NEW YORK — The confetti has barely been swept from the streets of Seattle following the Seahawks’ Super Bowl 60 triumph, but the NFL stops for no one. While the combine is weeks away and free agency looms, the coaching carousel has already spun some fascinating narratives for the 2026 season.
We aren’t just looking at roster gaps here. We’re looking at the marriage of play-callers and personnel—the secret sauce that turns a struggling unit into a juggernaut. We saw it last year when Klint Kubiak turned Seattle’s offense into a buzzsaw. Now, with new architects in Las Vegas, Baltimore, and Los Angeles, the landscape is shifting again.
Here are the five position groups that will look completely different—and infinitely better—when kickoff rolls around in September.
1. Baltimore Ravens’ Defense
The Fixer: Head Coach Jesse Minter
Baltimore’s 2025 campaign was a defensive disaster movie. Finishing 18th in success rate and 29th in pass-rush grade is uncharacteristic for a franchise built on bruising physicality. But the arrival of Jesse Minter as head coach changes the math immediately.
Minter isn’t just a “defensive mind”; he’s a maximization specialist. During his two-year stint running the Chargers’ defense, he propelled them to fourth in success rate, turning cast-offs like Elijah Molden into legitimate contributors. With Minter calling the shots and Anthony Weaver returning as DC, expect the Ravens to ditch the sluggish, reactive style of ’25 for a complex, disguised pressure system that confuses quarterbacks pre-snap.
“He’s like a mad scientist. He’s all about putting guys into position to make plays. It’s not just about the scheme; it’s about knowing exactly where the offense wants to go before they do.” — Donte Jackson, on Minter’s defensive philosophy
The Projection: Even with uncertainty surrounding Nnamdi Madubuike and Kyle Van Noy, Minter’s scheme manufactures pressure. Expect Baltimore to return to the top 10 in EPA/play simply by eliminating the mental errors that plagued them last year.
2. Las Vegas Raiders’ Offense
The Fixer: Head Coach Klint Kubiak
There is nowhere to go but up for a unit that ranked 31st in EPA last season. But hiring Klint Kubiak—fresh off a Super Bowl ring with Seattle—is the kind of move that fast-tracks a rebuild. Kubiak’s system is quarterback-friendly and run-game dominant, a perfect match for the roster Vegas is building.
The Raiders already have a foundational piece in Ashton Jeanty. The sophomore back, who was drafted 6th overall in 2025, put up solid numbers despite a lackluster scheme. Under Kubiak, whose Saints and Seahawks rushing attacks were top-10 machines, Jeanty is poised for an All-Pro leap. Add in the likelihood of Vegas selecting Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick, and you have the most exciting young battery in football.
The “It” Factor
Kubiak’s offense relies on deception and motion—two things Vegas had none of in 2025. If they snag Mendoza, a QB known for his quick release and processing speed (ironically similar to Brock Purdy, another Kubiak disciple), this offense goes from “anemic” to “electric” overnight.
3. Los Angeles Chargers’ Offense
The Fixer: Offensive Coordinator Mike McDaniel
Jim Harbaugh making a splash hire? You bet. Bringing in former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel to run the offense is the boldest move of the offseason. The Chargers have been efficient but rarely explosive, ranking 23rd in rushing EPA since 2024. McDaniel fixes that instantly.
McDaniel’s tenure in Miami might have ended without a ring, but his offensive resume is unimpeachable: 6th in yards per play and 10th in success rate from 2022-25. He is the master of horizontal stretch and motion. Pairing his run-game wizardry with Justin Herbert’s bazooka arm is practically unfair. Herbert has never had a play-caller who can manipulate leverage like McDaniel. If Ladd McConkey stays healthy, expect Herbert to have more wide-open throws than he’s seen in his entire career.
4. San Francisco 49ers’ Defense
The Fixer: Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris
It’s strange to type, but the 49ers’ defense was a liability last year. Finishing 24th in EPA per play is unacceptable for a unit boasting Nick Bosa and Fred Warner. The “wide-9” front became porous, and the secondary was prone to busts.
Enter Raheem Morris. While his stint in Atlanta had mixed results, his work with the Rams remains the blueprint. Morris understands how to protect his stars and confuse opposing QBs without needing to blitz heavily. With Bosa and Warner returning to anchor the unit, Morris doesn’t need to rebuild; he just needs to realign. Expect San Francisco to tighten up specifically on first downs (where they ranked 30th last year) and force teams into obvious passing situations where Bosa can feast.
5. Buffalo Bills’ Defense
The Fixer: Defensive Coordinator Jim Leonhard
Buffalo’s defense was “fine” in 2025—13th in success rate—but “fine” doesn’t win championships in the AFC. The issue was a lack of high-end disruption (19th in pressure rate). Jim Leonhard is the antidote.
Leonhard has been a rising star for years, and his recent work as Denver’s pass game coordinator was masterful. The Broncos ranked 4th in passing EPA allowed since 2024, largely due to Leonhard’s ability to develop young defensive backs. Buffalo has a solid core with Greg Rousseau and Ed Oliver, but they need their secondary to take a step forward, especially with Cole Bishop ascending. Leonhard is arguably the best DB teacher in the league; his impact on the back end will allow the Bills to be more aggressive up front.
Playoff Implications
If these projections hold, the balance of power shifts dramatically. A resurgent Ravens defense makes the AFC North a bloodbath again. A Kubiak-led Raiders offense challenges the Chiefs’ hegemony in the West. And if McDaniel unlocks the best version of Justin Herbert? The Chargers aren’t just a playoff team; they are a Super Bowl favorite.
