful in the past.
While Aaron Rodgers enters what seems to be the final year of his career, the weapons around him are solid. DK Metcalf joins Pittman at receiver. Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle are pass-catching backs who fit this scheme very well. Since entering the league, DK Metcalf has been an excellent deep threat for the Seahawks and Steelers. As Rodgers has gotten older, his average depth of target has decreased, but he can still drop a ball into the receiver’s hands from 45 yards away better than most other quarterbacks in the league. The Steelers have established three great pass catchers for each layer of the field. Metcalf to stretch the field, Jaylen Warren for the work around the line of scrimmage, and Pittman for the intermediate areas of the field. Rico Dowdle has been a power rusher in his career, and he should serve as the goal-line back for this offense. The pieces all seem to be coming together for the offense in the new system. I think Michael Pittman will be the most reliable piece of this offense for fantasy football as his role projects for a lot of targets. Metcalf will likely be a boom-bust player, but the booms will be massive. Jaylen Warren should see a lot of screen work, and Rico Dowdle should have high touchdown upside. The Steelers are great late-round options to fill out your roster and give you solid fantasy production.
Offensive Coordinator
Los Angeles Chargers - Mike McDaniel
The Los Angeles Chargers brought in the aforementioned Mike McDaniel as their new offensive coordinator. McDaniel comes from the offensive zone-run scheme that many NFL teams are moving toward. McDaniel’s job with the Chargers is likely to be short-lived. The contract he signed with the Chargers is only for one season. McDaniel will likely pursue another head coaching job after the 2026 season ends. For dynasty managers, this means you may see a temporary boost in value for the Chargers’ offensive players.
Based on what we saw from McDaniel’s system in Miami, we can project how the Chargers' offensive pieces fit into McDaniel’s system. Ladd McConkey fits this system very well. McDaniel’s system focuses on the quick intermediate passing game, and that's where McConkey has flourished. Quinten Johnston’s production should also improve, as this system opens the deep passing game. This should boost McConkey and Johnston compared to last year under Greg Roman. The same is true for running back Omarion Hampton, whom I made a case for. Of Hampton’s 14 rushes of 10+ yards, 10 of them came when rushing outside the tight end. Buy them in redraft but be wary of the future if you are a rebuilding dynasty manager.
Davis Webb - Denver Broncos
Former NFL quarterback Davis Webb was promoted this offseason from Quarterbacks Coach and Offensive Passing Game Coordinator to Offensive Coordinator and play caller. While Sean Payton has been calling plays for his teams for nearly 20 years, he has decided to hand this responsibility to Webb this season.
As the Passing Game Coordinator and QB’s coach, Webb has been a foundational piece in Bo Nix's development. Over the last two seasons, Nix has thrown for over 7,700 yards and 54 touchdowns. With the Broncos bringing in former Miami Dolphin’s receiver Jaylen Waddle to improve this passing offense, it seems the Broncos’ sights are set on being a pass-first offense that heavily relies on optimizing Bo Nix's production through an up-and-coming offensive mind. Webb will prove this year whether he has what it takes to call plays at this level, and if he does, I would expect that success to come with a big year from Bo Nix. The Broncos have some of the cheapest options in drafts that can produce top end production at their position.
Declan Doyle - Baltimore Ravens
Declan Doyle spent last season as the offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears under Head Coach Ben Johnson. Ben Johnson’s offenses have been superb. Ben Johnson’s offensive system uses heavy sets and marches the ball downfield through the running game.
Doyle is set up for success with this run-heavy team. Lamar Jackson has been one of the greatest rushing quarterbacks we have ever seen. With Jackson’s speed and quickness, the designed runs will increase with Doyle calling plays. Ravens running back Derrick Henry has been one of the greatest ball carriers we have ever seen. Henry has defeated the age cliff, having rushed for over 1700 yards at the age of 32. Much of this offensive system will depend on the running game and Henry’s ability to replicate last year’s success. I would not be surprised to see Henry eclipse his totals from last season. I might be overprojecting, but Henry might be the first and oldest running back to rush for over 2,000 yards. Don’t be afraid to get a piece of the Ravens’ rushing attack.
Frank Reich - New York Jets
Frank Reich bucks the trend of the run-first systems we see out of the Shanahan/McVay and Ben Johnson coaching trees. Reich’s West Coast system focuses more on spotlighting the players’ skills and putting stars in positions where they can use their talents best. This has its moments, but it also has drawbacks. If the opponent can scout your top players and install a game plan to limit their upside, you’re left trying to spotlight less talented players.
The passing game sees its best quarterback in quite a while. Geno Smith set career highs just a few seasons ago with the Seattle Seahawks before following Pete Carroll to Las Vegas, where they were the worst team in the league. I don’t blame this failed season on Geno. At times last season, offensive coordinator Chip Kelley was calling plays that weren’t in the playbook. The whole team was a mess. Geno may not be the best quarterback in the league, but he’s proven he can be a dependable starter. I expect their passing game to be competent with returning star Garrett Wilson and last season's addition of wide receiver Adonai Mitchell. They also drafted wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq. The receiving options have improved from last season, and the running game should also open up more. Fewer stacked boxes should produce higher rushing totals for Breece Hall. The Jets are a perfect example of a bad offense still producing fantasy stars.
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