In the high-stakes world of the NFL, being a head coach is one of the toughest jobs in professional sports. Coaches are constantly under intense scrutiny, facing enormous pressure to win and meet fan expectations. Every season, a handful of coaches find themselves on the infamous “hot seat,” where their job security is in jeopardy due to poor team performance or unmet expectations. Even the most successful coaches aren’t immune, as the NFL is a league where quick results are demanded, and patience often runs thin.
Below is the ranking of all 32 current NFL coaches, with some facing more heat than others.
Red Hot
Jacksonville Jaguars | Doug Pederson – Trevor Lawrence threw for 371 yards, leading the Jaguars to a narrow victory. Tank Bigsby contributed over 100 rushing yards, while the offense kept pace with a strong Colts team. Jacksonville’s defense allowed Indianapolis to get back into the game late, and penalties added pressure. Despite this, the Jaguars made the right calls to secure the win
Hired: February 3, 2022
New York Jets | Robert Saleh – Aaron Rodgers passed for 244 yards, but the Jets couldn’t muster enough offense to keep pace with the Vikings. Garrett Wilson led the receivers with 101 yards, but they struggled to finish drives. Questionable decisions in the red zone and some costly penalties hurt the Jets’ chances of mounting a comeback
Hired: January 14, 2021
Warming Up
Dallas Cowboys | Mike McCarthy – Dak Prescott led the Cowboys to a narrow victory, throwing for 352 yards. Rico Dowdle contributed with 87 rushing yards, while the defense made key stops to hold off the Steelers. Dallas had a few penalties, particularly in the red zone, that hurt their momentum, but overall, coaching decisions helped secure the win
Hired: January 8, 2020
Philadelphia Eagles | Nick Sirianni – Bye Week
Hired: January 24, 2021
Cincinnati Bengals | Zac Taylor – Joe Burrow had a huge game, throwing for 392 yards and five touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough as the Bengals lost in overtime. Ja’Marr Chase led the team with 193 receiving yards, including a spectacular 70-yard TD. Zac Taylor’s decision to run the ball three consecutive times in overtime after a recovered fumble was questionable. Instead of putting the game in Burrow’s hands, they settled for a long field goal attempt, which was missed
Hired: February 4, 2019
Sparking
Chicago Bears | Matt Eberflus – Caleb Williams continued to impress, throwing for 304 yards and leading the Bears to an easy victory. D.J. Moore racked up 105 receiving yards, while the defense stifled Carolina’s offense, forcing three turnovers. Chicago had a few penalties that stalled drives, but their defense made up for it with strong performances throughout.
Hired: January 27, 2022
Miami Dolphins | Mike McDaniel – The Dolphins squeaked by in a low-scoring game, with Tyreek Hill contributing 69 receiving yards. Their defense held strong, forcing New England into uncomfortable situations. Miami’s game plan worked well enough, though there were some discipline issues, with penalties pushing them back on a couple of critical drives.
Hired: February 6, 2022
New Orleans Saints | Dennis Allen – Facing the Chiefs on Monday Night.
Hired: February 8, 2022
Carolina Panthers | Dave Canales – Carolina struggled offensively, managing just 10 points. Chuba Hubbard was a bright spot with 97 rushing yards, but Andy Dalton could only muster 8 passing yards in the first half. The defense was overmatched, allowing Caleb Williams to throw for over 300 yards. Jaycee Horn’s ejection and defensive lapses, including allowing Williams too much time to scramble, were costly. Injuries to key defenders also hurt their chances.
Hired: January 25, 2024
Tennessee Titans | Brian Callahan – Bye Week
Hired: January 24, 2024
Indianapolis Colts | Shane Steichen – The Colts fought hard but ultimately fell short against Jacksonville. Alec Pierce had a breakout game with 134 receiving yards, while Jonathan Taylor added 88 rushing yards. The Colts struggled with discipline, committing key penalties that stalled drives. Their decision-making in late-game situations, especially on defense, allowed Jacksonville to march down the field.
Hired: February 14, 2023
Cleveland Browns | Kevin Stefanski – The Browns struggled on both sides of the ball. Deshaun Watson could not generate enough offense, throwing for just 176 yards, while the defense gave up several big plays to Washington. Cleveland was plagued by penalties, including several that extended Washington’s drives. Coaching decisions on both sides of the ball did little to spark a comeback.
Hired: January 13, 2020
Chill
Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh – Lamar Jackson rallied the Ravens to victory, throwing for 348 yards and four touchdowns while rushing for key yards. Derrick Henry capped the overtime victory with a 51-yard run. The Ravens nearly fumbled the game away in overtime when Jackson dropped a snap, but their defense bailed them out. Otherwise, coaching was solid, especially in managing a late comeback.
Hired on January 19, 2008
Denver Broncos | Sean Payton – Denver’s offense was led by rookie Bo Nix, who threw for 206 yards and played efficiently. Javonte Williams chipped in with 61 rushing yards, and the Broncos’ defense did enough to hold off the Raiders. The Broncos played a clean game with few penalties and made smart decisions on both sides of the ball to control the game from start to finish.
Hired: February 3, 2023
New York Giants | Brian Daboll – The Giants’ offense clicked, with Darius Slayton racking up 122 receiving yards. Their defense made timely stops to secure a key win at home. The Giants played a relatively clean game, and their coaching staff made good adjustments, particularly in their passing schemes, to exploit Seattle’s secondary.
Hired: January 28, 2022
Washington Commanders | Dan Quinn – Jayden Daniels led Washington to a dominant victory, throwing for 238 yards and rushing for 82. The Commanders’ defense controlled the game, forcing several key turnovers. Washington played a clean game with few penalties. Their coaching staff effectively managed the game, making the right calls to secure the blowout win.
Hired: February 3, 2024
Buffalo Bills | Sean McDermott – The Bills fell short in a close game against the Texans. The defense couldn’t contain C.J. Stroud, who threw for 331 yards. Buffalo’s defense struggled with assignments, particularly in the secondary, and penalties at crucial moments hampered their chances of closing out the game.
Hired: January 11, 2017
Houston Texans | DeMeco Ryans – C.J. Stroud led the Texans to a close win with 331 passing yards. James Cook rushed for 82 yards, and Houston’s defense made key stops late in the game to hold off the Bills. Houston played a clean game with few penalties, and their balanced play-calling helped them control the clock and manage the game effectively.
Hired: January 31, 2023
Kansas City Chiefs | Andy Reid – Monday Night Game
Hired: January 7, 2013
Las Vegas Raiders | Antonio Pierce – The Raiders struggled to keep pace with Denver, as Bo Nix outplayed Las Vegas’s defense. The Raiders’ offense failed to get going, with Davante Adams and the passing game underperforming. Questionable offensive game plans and penalties at key moments prevented the Raiders from mounting a real challenge.
Hired: January 19, 2024
Los Angeles Chargers | Jim Harbaugh – Bye Week
Hired: January 24, 2024
New England Patriots | Jerod Mayo – The Patriots’ offense struggled, as they could only muster 10 points. Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 89 yards, but the passing game was ineffective, with Tyler Huntley only throwing for 194 yards. Conservative play-calling hurt the Patriots, and penalties derailed some promising drives. Bill Belichick’s offense lacked creativity in the red zone.
Hired: January 17, 2024
Pittsburgh Steelers | Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh fought hard but came up short against Dallas. Kenny Pickett struggled to find consistency, and the offense couldn’t generate enough points to secure the win. Questionable play-calling and costly penalties stalled the Steelers’ offense at critical points in the game.
Hired: January 22, 2007
Arizona Cardinals | Jonathan Gannon – The Cardinals pulled off an upset with a late comeback victory. Despite a slow start, Arizona’s defense made critical plays, and the offense capitalized on San Francisco’s mistakes to secure the win. Arizona had some penalty issues early in the game, but their coaching staff adjusted well in the second half, making the right calls to complete the comeback.
Hired: February 14, 202
Atlanta Falcons | Raheem Morris – A high-flying offensive performance led by Drake London (154 receiving yards) secured the win for Atlanta. Cousins’ huge passing day carried the Falcons to victory in a shootout. Despite the win, Atlanta’s defense gave up a lot of yardage through the air, which could raise concerns for future games. Penalties also added unnecessary pressure late in the game.
Hired: January 25, 2024
Detroit Lions | Dan Campbell – Bye Week
Hired: January 20, 2021
Green Bay Packers | Matt LaFleur – The Packers bounced back with a solid win. Jordan Love and the offense moved the ball well, and the defense made key stops to hold off the Rams. Jordan Whittington led the team with 89 receiving yards. Green Bay had a few penalties that extended Rams’ drives, but overall, coaching decisions were sound, particularly in clock management down the stretch.
Hired: January 8, 2019
Los Angeles Rams | Sean McVay – Matthew Stafford threw for 260 yards but couldn’t lead the Rams to a win. Kyren Williams rushed for 102 yards, but mistakes and turnovers cost them in the end. The Rams had several missed opportunities in the red zone and costly penalties, which contributed to their defeat. Sean McVay’s conservative play-calling at times also left points on the table.
Hired: January 12, 2017
Minnesota Vikings | Kevin O’Connell – Ty Chandler led the rushing attack for Minnesota with just 30 yards, but their defense held firm against Rodgers and the Jets’ offense, allowing them to eke out a close win. The Vikings committed several penalties on key drives, keeping the game tighter than it should have been, but they avoided any major coaching blunders.
Hired: February 16, 2022
San Francisco 49ers | Kyle Shanahan – Despite a strong offensive effort, including 244 passing yards from Brock Purdy and 147 receiving yards from Brandon Aiyuk, the 49ers fell short in a close loss to Arizona. San Francisco’s defense couldn’t get the stops they needed late in the game. San Francisco struggled with penalties that killed drives and missed key opportunities to extend their lead. Some conservative play-calling in the second half left the door open for Arizona’s comeback
February 6, 2017
Seattle Seahawks | Mike Macdonald – The Seahawks struggled to contain the Giants’ passing attack, despite Geno Smith throwing for 284 yards. Their defense allowed too many big plays, including multiple long passes to Darius Slayton. Seattle’s defense was caught off guard several times, with coaching adjustments coming too late. Penalties also hurt their momentum during offensive drives.
Hired: January 31, 2024
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Todd Bowles – Kirk Cousins threw for a massive 509 yards, but the Buccaneers’ defense couldn’t slow down the Falcons. Rachaad White led the ground game with 72 rushing yards, but Tampa Bay fell short in a high-scoring affair. Defensive lapses and some questionable decisions in the secondary left the Buccaneers vulnerable, allowing too many big plays, particularly in the second half.
Hired: March 30, 2022
