With the new NFL season quickly approaching, predictions are already being made as to who will be the big winner and losers this season. This conversation is also obviously including the coaches.
Considering the number of teams who had a rather dismal season last run out, there are a number of coaches who now find themselves teetering on the edge of possibly being fired. Here is a list of the coaches in the hot seat.
Matt Nagy
The coach who is unfortunately leading the race to be the first fired this season is Bears head honcho, Matt Nagy. The Bears have gone 8-8 over the past two seasons, and many believe Nagy still has his job simply because they got good results against poor opponents.
Beating the Texans, Vikings and Jags stalled his potential firing, but now that they have secured the services of Justin Fields, one of the most highly rated QB’s to be drafted, if the Bears don’t reach the playoffs, at a minimum, Nagy will almost definitely be shown the door.
Vic Fangio
Currently sitting with a combined record of 12-20 during his time at the Broncos, Fangio is another coach finding himself closer to the chopping block. The Broncos have been abysmal, and with the Aaron Rodgers trade gone, their only light at the end of the tunnel has been extinguished.
The Broncos don’t have a world class QB at their disposal, they have a young offense that most definitely needs more time, and a depleted defense. No play-off or post-season games for Fangio since he took charge, he needs a huge turnaround if he still wants to be in Denver at the end of this upcoming season.
Kliff Kingsbury
Another coach who is now out of excuses considering which plates they have acquired is Kliff Kingsbury. The Cardinals have signed big name players JJ Watt and AJ Green, adding much needed experience and leadership to the team.
Kingsbury also has to shoulder the blame for the shoddy Cardinals performances in the 4th quarter of games, as well as how they fell apart in the second half of last season. He almost definitely only has this upcoming season to prove his critics wrong.
Mike McCarthy
Mike McCarthy put himself in hot water right off the bat at the Cowboys. After being fired from his last position, he claimed to have embraced stats and analytics, using them to shape his coaching style.
Fast forward to his first press conference, and it all turned out to be a lie. While the Cowboys themselves have the ability to make the play-offs, it doesn’t matter how good your crew is if your captain stears you into a rock.
Zac Taylor
The Bengals are already viewed as one of the weaker franchises in the league, and head coach Zach Taylor had a season where the pass protection collapsed regularly, and a season where superstar Joe Burrow was injured.
Now that both those problems have been fixed, this is his last chance at showing that he can make the Bengals a formidable force in the league again, and that they can reach the heights of post-season and the play-offs regularly.
David Culley
What can you say about David Culley and the Texans that hasn’t been said already? The franchise is unstable at best, and their choices for coaching staff and starting teams has been questionable for ages.
There also doesn’t seem to be any upside right now at the Texans. The replacement head coach has already been picked in a way in the form of Josh McCown, therefore Culley staying or leaving might not actually make a difference, but you never know, he could just get the sack.
Brian Flores
Brain Flores and the Dolphins are also finding themselves under pressure this season. Project Tua hasn’t quite gone to plan just yet, and sitting with a record of 15-17 across his two seasons at the Dolphins, something has to change.
They have added Jaylen Waddle to their set up, teaming up with his college QB Tua again. Many are hoping that this is the spark that will start the Tua Revolution, and while Flores’s job isn’t on the line to the same degree as others on this list, this upcoming season could be his last chance.
Mike Zimmer
A team that has been perpetually disappointing for a few years now are the Vikings. A record of 64-47 is most definitely not bad, but they haven’t created anything and the higher ups at the franchise could be getting frustrated.
While they may not have the worst 2021-22 season, they will be expected to build on their performances over the past few years. And if they don’t, a change of staff could be on the horizon.
While some coaches on this list may be able to keep their hands on their job for a season longer, there are certainly some that are almost definitely on their last legs. Unless they lead their teams to success and turn their fortunes around, they could soon be without a job.
