Here's a quick list of who I think are gonna be five of the hottest 'fresh' names for the 2026 hiring cycle.
I had Gemini do a quick bio and 'general status' in mainstream reporting and what 'tree' they are coming from/their connections to the existing NFL coaches or GMs.
In order of who I think the hot five 'fresh' names are right now...
Declan Doyle (OC, Chicago Bears)
- Bio: The 31-year-old "prodigy." Serving under Ben Johnson, Doyle was the primary architect of Caleb Williams’ record-breaking sophomore season. He specializes in creative personnel mismatches and "heavy" offensive sets.
- Rationale: He is the "Next McVay." If you can’t hire Ben Johnson, you hire the guy who actually coached his QB. Doyle represents the ultimate high-upside swing for an owner wanting to "win" the press conference.
- Connections: Ben Johnson (Bears), Sean Payton, Ryan Poles (Bears GM).
Grant Udinski (OC, Jacksonville Jaguars)
- Bio: The 30-year-old architect of Trevor Lawrence's 2025 explosion. Udinski moved with Liam Coen to Jacksonville and turned the Jags into a top-3 offense in explosive plays. He is known for an obsessive, "round-the-clock" approach to game-planning.
- Rationale: He represents the "Modern Genius" mold. His ability to modernize Lawrence’s footwork and simplify his post-snap reads has made him the darling of the coaching circuit this winter.
- Connections: Liam Coen (Jaguars), Kevin O'Connell (Vikings), Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Klint Kubiak (OC, Seattle Seahawks)
- Bio: Kubiak performed a masterclass in 2025, turning Sam Darnold into a Pro Bowler and Jaxon Smith-Njigba into a 1,500-yard receiver. His high-motion, wide-zone scheme is currently the most difficult system for NFL defenses to solve.
- Rationale: He brings the "Shanahan Gold Standard" but with his own aggressive spin. Teams with young QBs will view him as the safest way to ensure a high floor and immediate offensive identity.
- Connections: Kyle Shanahan (49ers), Mike Macdonald (Seahawks), John Lynch (49ers GM).
Thomas Brown (Pass Game Coord/TE Coach, New England Patriots)
- Bio: After a brief interim HC stint in Chicago, Brown moved to the Patriots for 2025. He is credited as the primary architect behind Drake Maye’s historic breakout season. His unit ranks 2nd in the NFL in passing yards per game (249.7) and pass yards per attempt (8.7).
- Rationale: Brown is a "leader of men" who excels at building personal relationships with players. His work with Maye is the ultimate resume builder for 2026; teams with high draft picks will want him to do for their rookie QB what he did in New England.
- Connections: Mike Vrabel (Patriots HC), Sean McVay (Rams), Josh McDaniels (Patriots OC).
Adam Stenavich (OC, Green Bay Packers)
- Bio: Matt LaFleur’s right-hand man and the mastermind behind the Packers' elite run-game design. He was instrumental in Jordan Love’s development and the team's top-tier offensive line play.
- Rationale: He builds offenses from the "inside out." This philosophy appeals to owners who want a physical team that can also throw for 4,000 yards—the "Green Bay Model" of sustainable winning.
- Connections: Matt LaFleur (Packers), Brian Gutekunst (Packers GM), Kyle Shanahan.
