What NFL Coaches Will Be Fired After This Season?
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It’s that time of year again. The NFL season is winding down and, as always, there are a handful of coaches on the hot seat. Who will be the first to go?
NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat
Every season, a few NFL coaches find themselves on the hot seat. This year is no different, as there are several coaches who could be fired after the season. Here are a few of the coaches who could be on the hot seat this season.
Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns
The Browns have gone 1-31 in the past two seasons under Jackson, and rumors are swirling that he could be out after this season. He has been unable to get the Browns to compete, and the front office has made it clear that they are not happy with the direction of the team. If the Browns don’t show significant improvement this season, Jackson could be one of the first coaches to lose his job.
Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos
Entering his second season as head coach of the Broncos, Joseph is under immense pressure to win now. After back-to-back losing seasons, the Broncos haven’t made the playoffs since their Super Bowl victory in 2015. If Joseph can’t turn things around quickly, he could be one of the first coaches shown the door.
Dirk Koetter, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dirk Koetter is in his third season as the Buccaneers’ head coach, and he’s failed to produce a winning record in either of his first two years. The Bucs went 9-7 in 2016, but they regressed to 5-11 last season. Tampa Bay has shown some improvement this year, as the team is currently 4-6. However, with the way things are trending, it seems unlikely that the Bucs will turn things around and make a push for the playoffs. If that ends up being the case, then Koetter will almost certainly be shown the door.
Coaches Who Could Be Fired After This Season
There are a few NFL coaches who could be fired after this season. One reason is because their team is not performing well. Another reason is because they may have clashed with management or the front office. Let’s take a look at some coaches who could be fired after this season.
Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins
Jay Gruden’s first five seasons as head of the Washington Redskins were defined by inconsistency. After a promising start to his tenure, Gruden’s teams have regressed each of the past three years, culminating in a disappointing 2019 campaign.
This season was supposed to be different. The Redskins made significant changes to their roster, including adding Pro Bowl quarterback Case Keenum and first-round draft pick Dwayne Haskins. However, the team has failed to take advantage of their talent, starting the season 0-5.
As a result, Gruden’s job appears to be in jeopardy. If Washington doesn’t turn things around soon, Gruden will almost certainly be relieved of his duties at the end of the season.
Adam Gase, Miami Dolphins
Entering his fourth season as head of the Dolphins, Gase has a 23-25 record and has only made the playoffs once. That lone appearance came in 2016, when Miami went 10-6 and lost in the wild-card round. The Dolphins have gone 6-10 and 7-9 in the two seasons since.
Owner Stephen Ross is said to be “extremely disappointed” in the team’s performance, and there have been rumblings that Gase could be on the hot seat. If Miami gets off to a slow start this season, he could be gone before Halloween.
Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
There’s no sugarcoating it – the Bengals are one of the worst teams in the NFL, and their head coach is squarely to blame. Marvin Lewis has been with the Bengals since 2003, but he’s failed to lead them to a single playoff win in that time. Worse yet, the team has regressed in recent years, going from 6-10 in 2016 to 7-9 last season.
This year, things have gotten even worse. The Bengals are currently 1-11, and their only win came against the lowly Cardinals. With losses piling up and no end in sight, it’s only a matter of time before Marvin Lewis is shown the door.
Coaches Who Might Be Fired If Their Team Misses the Playoffs
Entering the 2020 NFL season, there were already several coaches on the hot seat. The Covid-19 pandemic has only made things worse, with some teams opting out of the season entirely. If your team misses the playoffs, your job could be in jeopardy. Here are some of the coaches who could be fired after this season.
Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers
Mike McCarthy has been the head coach of the Green Bay Packers for 13 seasons, and during that time, he has led the team to a Super Bowl victory and six NFC North titles. However, the Packers have struggled over the past two seasons, and if they miss the playoffs this year, McCarthy could be out of a job.
In 2017, the Packers went 7-9 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008. This season, they are 4-6-1 and are in danger of missing the playoffs again. The Packers have not been a good offensive team under McCarthy in recent years, and this season, they have been especially bad. They are ranked 23rd in points scored per game and 26th in yards gained per game.
The Packers have some talented players on offense, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but they have not been able to put it all together under McCarthy. If they miss the playoffs again this season, it could be time for a change in Green Bay.
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
John Harbaugh has been the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens since 2008, and has led the team to a playoff berth in each of his first seven seasons. However, the Ravens have failed to make it past the divisional round in each of their last five playoff appearances, and Harbaugh’s contract expires after this season. If the Ravens fail to make the playoffs in 2018, it is very likely that Harbaugh will be fired.
Bill O’Brien, Houston Texans
The Houston Texans have not looked good this season. After a promising start, they have lost six of their last seven games and now find themselves in third place in the AFC South division. Head coach Bill O’Brien has come under fire for his team’s struggles, and if the Texans miss the playoffs, he could be one of the first coaches to be fired.
