There is significant uncertainty heading into the 2026 season surrounding both the head coaching position and the starting quarterback. While Shedeur Sanders showed growth as the starter, the team has not committed to him moving forward. When Jimmy Haslam
was asked about Sanders’ future with the team, he kept his answer vague, stating that there was a lot of work to be done on the offensive side of the ball.As the organization evaluates quarterback options via free agency, trades, and the draft,
Sanders’ presence is not expected to factor into the head coaching decision.
One of the more important aspects the team should focus on when looking for the next coach is someone who has experience developing young and inexperienced quarterbacks. Whether it’s Sanders, a rookie, or a bridge quarterback, some level of development will likely be required. The head coach must be willing to invest their time into this.
If the team was committed to Sanders as the starter moving forward, they may have been more likely to keep Kevin Stefanski around. Stefanski has already spent a lot of time and effort into developing Sanders, and creating stability for the rookie quarterback would have been helpful. Given that there’s uncertainty regarding Sanders, it makes it much easier to have a fresh start with the head coach as well.
Let me know what you think in the comments – Does Shedeur impact who gets hired? If so, should they have kept Stefanski?
