Coaching hot-seat
If you’re reading this in the USA the last couple of weeks have brought some intense summer heat! Record highs have been recorded all over the country and that pool party looks better and better with each level the thermometer rises. As the heat of training camp is fast approaching let’s take a look at the coaches who might be “feeling the heat” with their employment this season.
The basis for this article is that I chose to give every coach who is entering their first or second season with their team an “ice cold” sweet tea in their hand. Obviously there are situations where those men can lose their jobs (#DavidTepper), but history shows that those cases are pretty rare. So let’s focus on the coaches who aren’t so fortunate in this article, but first let’s see who will not be discussed:
Jonathan Gannon - Arizona Cardinals
Raheem Morris - Atlanta Falcons
Dave Canales - Carolina Panthers
Sean Payton - Denver Broncos
DeMeco Ryans - Houston Texans
Shane Steichen - Indianapolis Colts
Antonio Pierce - Las Vegas Raiders
Jim Harbaugh - LA Chargers
Jerod Mayo - New England Patriots
Mike Macdonald - Seattle Seahawks
Brian Callahan - Tennessee Titans
Dan Quinn - Washington Commanders
Now for the coaches who are going to get an outlook of their coaching situation “hot seat.” I have labeled their job security in three categories. Hey, let’s keep it fun with the summer theme.
Sitting on the Yeti - Relaxed and just taking it all in. Watching the corn-hole games, taking a dip in the pool, and if they want to stay at the cookout (the team) they can. If they want to head to the house (retire/move on to a new team in no time) they can do that too.
There’s rain in the forecast - These coach’s are officially being “watched.” The storm of a bad season is definitely a possibility and unless it misses the cookout it could really bring some issues and questions.
Standing at the grill - The heat from the charcoal is hitting them right in the face. The pressure is on to produce a good meal at the family cookout! Don’t mess up, or this will be the last time you’re given the job of “the cook.”
So without further ado lets “turn up the heat!”
Sitting on the Yeti
1.) Andy Reid- Kansas City Chiefs
Accomplishments (Hired in 2013):
8 AFC West championships
What’s incredible about Andy Reid is that he wasn’t a bad coach when the Chiefs hired him. What’s also incredible about Andy Reid is that he has gotten better since the Chiefs have hired him. The team is going for history in 2024 and he can go as far as he wants with Mahomes and Co. Enjoy greatness folks, the quest for a “3-peat” is on!
2.) Sean McVay- Los Angeles Rams
Accomplishments (Hired in 2017):
3 NFC West championships
Since McVay come on the scene he has doesn’t nothing but win. The ability to develop late round talent in a very quick way has been pretty awesome to watch. His offensive mind is something that teams want to get a piece of. Essentially if you have been to a….cookout (ok I had to) with Sean McVay you get an interview every year. The rumors of him retiring are probably real and yet he still has a team that is winning and even making playoff games. He has deserved everything he has got in short stint as head coach.
3.) Kyle Shanahan- San Francisco 49ers
Accomplishments (Hired in 2017):
3 NFC West championships
Shanahan, much like McVay, has risen to the conversation of the top offensive minds in the NFL. The thing in my opinion he tends to stick to his play sheet a little too much in the course of a game. However, I do think his job is safe. What he has done with “Mr. Irrelevant” is nothing short of incredible. The Aiyuk situation could definitely bring some issues with this team, but the fact remains that for 2024 Brock Purdy is being paid peanuts, and Kyle Shanahan’s job is safe.
4.) Mike Tomlin- Pittsburgh Steelers
Accomplishments (Hired in 2007):
7 AFC North championships
What can you say? The longest tenured coach in the entire NFL continues to impress. The winning records, playoffs appearances, managing of locker rooms etc. Tomlin has the “it” factor. He has an ability to take big problems and make them small. I believe he faces his biggest challenge in 2024. Fresh off an extension Tomlin has some work to do.
5.) Matt LaFleur- Green Bay Packers
Accomplishments (Hired in 2019):
3 NFC North championships
The Packers have done it again. LaFleur seems to be finally connecting with Jordan Love. The hype is real and the “Cheese Heads” are ready for lift off. It feels like LaFleur has his fingerprints on the team that is ready to compete now and open up a window in a very tough division. This seems just to be the start of something interesting in Green Bay. He will at least get to see if the potential of Love can be reached.
6.) Jim Harbaugh- Baltimore Ravens
Accomplishments (Hired in 2008):
5 AFC North championships
Jim Harbaugh will now after to deal with some “family drama” at the cookout each summer now that his brother has taken the Chargers job, but to be fair he has a resumé that Jon will only hope to have some day. The Ravens are in a unique situation in 2024. They added Henry in the backfield, but also lost some big bodies on the o-line. Harbaugh might be in the toughest division in the league, so he will have to really adjust his game a bit this year. Nonetheless his job is safe, as long as Lamar Jackson is playing at the level he is.
There’s rain in the forecast
1.) Sean McDermott- Buffalo Bills
Accomplishments (Hired in 2017):
4 AFC East championships
This team has been the center of so many things the last couple of years. Anything from coaching quotes, games in a snow globe, scary on field health issues, player drama, and heart-breaking losses. It always so noisy around Buffalo and it just feels like things are really starting to burn on the grill. Josh Allen has done so much for this team and yet they continually come up short. McDermott needs to take this team to the next step in 2024 or there will really start to be some questions to answer.
2..) Zac Taylor- Cincinnati Bengals
Accomplishments (Hired in 2019):
2 AFC North championships
Ok, here me out. I know the Bengals lost their franchise QB last season, so I will give Taylor a pass, but with Joe Burrow popping up on the injury report as much as he has over the past couple of seasons and now having to change the roster a bit Zac Taylor is coming in to som rough waters in my opinion. Outside of the Super Bowl run in 2021 he has only been to the playoffs one other time since being hired by Cincinnati. I just think if 2024 goes south, there are some serious discussions that need to be had in the front office.
3.) Kevin Stefanski- Cleveland Browns
Accomplishments (Hired in 2020):
Let me just start by saying I almost put Stetanski on the Yeti, but here’s why he’s watching the “storm.” The Watson situation continues to be a mess for the Cleveland Browns. This team has been a shell of itself since they traded for him. With that being said, I think it could ultimately hurt Stefanski. The fans are getting impatient and unfortunately it seems like Stefanski could be the scape goat. They have arguably a top ten roster in the NFL. If the Browns can make a run this year, this become a moot point, if not well…the dogs might start barking in the backyard.
4.) Doug Pederson- Jacksonville Jaguars
Accomplishments (Hired in 2022):
1 AFC South championship
I know, I know, you’re thinking “Pederson is the guy to take this team to the promise land. This is a bad take.” Well let me ask you this? When Doug Pederson teams start a decline, like Jacksonville did last year, how often do they get better? Trevor Lawrence has not turned into the “generational talent” that everyone thought he would, and he just got paid. This means that the roster management will have to be very much on the forefront of the front office. Be careful Doug, there is a massive storm cloud rolling in.
5.) Mike McDaniel- Miami Dolphins
Accomplishments (Hired in 2022):
2 playoff births
The Miami Dolphins are the one team in the NFL that match the city they play in very well. They are fast, shiny, glitzy, glamorous, and yet are not that great to go to in the winter. I have no doubt in the offensive mind of McDaniel, especially in an offensive league, but the fact of the matter is Tua isn’t elite and this team is great in the regular season when its warm and sunny, but have been struggling tremendously in the playoffs. I think at some point Mike McDaniel needs to make a deep playoff run or there is going to be some thunder rumbling in the background.
6.) Dan Campbell- Detroit Lions
Accomplishments (Hired in 2022):
1 NFC North championship
I know I will receive push back for this selection, but remember this category doesn’t mean they are coaching for their job, it just means some rumblings could start. I know Campbell is passionate and has changed those “same old Lions,” but sometimes that seems to be getting in the way of winning. I don’t think that he has to “change,” but maybe just take a step back and breathe before making decisions in game.
7.) Kevin O’Connell- Minnesota Vikings
Accomplishments (Hired in 2022):
1 NFC North championship
Times are going to be different in SKOL Country this season with the departure of Kirk Cousins, but if there is a coach that can potentially handle it, I believe it’s O’Connell. The Vikings went all in this year during the draft and grab what they feel is the QB of the future. The problem is, that cost them pretty much all their draft capital for next year. It feels like a messy middle in Minnesota right now, and if O’Connell doesn’t get this team rolling in the direction it needs to go their could be an entire new “invite” list in Minnesota.
8.) Nick Sirianni- Philadelphia Eagles
Accomplishments (Hired in 2021):
1 NFC East championship
The Eagles looked like they were on another level last year. Then came the month of December. Something definitely feels “broke” in Philly. The roster is great, but the loss of Shane Steichen has really shown. People are watching this team closely this year, and if Sirianni can’t get things rolling again with the team, The City of Brotherly Love might not be so lovely to him.
Standing at the grill
1.) Todd Bowels- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Accomplishments (Hired in 2022):
2 NFC South championships
This just feels like the runway is ending in Tampa Bay. Bowels is well respected, but the fact of the matter this team I think maxed themselves out last season. Baker could be a perfect bridge QB, but in a bad division if the Bucs don’t so something it will be time to reset in Tampa.
2.) Brian Daboll- New York Giants
Accomplishments (Hired in 2022):
I was tempted to bump up Daboll a category, but listen after watching Hard Knocks, this team just feels like a mess right now. The GM seems to be just like a “guy” who like football. The contract is bad for Daniel Jones, and the roster is not great. Daboll needs to be get this team to the playoffs or at least an honorable season or its going to be a house clean in New York.
3.) Dennis Allen- New Orleans Saints
Accomplishments (Hired in 2022):
N/A
I don’t know what else to say about the Saints. This team is just not good. Allen seems to be out-coached often in games and the salary cap situation is once again not in a good spot. Allen is coaching for his job this season. Who on this team scares opposing teams? There just needs to be a new voice in the “Big Easy.”
4.) Mike McCarthy- Dallas Cowboys
Accomplishments (Hired in 2020):
2 NFC East championships
The grill has smoke billowing out the sides in Dallas. This is it for McCarthy and the Cowboys. Dak is going to have to do all the heavy lifting this season, which has not always been good, but even if he can, this team needs to go deep in the playoffs or it will look a lot different in 2025. McCarthy seems to have reached the limit of who he is as a coach and the limit doesn’t seem to be enough.
4.) Matt Eberflus- Chicago Bears
Accomplishments (Hired in 2022):
N/A
Eberflus falls into this category not necessarily because of “him,” but more so because of Ryan Poles. This team for the first time in years “feels” different. There’s momentum, hope, and even excitement in the Windy City. The Bears need to strike while the iron is hot, and I just don’t think a defensive minded Eberflus is that answer. Poles is not afraid to make the bold moves and if the season is poor he will make no exceptions with his head coach.
5.) Robert Saleh- New York Jets
Accomplishments (Hired in 2021):
N/A
It seems unfortunate that Sales is in this category, but he we are. This is it for Saleh. The Rodgers experiment is finally at the point where if it doesn’t work they need to move. The distractions, hype, and pressure of New York just feels like it has reached it’s heaviest weight. Let’s be honest not only is the charcoal smoking, but so is Aaron Rodgers.
