The end of the 2025 season marked the end of an era for two of the Pittsburgh Steelers' AFC North rivals. On Black Monday, the Cleveland Browns announced that their franchise was parting ways with head coach Kevin Stefanski. One day later, the Baltimore Ravens released a statement that they had relieved head coach John Harbaugh of his duties.
With a bizarre Pittsburgh win over the Ravens in Week 18—which was decided by a last-second missed field goal by rookie Tyler Loop—Mike Tomlin's job is safe (for now). But two teams in the AFC North are now beginning their hunt for a new head coach.
And, though unlikely, these two rivals could do the unthinkable.
Pittsburgh Steelers' AFC North rivals could essentially swap head coaches in 2026
The Browns and the Ravens have coaching vacancies. Both franchises just moved on from former Coach of the Year recipients. Ironically, Harbaugh and Stefanski are already deemed two of the top coaching candidates in an otherwise unspectacular hiring cycle.
While it would be highly unlikely, there's a scenario in which the Browns could hire Harbaugh and the Ravens could hire Stefanski as their next head coach. What a wild turn of events this would be.
The reasons are fairly straightforward. Stefanski, who coached the Browns from 2020-2025, recorded two 11-win seasons during his time in Cleveland. This included a 48-37 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs following the 2020 season. Stefanski was also voted the NFL Head Coach of the Year in 2023 and 2020.
If the Ravens are looking to get younger and move initiative, look no further. Stefanski is 20 years younger than Harbaugh, and as an offensive-minded head coach and former offensive coordinator, this could be a hire that quarterback Lamar Jackson could get on board with.
Meanwhile, the Browns are coming off back-to-back seasons with five wins or fewer. Because of their perennial state of mediocrity, this is a team that could value a quality, tenured head coach like Harbaugh, who could help get them out of the gutter and raise the floor of the team.
Both the Browns and the Ravens are extremely familiar with each other's ex-head coach. Outside of a few quality names this hiring cycle (like Klint Kubiak and Vance Joseph), Stefanski and Harbaugh might be two of the most sought-after names on the market.
We never see things like this happen... but that doesn't mean it couldn't. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the AFC North would be living in a twilight zone if the Browns and Ravens elected to swap former head coaches.