Sep 04, 2026 - 05:19
By espn.com

NFL players, coaches, GMs under the most pressure in 2026 - ESPN

Editor's note: Arizona receiver Michael Wilson was originally on this list, but he signed a new extension on Thursday.

Some people around the NFL have more riding on the 2026 season than others. The vast majority of players are on one-year deals or have limited or no guaranteed money waiting for them in 2027. Every coordinator and assistant coach is one bad year away from potentially looking for work. And although a fair number of head coaches and general managers have real job security, others might have a storied career with one team come down to a missed field goal or a contested catch at the wrong time — to which John Harbaugh and Sean McDermott can attest.

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Today, I'm looking at the players, coaches and executives who might be most impacted by what they do — or don't do — during the 2026 campaign. Perhaps it is a player in position to make life-changing money if he has a good season at the right time. Perhaps it is someone on the verge of losing their path to a starting role. It could also mean coaches and executives looking to lock up another contract with a successful year.

Even within this group, though, there are a few players who could really see their future diverge into one of two dramatically different paths solely based on what they do over the next 17 games. Let's open things up there. Here are 22 people around the NFL with the most to gain or lose in 2026.

I'll start with the player who might have a wider range of outcomes heading into the season than anyone. There aren't many candidates in any given year who have