Grading Every New NFL Head Coach Entering Week 5 of the 2026 Season

We're about a quarter of the way through the 2026 NFL season. While it's too early to draw conclusions about the league's 10 new head coaches, we can at least grade them based on how well each has started.

Here's a breakdown from Brady to Stefanski—with the understanding that win-loss records rarely tell the whole story.

Demonstrated Strengths: Brady's offense is the league's highest-scoring unit and has led the NFL in explosive plays for four weeks. Ultimately, that's his primary responsibility.

Needs Improvement: The Bills actually laid eggs in both Week 3 and Week 4. The Chargers let them off the hook in the first case, but their luck ran out against New England. This team could very easily be 1-3 instead of 3-1.

Demonstrated Strengths: Hafley's defense has been somewhat of a pleasant surprise. That unit gave up zero touchdowns against the Vikings in Week 4 and allowed an average of 19.5 points per game over the last two weeks against the formidable Chiefs and Vikings. On top of that, one of the league's least talented teams has shown plenty of fight.

Needs Improvement: The team has developed a reputation for starting slowly. Hafley needs to work on his overall game and clock management. That should come with time.

Demonstrated Strengths: Harbaugh has provided an immediate culture reset, stabilizing the franchise. Despite several supposedly back-breaking injuries, he's got a rebuilding team in first place and tied for the NFC lead with eight takeaways.

Needs Improvement: They actually came extremely close to losing to the bad Cardinals and worse Titans. Let's see how they fare when the schedule toughens up in November and December.

Demonstrated Strengths: Kubiak has the rebuilding Raiders competing hard every week. His offense ranks eighth in scoring. The league's third-least-penalized team has taken a significant step forward after winning just seven games over the last two seasons.

Needs Improvement: That offensive unit has committed six turnovers. Kubiak could afford to be more creative and a little less stubborn with the run game.

Demonstrated Strengths: The Cardinals are one of 12 teams that have scored at least 24 points in three of their first four games. They got an impressive win out of the gate and have been competitive more often than not despite a lack of overall talent.

Needs Improvement: That offense has generated only five 20-plus-yard plays all season, easily the worst mark in the NFL (only one other team has fewer than 10). LaFleur also did not manage the second half well in a tough Week 4 loss to the Giants.

Demonstrated Strengths: Despite the slow overall start, McCarthy's offense does rank in the top 10 in the league with 17 plays of 20-plus yards. The Steelers are the league's fifth-least-penalized team through four weeks.

Needs Improvement: The offense has scored touchdowns on just four of nine red-zone trips. Only three units in the NFL have been worse at converting third downs. That explains why they rank in the bottom 10 in scoring overall. The playmaking defense is the main reason they're 2-2 against a so-so schedule.

Demonstrated Strengths: Just one hiccup thus far, as the Ravens are in first place. The offense was humming before potentially losing Lamar Jackson. The defense might be turning a corner.

Needs Improvement: His defense, which is giving up 24 points per game, has surrendered a subpar 15 gains of 20-plus yards in four weeks and ranks in the bottom 10 in pressure rate. Meanwhile, only Cleveland and Green Bay have been penalized more.

Demonstrated Strengths: Deshaun Watson has yet to bomb, and the offense has been fairly productive despite having to acclimate following an offseason of substantial change. The team appears to be buying in, as the culture shift is palpable.

Needs Improvement: That offense has scored touchdowns on just five of 10 red-zone trips. They rank in the bottom 10 at converting third downs. The Browns also enter Week 5 as the NFL's most penalized team, so it's a work in progress.

Demonstrated Strengths: Saleh's defense has surrendered the ninth-fewest points in the league. The Titans have also shown discipline, as one of only four teams penalized fewer than 25 times so far. They didn't look prepared at all out of the gate but have since been competitive in three consecutive outings.

Needs Improvement: That D has generated just two takeaways in four games, both of which came in Week 2. The offense also remains anemic.

Demonstrated Strengths: His offense has scored touchdowns on eight of 10 red-zone trips, becoming a top-10 unit overall. They have been lighting it up after a slow start. A lot of that is because Stefanski has seemingly unlocked Michael Penix Jr.

Needs Improvement: Only three offenses have committed more turnovers than Atlanta's (eight), although five of those came from backup quarterbacks in a Week 2 nightmare performance against Carolina.