NFL’s longest-tenured head coaches after John Harbaugh’s firing

With John Harbaugh’s firing by the Baltimore Ravens this week, the list of the longest-tenured coaches in NFL history abruptly changed. The NFL turnover at head coach is nonstop, even for once successful leaders.

Only one NFL head coach was hired before 2013, and even Mike Tomlin’s status as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tenuous.

Let’s take a closer look at the list of longest-tenured NFL head coaches and some takeaways.

More than 75% of NFL head coaches were hired since 2021

Looking at the list before of the longest-tenured NFL head coaches, you’ll see only seven were hired before 2021. More than three-quarters of the coaches have been upended since COVID. And fans of several of those coaches have been antsy this offseason calling for moving on from Mike Tomlin, Sean McDermott, Matt LaFleur, and Zac Taylor with varying degrees of intensity.

Almost 25% of the NFL will have a new coach in 2026

At least seven of the 32 teams will have a new man on the sideline for the 2026 season opener. On average, the modern NFL turns over seven coaches per hiring cycle. It was seven in 2025, as well.

Super Bowl wins is a key metric for head coach longevity, but they don’t guarantee it

Obviously in the NFL, the Lombardi trophy is the ultimate goal. Of the five coaches that have been around for more than six years, only Sean McDermott and Kyle Shanahan don’t have a Super Bowl victory and only McDermott doesn’t have a Super Bowl appearance.

There is turnover even with Super Bowl winners. Only four coaches have won Super Bowls with their current teams; Mike Tomlin, Andy Reid, Sean McVay, and Nick Sirriani. Reid is the only active coach with multiple Super Bowls with his current team.

In the last handful of years, Bill Belichick was fired by the Patriots, Doug Pederson was fired by the Eagles, Pete Carroll was fired by the Seahawks, John Harbaugh was fired by the Ravens, and Mike McCarthy was fired by the Packers despite winning the big one for the franchise.

Full list of NFL coaching tenures

1. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers | January 22, 2007
2. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs | January 7, 2013
3. Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills | January 11, 2017
4. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams | January 12, 2017
5. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers | February 6, 2017
6. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers | January 8, 2019
7. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals | February 9, 2019
8. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions | January 10, 2021
9. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles | January 24, 2021
10. Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins | February 6, 2022
11. Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings | February 16, 2022
12. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | March 30, 2022
13. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans | January 31, 2023
14. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos | February 3, 2023
15. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts | February 14, 2023
16. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers | January 24, 2024
17. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers | January 25, 2024
18. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks | January 31, 2024
19. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders | February 4, 2024
20. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots | January 12, 2025
21. Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears | January 21, 2025
22. Aaron Glenn, New York Jets | January 22, 2025
23. Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys | January 24, 2025
24. Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars | January 24, 2025
25. Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints | February 11, 2025

Vacant: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans