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
Dallas Cowboys | Mike McCarthy – The Cowboys capitalized on the Giants’ mistakes and maintained defensive pressure, securing a low-scoring win. The offense did just enough to outlast New York. A win is a win, but the Cowboys D is not impressive when you consider it was facing a lackluster Giants offense.
Hired: January 8, 2020
Chicago Bears | Matt Eberflus – The Bears, led by a strong rushing performance from D’Andre Swift, overcame several pre-snap penalties to secure a win. Pre-snap penalties, especially in the first half, hindered momentum. Despite this, Caleb Williams managed the game well and avoided turnovers.
Hired: January 27, 2022
Jacksonville Jaguars | Doug Pederson – Trevor Lawrence struggled to connect on deep passes, and Jacksonville’s offense stalled after halftime, allowing the Texans to mount a comeback. Doug Pederson’s team couldn’t finish the game strong. Bad decisions and lack of execution in the second half cost Jacksonville dearly.
Hired: February 3, 2022
Warming Up
Philadelphia Eagles | Nick Sirianni – The Eagles struggled against the Buccaneers, with Jalen Hurts committing two turnovers. Despite throwing for over 300 yards, Hurts was unable to overcome the mistakes, and the offense lacked rhythm. The decision to go for it on 4th down instead of kicking a field goal in a close first half was questionable. Additionally, poor clock management contributed to the Eagles’ inability to close the gap late in the game.
Hired: January 24, 2021
New York Jets | Robert Saleh – The Jets’ offensive struggles continued as Aaron Rodgers couldn’t lead them to victory. Questionable decisions in the red zone and penalties at critical moments prevented New York from scoring more points.
Hired: January 14, 2021
Sparking
Miami Dolphins | Mike McDaniel – He’s 1-6 in his career without Tua and this team since the last weeks of last year has been in free fall. They haven’t been able to beat good teams, and the offense has been terrible without Tua. The bloom is clearly off the rose here as McDaniel is starting to feel the heat.
Hired: February 6, 2022
New York Giants | Brian Daboll – The Giants struggled offensively, with Daniel Jones passing for 281 yards but unable to lead the team to victory. The offense couldn’t finish drives effectively. Penalties and clock mismanagement hurt New York, including a drive stalled by back-to-back penalties in the red zone, Daniel Jones does look improved.
Hired: January 28, 2022
New Orleans Saints | Dennis Allen – Derek Carr’s late-game touchdown drive wasn’t enough to overcome the Falcons. The Saints defense couldn’t hold up in the final moments. Carr’s low-risk play was encouraged, but it stifled the offense for most of the game. Penalties also played a role in the Saints’ inability to pull off the win.
Hired: February 8, 2022
Carolina Panthers | Dave Canales – Despite their offense moving the ball well, the Panthers couldn’t convert key opportunities, including a failed fourth-down attempt on Cincinnati’s 1-yard line. Going for it on fourth down early in the game backfired, as did an interception in a critical moment. The defense also struggled to contain Burrow.
Hired: January 25, 2024
Tennessee Titans | Brian Callahan – Major QB problems so far with Levis looking sloppy. Its’ a bad look when you lose to a GB team playing a QB that your team cut in the pre-season.
Hired: January 24, 2024
Indianapolis Colts | Shane Steichen – The Colts pulled off a tight win as Joe Flacco filled in admirably for the injured Anthony Richardson. The Colts managed the game well, with few coaching missteps or major penalties.
Hired: February 14, 2023
Denver Broncos | Sean Payton – In a defensive battle, the Broncos escaped with a win as their defense held firm. Denver’s offense struggled to move the ball, with conservative play-calling nearly costing them the game.
Hired: February 3, 2023
Cleveland Browns | Kevin Stefanski – The Browns struggled offensively, with Deshaun Watson throwing for just 176 yards. Cleveland’s defense kept the game close, but the offense couldn’t capitalize on opportunities in the red zone. Play-calling in the red zone was too conservative, leading to field goals instead of touchdowns. Penalties also stifled drives and caused them to lose momentum at critical points
Hired: January 13, 2020
Baltimore Ravens | John Harbaugh – The Ravens dominated the Bills behind a spectacular performance from Derrick Henry, who rushed for 199 yards. Baltimore’s defense limited Josh Allen and the Buffalo offense, while Lamar Jackson led several efficient scoring drives. The Ravens had a few unnecessary penalties that stalled drives early but quickly overcame them with explosive plays on both sides of the ball. There were no major coaching mistakes.
Hired on January 19, 2008
Cincinnati Bengals | Zac Taylor – The Bengals finally got in the win column, thanks to key plays from Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. The defense still showed signs of struggle but made enough plays to win. Defensive coaching needs to address consistency. Too many big plays were allowed, particularly on third downs.
Hired: February 4, 2019
Chill
Washington Commanders | Dan Quinn – QB Jayden Daniels put in a stellar performance, leading Washington to a dominant victory. The Commanders’ offense was efficient, scoring on every drive except for one, while the defense stifled Arizona. Minimal coaching errors, with Washington controlling the game from start to finish.
Hired: February 3, 2024
Buffalo Bills | Sean McDermott – Buffalo’s offense struggled to find its rhythm against a tough Baltimore defense. Josh Allen threw for just 180 yards, and the Bills couldn’t establish their running game. The defense was unable to contain Derrick Henry, who dominated throughout the game. Buffalo’s play-calling was overly conservative, especially in the second half when they were trailing. Penalties also hurt their ability to sustain drives, and the team showed a lack of adjustments to Baltimore’s powerful ground attack.
Hired: January 11, 2017
Houston Texans | DeMeco Ryans – The Texans were outplayed for most of the game but pulled off a last-minute win. C.J. Stroud’s late-game heroics saved Houston, though the offense struggled early. Offensive play-calling was conservative, and penalties drained valuable time before halftime, preventing a potential scoring drive.
Hired: January 31, 2023
Kansas City Chiefs | Andy Reid – The Chiefs ground out a tough win, with Patrick Mahomes leading the offense efficiently. Key plays by Travis Kelce and a solid defensive performance helped Kansas City seal the victor. Some questionable play-calling in the red zone kept the game closer than it needed to be, but the Chiefs still managed to pull through.
Hired: January 7, 2013
Las Vegas Raiders | Antonio Pierce – The Raiders managed to secure a win in a defensive battle against Cleveland. Despite a few offensive struggles, they maintained control for most of the game, with Jerry Jeudy leading the team with 72 receiving yards. There were some issues with the offensive rhythm, and penalties on key plays slowed down momentum. However, the defense did enough to contain Cleveland’s attack.
Hired: January 19, 2024
Los Angeles Chargers | Jim Harbaugh – The Chargers couldn’t get much going offensively, with Justin Herbert struggling against a strong Kansas City defense. Herbert was also hampered by his ankle injury, and the offensive line couldn’t protect him. Jim Harbaugh’s decision to play Herbert despite his injury raised questions. The Chargers’ offense became stagnant in the second half, and a lack of adjustments hurt them.
Hired: January 24, 2024
New England Patriots | Jerod Mayo – The Patriots’ offense struggled to move the ball against a dominant 49ers defense. Mac Jones couldn’t find a rhythm, and the team was outmatched throughout. The Patriots’ play-calling was too conservative, especially in the second half when they were trailing. A lack of adjustments to counter the 49ers’ pressure was evident.
Hired: January 17, 2024
Pittsburgh Steelers | Mike Tomlin – The Steelers lost their first game, with turnovers, including a fumble in the red zone, proving costly. The decision to go for it on fourth down, which led to a turnover on downs, was questionable.
Hired: January 22, 2007
Arizona Cardinals | Jonathan Gannon – The Cardinals were outmatched from the start, with little offensive rhythm. Kyler Murray struggled, and the defense had no answer for Washington’s balanced attack. Arizona’s coaching failed to make adjustments to contain Washington’s offense. Penalties and poor play-calling contributed to the team’s downfall.
Hired: February 14, 202
Atlanta Falcons | Raheem Morris – The Falcons edged out a close win with a game-winning field goal. The defense came up big in the final moments, securing a hard-fought win. No major coaching errors, but penalties kept the game closer than it needed to be.
Hired: January 25, 2024
Detroit Lions | Dan Campbell – Could end up being the best coach the Lions have ever had.
Hired: January 20, 2021
Green Bay Packers | Matt LaFleur – The Packers dug themselves into a 28-0 hole before Jordan Love led a valiant comeback. Love threw for 389 yards and four TDs, but the early turnovers and missed field goals were too much to overcome. Matt LaFleur’s decision to start Jordan Love, who was coming off an injury, was questionable. Additionally, missed field goals in the first half and poor protection hurt Green Bay.
Hired: January 8, 2019
Los Angeles Rams | Sean McVay – Sean McVay’s play-calling in the red zone was questionable, as the Rams repeatedly settled for field goals instead of touchdowns. Turnovers were the Rams’ undoing, including a Stafford interception at the end.
Hired: January 12, 2017
Minnesota Vikings | Kevin O’Connell – The Vikings raced to a 28-0 lead before nearly blowing it. Sam Darnold threw three TDs, but the defense softened late, allowing the Packers back into the game. Minnesota’s coaching staff was too conservative in the second half, nearly allowing the Packers to pull off a comeback. Clock management was also a concern late in the game.
Hired: February 16, 2022
San Francisco 49ers | Kyle Shanahan – The 49ers dominated the Patriots, with Brock Purdy passing for 288 yards. San Francisco’s defense also stood out, holding New England to just 13 points. The 49ers played a well-managed game with few penalties, showing strong discipline on both sides of the ball Hired:
February 6, 2017
Seattle Seahawks | Mike Macdonald – This is a very talented team that keeps its top talent because they can write big checks. One of the model NFL franchises.
Hired: January 31, 2024
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Todd Bowles – Baker Mayfield was the star of the game, throwing for 347 yards and leading the Buccaneers to an impressive win over the Eagles. Tampa Bay’s defense also played a significant role in disrupting Hurts and the Eagles’ offense. While Tampa Bay played a mostly clean game, a couple of unnecessary penalties in the first half could have shifted momentum had the Eagles capitalized.
Hired: March 30, 2022
