NFL Coach and GM Cycle Bleeding Into Super Bowl Week

The NFL’s head coach and GM hiring and firing cycle has had more activity than ever this year. And it’s set to drag into Super Bowl week.

As the football world descends upon the Bay Area in the lead up to Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8, the Cardinals and Raiders are still searching for a new head coach, while the Vikings are newly looking for a new GM.

Minnesota fired GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah Friday, 26 days after the regular season. Vikings owners Mark and Zygi Wilf in a statement said the decision was made “following our annual end-of-season organizational meetings over the last several weeks and after careful consideration.”

Vikings EVP of football operations Rob Brzezinski will lead the team’s operations through the 2026 NFL Draft, and then the franchise intends to conduct a GM search.

Adofo-Mensah and Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell signed contract extensions last offseason, but the Vikings missed the playoffs this season with an 8–9 record.

Clash for Kubiak

As the Seahawks prepare to face the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, Seattle offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak appears to be the top head coaching target for the Cardinals and Raiders, who have both requested second interviews with him.

That’s led to a standstill for both franchises, as Kubiak, 38, is not able to officially accept a job until after the Super Bowl. However, he could inform at least one of those teams that he’s no longer interested.

The Raiders fired Pete Carroll after just one season, while the Cardinals fired Jonathan Gannon following three playoff-less seasons in Arizona.

Finishing Touch for Falcons

The Falcons completed their front office makeover Thursday, hiring Bears assistant GM Ian Cunningham as their next GM. Cunningham will report to new president of football Matt Ryan, who has final say on all football matters, and led the search for new head coach Kevin Stefanski. 

Those moves came after Rich McKay stepped down from his role as CEO of the Falcons earlier this month, too.