Who’s Coaching For Their Job And Who’s Not?
Through 13 weeks of the NFL season, we’ve already seen two head coaches bite the dust due to underachieving and underperforming teams.
Mike McCarthy is the latest coach to be axed, as he was fired following the Green Bay Packers shocking 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals at home, which dropped Green Bay to 4-7-1.
While he’s been a popular punching bag by fans in Wisconsin, it’s hard to pin all of the blame on McCarthy. The Packers have dealt with a rash of injuries on offense and defense, and Aaron Rodgers is not having his best season despite only one interception on the year.
Truthfully, it was time for Green Bay to move on from their Super Bowl winning coach. Consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance are where a franchise that expects to contend is headed.
Here, we will be evaluating each head coach’s seat and determine if their seat is hot, warm, or cold.
Let’s get started!
1. Los Angeles Rams (11-1)
Sean McVay is 26-7 over his first two seasons as the head coach of The Los Angeles Rams and has them in position to win the Super Bowl this season. His seat is relatively cold,
2. New Orleans Saints (10-2)
Sean Payton has been in New Orleans for 13 seasons and his Saints have made six times. That number will reach seven in 2018, and with a team in contention for its second Super Bowl, the seat is cold.
3. Kansas City Chiefs (10-2)
Even after going one and done in the past two postseasons, the Kansas City Chiefs were always going to give Reid’s vision with Patrick Mahomes the necessary time. Mahomes is having an MVP season in his first season as a starter, thus, Reid’s seat is cold.
4. New England Patriots (9-3)
Supposed friction within the organization between Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Robert Kraft could have led to this being the end of the New England Patriots, but here they are, 9-3 and cruising to yet another division title. Belichick’s seat is cold.
5. Los Angeles Chargers (9-3)
Anthony Lynn may win Coach of the Year for his work in Los Angeles this season, and why not. After dealing with the change in cities, a relatively young group and a 0-4 start last season, his Chargers are 18-6. Lynn’s seat is cold.
6. Houston Texans (9-3)
At 0-3, it appeared Bill O’Brien’s seat was warming up, but the Houston Texans have won nine straight and are enroute to a division title. His seat is cold.
7. Chicago Bears (8-4)
Matt Nagy in his first season as Chicago Bears head coach already has them on the verge of a division title. His seat is cold.
8. Dallas Cowboys (7-5)
Jason Garrett’s seat was red hot after a 28-14 loss by the Dallas Cowboys just three weeks ago, but here are the Cowboys, winners of three straight, now in position to win the NFC East. His seat is moderately cold for now.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4-1)
Mike Tomlin in his tenure in Pittsburgh doesn’t have a losing season, even when the team was in transition and having an obvious youth movement. They’re leading the AFC North, but the lead has dwindled to a game. If their struggles continue, his seat may get warm, but for now it’s cold.
10. Baltimore Ravens (7-5)
John Harbaugh’s seat was hot with Baltimore at 4-5, but with three consecutive wins and a clear avenue to a playoff spot, his seat is warm at the moment.
11. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)
Pete Carroll has the Seattle Seahawks performing at a level that many didn’t feel was possible after the departures of Kam Chancellor and Richard Sherman and also a season-ending Week 4 injury to Earl Thomas, but at 7-5 and a reasonably clear road to a playoff spot, his seat is cold.
12. Minnesota Vikings (6-5-1)
The Minnesota Vikings have followed a 13-3 campaign in 2017 by being a team that’s battling just to make the postseason. Still, the front office loves Mike Zimmer, and we won’t forget that he’s still one of the greatest defensive minds in pro football. His seat is cold.
13. Indianapolis Colts (6-6)
The Indianapolis Colts having six wins at this juncture of the season with a chance at the postseason is news to anyone, even in Indianapolis. Frank Reich is going to be here for quite some time. His seat is cold.
14. Philadelphia Eagles (6-6)
The Philadelphia Eagles are coming off a Super Bowl win. Doug Pederson could’ve went 0-16 this season and still receive a vote of confidence. His seat is cold.
15. Carolina Panthers (6-6)
Ron Rivera’s Carolina Panthers have lost four straight games, with him having a personal hand in one of those games as he elected to go for two at the end of a 20-19 loss to the Detroit Lions a few weeks ago. It’s safe to say his seat has grown warm.
16. Denver Broncos (6-6)
The Denver Broncos have been in just about every game they’ve played this season, which might be an indictment Vance Joseph. But they have won three straight, with two over AFC contenders. The postseason is a realistic possibility. His seat is cold, for now.
18. Tennessee Titans (6-6)
A 6-6 record is not what anyone would’ve wanted, but Mike Vrabel is doing a solid job in his first year as head coach. His seat is cold.
15. Washington Redskins (6-6)
Washington’s injuries at quarterback as well as on the offensive line and defense, have turned what was once a contending 5-2 Washington Redskins team into a team that will be lucky to finish .500. Gruden may not survive yet another season like that. His seat is warm.
19. Miami Dolphins (6-6)
Adam Gase already has a playoff appearance under his belt. That, along with the rash of injuries Miami has dealt with, should be protection for him moving forward. His seat is cold.
20. Cleveland Browns (4-7-1)
Gregg Williams is serving as the Cleveland Browns interim head coach.
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7)
It seems like the only thing that may save Dirk Koetter’s job is an 8-8 or 9-7 finish for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Neither of those results will make the front office particularly happy, but it would show the team is playing for its head coach. His seat is hot.
22. Green Bay Packers (4-7-1)
Green Bay fired their head coach Mike McCarthy after Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Joe Philbin is serving as interim head coach.
23. Atlanta Falcons (4-8)
Dan Quinn’s Atlanta Falcons were decimated by injuries early in the season and that compromised the team, especially on defense. This might have been a warm seat for Quinn if that wasn’t the case, but it’s hard to put their 4-8 mark squarely on his shoulders. His seat is cold.
24. Detroit Lions (4-8)
It would be bizarre for the Detroit Lions to fire Matt Patricia after one full season as coach, but for a team that’s finished 9-7 in each of the past two seasons, it certainly makes you wonder. His seat is cold.
25. Cincinnati Bengals (5-7)
The Cincinnati Bengals just gave Marvin Lewis a contract extension, and after a 4-1 start the Bengals appeared to be on the verge of a breakout. Fast forward six games later, the Bengals aren’t a factor in the AFC playoff picture. His seat is warm.
26. Buffalo Bills (4-8)
Sean McDermott’s defense is what you would expect, and the Buffalo Bills just ended one of the longest playoff droughts in sports last season. He’ll coach on past this season. His seat is cold.
27. New York Giants (4-8)
The New York Giants have won three out of their past four games, and while changes are on the horizon, Pat Shurmur won’t be apart of them. The test will come for Shurmur in 2019, who will likely have a new quarterback at the helm.
28. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-8)
After a 3-1 start, Doug Marrone’s Jacksonville Jaguars were sitting pretty, but after losing seven straight games, you could begin to hear those whispers. Considering they advanced to the AFC Championship last season, the front office will likely look themselves in the mirror after bringing back Blake Bortles as the starting quarterback instead of offing Marrone. Maybe. His seat is warm.
29. Arizona Cardinals (3-9)
Steve Wilks’ Arizona Cardinals are in the middle of a rebuild, and the Cardinals front office understands that. They’ve been a more competitive team of late if you erase that 45-10 disaster in Week 12 vs the Los Angeles Chargers, and are coming off a victory in Green Bay. His seat is cold.
30. New York Jets (3-9)
The New York Jets once upon a time were 10-5, coming off a win vs. their arch-nemesis New England Patriots. Today, they are 3-9, and Todd Bowles has to share much of the blame. The defense isn’t elite or improving and the team loses close games. His seat is hot
31. San Francisco 49ers (2-10)
Kyle Shanahan is another coach who’s team has been dealt a big blow with injuries, namely losing his starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. Because of that, the San Francisco 49ers will he inclined to give Shanahan a actual full year with his franchise quarterback in 2019. His seat is cold
32. Oakland Raiders (2-10)
The Oakland Raiders are the NFL’s worst football team, but after giving Jon Gruden a 10-year/$100 million contract this past offseason, this is year one of a 10-year scope. Gruden’s seat is cold.
What are your thoughts on this week’s NFL power rankings? Leave your comments below!