With five weeks of action in the books, the losses have started to pile up for a number of NFL teams. With losses come uneasy fan bases, and with uneasy fan bases come edgy owners with itchy fingers, and with edgy owners and itchy fingers come coaches on hot seats.
It’s rare that in-season coach firings prompt season-saving improvements, but that doesn’t always stop owners from pulling the trigger to at the least, give the impression that hope is on the way. Some, however, will elect to endure the season and then make changes in the offseason.
Entering Week 6, one winless team (the New York Jets led by rookie coach Aaron Glenn) remains. Another seven own 1-4 records, including the New Orleans Saints and their first-year coach Kellen Moore, who got his first win on Sunday. It would appear both Glenn and Moore will receive a little time to try to rebuild their teams. But not everyone will be so lucky.
For some coaches, the writing is already on the wall. Their dismissals seem like a matter of when, not if. Others find themselves in precarious situations and grasping at straws in hopes of improved fortunes. And then, there are always a couple of surprise moves looming.
Here’s a look at how things look on the hot seat front just more than a month into the season.
Writing’s on the wallBrian Callahan, Tennessee Titans
Callahan and the Titans miraculously pulled off their first victory of the season, rallying from a 21-3 deficit to beat the Arizona Cardinals 22-21. Callahan can thank Jonathan Gannon’s squad for committing a slew of self-inflicted mistakes, and for a day or two, the air in Nashville will lighten. But there’s so much wrong with the operation and execution of this Titans team, and it appears as if Callahan is in over his head.
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
McDaniel opened the season on a tumultuous note while getting thumped by the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots. He coaxed a degree of improvement out of his team against the Buffalo Bills, but did still lose, and then came a brief reprieve in the form of a win over the Jets. But Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Panthers was bad. Miami held a 17-0 lead before getting outscored 27-7 and losing. That’s a game the Dolphins can’t blow — even without Tyreek Hill, whom they lost for the season just last week. McDaniel and his players must adapt a greater sense of urgency, and the coach needs to take the Dolphins on a run, and even that might not be enough unless they can achieve some postseason success.
GraspingBrian Daboll, New York Giants
The former Bills offensive coordinator already entered this year on thin ice after a failed Daniel Jones experiment — which only looks worse and worse by the day as the former Giant is now playing like a star with the Colts. Daboll needed to guide the Giants back to relevancy in the NFC East this year, but thus far, his team has continued to struggle. With Russell Wilson wildly ineffective, Daboll opted to play the final cards in his back pocket: turning to Jaxson Dart as the starter. Dart did help the Giants to their first win of the season in Week 4, but a rash of turnovers from the young gunslinger cost the Giants against the previously winless Saints. If Dart can ascend (even with top wide receiver Malik Nabers lost for the season), Daboll can sell hope and possibly earn himself another year. If this season ends disastrously, he’s likely gone.
Kevin Stefanski is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, but the Browns are barreling toward another double-digit loss season. (Mike Mulholland / Getty Images)
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
On one hand, Stefanski has had some terrible luck. It’s not his fault Deshaun Watson seems snakebitten and has played (and not consistently well) in only 17 of 51 possible games. On the other hand, Stefanski has also had some solid rosters to work with and yet has only two playoff appearances and appears destined for a third double-digit loss season. And every week that Baker Mayfield leads Tampa Bay to another electrifying victory remains an indictment on Stefanski’s coaching and leadership. The Browns hoped 40-year-old Joe Flacco could manage the offense well enough for their defense to keep them in games and make them competitive. But Flacco played poorly. Stefanski is now giving rookie Dillon Gabriel a try in hopes that the undersized Oregon product, who relies on a quick release and sound decision-making, can position the Browns to squeak out some close wins. If not, Shedeur Sanders could receive the next crack. But the truth is, Stefanski is running out of time.
Uncomfortable situationsZac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
He did take the team to the Super Bowl, where they suffered a last-second loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the 2021 season. And the following season, his team did return to the conference championship, where they fell short against Kansas City. But the Bengals haven’t reached the playoffs since, and once again are dealing with another serious Joe Burrow injury. Desperate to avoid another lost season, the Bengals just traded for Flacco, who was ineffective as the Browns’ starter. But their problems run deeper than quarterback. Repeated defensive struggles have also hurt the Bengals, and even when Burrow is healthy, the Bengals struggle to win without fireworks from the quarterback and Ja’Marr Chase. Will the Bengals continue to hold out hope with Taylor as long as his team puts up a fight? Or will they decide that, injuries or not, a change of leadership is needed after this season?
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
There’s always a surprise breakup. Although Harbaugh has a strong record in his 17 previous campaigns, 12 seasons have passed since he won a Super Bowl, and painful playoff exits have become a common theme. There’s something very off with this Ravens team. Even before this rash of injuries, their defense had shown major signs of regression, and a usually reliable offensive line has really struggled. If the Ravens can’t recover from this 1-4 start, could Baltimore brass and Harbaugh mutually agree that it’s time for a change?
Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
After a 4-13 rookie season, Gannon nudged the Cardinals towards improvement and an 8-9 record last year. But this year, he needs to do more contending for the division and a postseason bid. The Cardinals seemed to show signs of growth initially, but that collapse against the Titans will sting for a bit. Gannon drew scrutiny and a fine for striking Emari Demercado after he dropped the ball before crossing the whole line, but can really help his case with a strong rebound this week and by guiding the Cardinals back into the playoff hunt the rest of the way. Otherwise, he could become a casualty as well, especially if Shane Steichen (hired the same year) leads the Colts to the playoffs and Gannon does not.