The New England Patriots established themselves as one of the AFC's premier squads last season after a 14-win season that saw them fall just short of their seventh Super Bowl.
While some headlines regarding off-field drama may have instilled doubt, there was no reason for the Patriots to part ways with head coach Mike Vrabel for performance reasons after such a tremendous 2025.
While New England's coaching staff is in a stable position, that can't be said for teams across the league. In a recent article from CBS's Jordan Dajani, three AFC coaches rank among the top five head coaches on the hot seat going into 2026, and that's something the Patriots could no doubt take advantage of.
The AFC has multiple head coaches in the hot seat
While the AFC has its fair share of contenders, the conference also has several teams that may need a new head coach sooner rather than later.
This past offseason, we saw Sean McDermott fired despite leading the Bills to the playoffs in eight of his nine years with the team. Before McDermott, the team hadn't made the postseason since 1999. Even the best coaches can be fired, but there are three AFC coaches who stand out as below-average leaders who haven't yet led their teams to sustained success.
Dajani lists Bengals HC Zac Taylor, Colts HC Shane Steichen, and Jets HC Aaron Glenn as three coaches who could be gone by the end of the season in the AFC.
Taylor has had some success in his seven years of coaching the Bengals, but it hasn't been sustained over the past few years. After going 6-25 over his first two seasons, Taylor and Joe Burrow made it to the Super Bowl, where they eventually lost to the Rams.
They'd win the division for the second straight season with a 12-4 record in 2022, but lose to the Chiefs in the AFCCG. Over the last three years, however, the team is 24-27 with no playoff appearances.
Steichen was the Eagles' offensive coordinator when they just fell short in the Super Bowl during the 2022 season. The selection of Anthony Richardson at No. 4 in 2023 no doubt set the team back, but after going 17-17 over his first two seasons, it appeared the Colts found something in Daniel Jones.
After starting the season 8-2, the Colts lost seven straight games and missed the playoffs after the bye week. With Jones back in 2026, Steichen will need the Colts to maintain their pre-bye form to keep his job through the season.
Glenn was a coach New England faced twice last season. They went 2-0 against him, beating him by a combined score of 69-24. In their Week 17 matchup, which finished 42-10, the Patriots led 35-3 at halftime.
The Jets look to be far improved compared to the end of last season, but the roster as a whole still needs significant improvements. Furthermore, it remains to be seen if Glenn is the man for the job. The jury's still out on the former cornerback, but a strong 2026 could turn the tide.
The Patriots can take advantage of unstable coaching situations
While the rest of the AFC East flounders trying to secure their coaches' futures, the Patriots can take advantage.
Based on 2025 records, the Patriots' 2026 schedule is the sixth hardest in the league. Of the three coaches mentioned, New England plays only Glenn in both Weeks 6 and 16. While the Jets aren't likely to compete for the playoffs, they will be in the sights of both the Bengals and Colts.
While New England won't play either squad, the desperation of their respective coaches could lead them to be more aggressive against New England's competition, indirectly helping them.
Furthermore, overpaying in trades becomes common when staff tries to patch a sinking ship. Conversely, once the coaches are relieved of their duties, talented players may become available. The Patriots may be able to take advantage of instability elsewhere, and there's plenty to go around in the AFC East.
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