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Coaching hot seat tracker


It's the most wonderful time of the year in the NFL: The playoff picture scenarios are blazing, and 28 teams are within at least two games of a playoff spot.

But there is a flip side to all this late season hope. Teams on the bubble will experience massive disappointments in the coming weeks, and that means massive changes among coaching staffs. We've already seen two head coaches fired during the 2014 season, and there promises to be many more come January.

Conor Orr took a look at the best potential coaching candidates this week. Here's a look at the jobs that are most likely to be available.
On thin ice

Miami Dolphins: Speeches only help so much. Interim head coach Dan Campbell is 3-4 since taking over. That's similar to the same mediocre record that Joe Philbin put up for most of his tenure. Firing offensive coordinator Bill Lazor less than half a season after firing Philbin is a sign of a directionless franchise that rarely sticks to a plan for long. Dolphins Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum knows this is his big hire, and it's hard to believe Campbell will get serious consideration.
Every game, all season

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reports that Saints coach Sean Payton is open to potential opportunities, and the Dolphins are seen as a potential fit. The Dolphins need a coach who can maximize Ryan Tannehill's strengths because the Dolphins guaranteed his base salaries over the next three years.

Tennessee Titans: Interim coach Mike Mularkey is well liked by the Titans organization, but he needs to win games for any chance to keep the job. He's 1-3 so far and the new Titans ownership likely wants a different voice in Marcus Mariota's head. This is an intriguing job because of Mariota's presence. Keep an eye on whether Mariota's old college coach could wind up here in a possible trade.

Indianapolis Colts: The season started ominously for Chuck Pagano despite coming off an AFC title game appearance. Rapoport reported that Pagano was in a "make or break" season after rejecting a series of one-year extension offers. Pagano bet on himself and a slow start to the season had Pagano with "doubts" he'll be back next year.

The Colts have looked like a different team since firing offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton, but their 6-5 record is still ultimately a disappointment. Would owner Jim Irsay really fire Pagano if the Colts rallied to make the playoffs and win another playoff game? That seems to be the minimum Pagano needs to stick around. Pagano and general manager Ryan Grigson have largely quieted the reports about fissures in their relationship. But Irsay is impatient to see results, and anything less than a playoff run would be a step back regardless of Andrew Luck's health.
Teams to watch

New Orleans Saints: I was tempted to put this in the category above. There is some theory in league circles Sean Payton will be the first domino of this coaching cycle. That he controls the market. There will be denials until the season ends because that's how the business works, but there are many reasons to believe the Payton and the Saints are ready for a separation. The question that bugs me: Could a coach that is running such a disappointing team like the Saints truly inspire a big trade? Payton has not been able to hire the right people to fix the Saints defense and they have losing records two straight years. He has one playoff win since the Super Bowl after the 2009 season.

Cleveland Browns: Owner Jimmy Haslam has to be anxious about continuing the endless cycle of hiring and firing that has plagued his organization since well before Haslam arrived. Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer have not been on the same page since being thrown together in 2014. Haslam may keep one, but not the other. It's anyone's guess who is on firmer ground, but Pettine is 2-15 in his last 17 games. Starting Austin Davis is absolutely Pettine's move. His defense is among the worst in the league. Pettine was hired by former CEO Joe Banner when Michael Lombardi was the general manager. 22 months translates to 6 seasons in Browns years.

Detroit Lions: Jim Caldwell led the Lions to 11 wins in 2014, the most they've had since 1991. That was the same year the team last won in Green Bay until last month when Detroit pulled off the upset. That sounds impressive, but the 1-7 start to the Lions season resulted in the firings of offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, general manager Martin Mayhew, and team president Tom Lewand.

That leaves Caldwell twisting in the wind without any true backers in the building. Caldwell is right to say he's not dead yet. That's biologically impossible and the Lions have won three straight games. If Detroit pulls off an upset in Green Bay, could this team possibly run the table? Crazier things have happened, like Caldwell going on a similar streak as coordinator of the 2012 Ravens.

New York Giants: Like the rest of the NFC East, the end of this regular season figures to tell the story with the Giants. The Mara family has remained patient with coach Tom Coughlin and general manager Jerry Reese with good reason because of their Super Bowl titles. Another season short of the playoffs could wind up with Coughlin retiring.

Philadelphia Eagles: Kelly won a power struggle with former general manager Howie Roseman, so he's under the spotlight after many of his offseason moves turned sour this season. At 4-7, the Eagles aren't out of the NFC East race. Two ten-win seasons should earn Kelly the benefit of the doubt from owner Jeffrey Lurie, but it's possible Kelly will have to fork over some of his personnel power to stay. Then again, the Eagles might be ready to move on from this mess if the blowouts continue, especially if the Titans were willing to give up compensation to get him.
Should be safe

St. Louis Rams: By any measure, Jeff Fisher should be on the hot seat. He hasn't delivered a winnning record in four seasons with the Rams. It's an offense-first league, and the Rams offense gets worse by the year. Fisher has six winning seasons in 21 years as an NFL head coach, but it's believed that he has strong organizational support from owner Stan Kroenke and general manager Les Snead. Fisher also has strong ties with reporters, which tends to keep the criticism of his team to a minimum. There isn't going to be a fan outcry to get rid of him. The looming potential move to Los Angeles is an x-factor, but a coaching change in St. Louis would be a surprise.

San Diego Chargers: A seven-game losing streak had many wondering if coach Mike McCoy could be gone after only three seasons. But he's still the same coach that won 17 games in 2013 and 2014, including a road playoff win. General manager Tom Telesco hired McCoy here and there is belief that McCoy has enough organizational support internally to keep his job.

San Francisco 49ers: Owner Jed York could grow impatient after Jim Tomsula's first season if they collapse even harder down the stretch. It's also possible York says goodbye to his general manager Trent Baalke instead of Tomsula.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Blake Bortles' progress and the Jaguars' improved record should mean Gus Bradley will be back for a fourth season. It hasn't shown up in the standings quite yet, but there is a lot to like about how this young team operates.

Washington Redskins: Jay Gruden should be safe, and that's certainly true if the Redskins win the division. We only include Washington in here in case they faceplant down the stretch with an 0-5 or 1-4 record against a soft schedule. Owner Dan Snyder has showed repeatedly he isn't shy about making changes.

I'd say Pettine is as good as gone ... since about Week 8

take a loaded defense and produce this trash is inexcusable. Clean house.

Pettine's seat is on fire. His ass should be burnt to a crisp by now

As of right now it seems like the following teams will fire their coaches:

Browns
Colts
Lions


The following teams could easily justify firing their coach:

Chargers
Rams
Giants
Saints


The following teams already fired their coach:

Dolphins
Titans


So we are looking at least five head coach openings.

My guess as to which teams will be firing their HC:

Titans (already did)
Dolphins (already did)
Browns
Colts
Lions
Rams
Saints
Giants
Chargers
49ers

All depends on if they can find someone who wants to coach Manziel.

there have always been rumblings that Haslam prefers college coaches ... and IMO a college coach would be more inclined to "deal" with Johnny (don't know why I think that)

Kosar for HC

I don't think the Saints will fire Payton, but he supposedly has an opt out. He would be a fool not to take it.

I don't see the 49ers firing Tomsula, this is only his first year.

The others I completely agree.

I would also like to say that I think Jeff Fisher is most overrated coach in recent memory.

I agree 100% about Fisher being overrated. People like him because he fits an outdated "old school" philosophy.

Pettine, Farmer unlikely to both be back with Browns


By Conor Orr
Around The NFL Writer
Published: Dec. 13, 2015 at 08:46 a.m.
Updated: Dec. 13, 2015 at 01:15 p.m.

Browns head coach Mike Pettine hinted at some discord between the front office and coaching staff a week ago, but just how bad has it gotten?


Per NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport, the coaching staff does not think the scouting department provided them with nearly enough ammo to run the game plan. The scouting department, on the other hand, does not think the coaching staff is making enough in-game changes to utilize the players properly.

The result?


Per Rapoport, it is "unfathomable" to think both Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer will be back together next year.

At this point, it's obvious. The Browns are again broken and while many times the smartest football people will advocate for patience -- look at the rise of the Panthers, Bengals, Texans and even Jaguars -- the Browns are continuously trying to operate through a smog.

If there is this much pent up anger between both sides, it would be almost impossible to reach a consensus and with a draft right around the corner, the time should be now to make a move. This team almost had another two first-round picks, but could still very well end up with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft. These are crucial, irreversible decisions that will impact the franchise for decades.

Nobody is without fault here. On the field, Pettine's teams have lost 15 of their last 17 games. His on-field decisions have been puzzling at times and the hard-nosed, defensive mentality he promised the fans of Cleveland has yet to arrive. A rotating cast of promising power backs have come and gone, many of whom are backing up on other teams at the moment. Farmer signed the draft card on Justin Gilbert. At the the moment, he appears to have blown two consecutive drafts with two first-round picks, an unbelievable opportunity for a general manager to turn around the fate of the franchise. Instead of having Khalil Mack or Derek Carr or Sammy Watkins or Odell Beckham or, really, anyone from the first round of that loaded draft, the Browns have very little.

If the coach and general manager can't agree philosophically on the team's direction, someone -- or both -- have got to go.

Easily. Has been for some time now, in my book.

If we somehow keep Farmer and not Pettine. Wow. Both deserve to be fired, but Farmer has been among the worst GMs in the league in his two years.

Fire both or keep both. Those are the only two options for me.

Him or Andy Reid imo

Reid at least gets teams to the playoffs. His overall record is 157-110-1, with a playoff record of 10-10.

Fisher 166-155-1, with a playoff record of 5-6. He hasn't gotten a team to the playoffs since the 2008 Titans.

Fair enough.

I don't see keeping both. At minimum one side or the other has underpreformed. The general concensus is that Farmer has wiffed on quite a few high draft choices. I don't see him surviving. As for Pet, what we don't know is how much say did he have in the players we selected. Haslam would know. Was Pet on board with some of these selections or was he a voice that said he didn't think they were all that good?

What am I missing? Why is there no talk about Atlanta?

Shanahan sure jumped from the Frying pan into the fire...

This is everyone's first year there.

They started out 6-1 and have gone 0-6 since then...

I know. The Falcons are scoring 21.5 points per game, we are scoring 18.5 points per game.

Matt Ryan - 66% completion, 3705 yards, 17 TDs, 14 INTs.
Our QBs - 63% completion, 3619 yards, 19 TDs, 8 INT.

Their running game is miles ahead of ours though.

To me it's a similar situation to what we did last year. Started on fire, fell flat down the stretch.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/12/17/reports-rams-wont-fire-jeff-fisher/

Jeff Fisher is apparently safe.

what blackmail photo's does this guy possess that he's untouchable from the crap job he's been doing in St. Louis?

He might not be the most likable guy, but I think he is a good coach.

Jeff Fisher hasn't won a playoff game in twelve years. That is not a good coach.

I guess I am in the minority, but I think Jeff Fisher is a very good coach. He has NEVER had a great QB, and he is well over .500 with multiple teams. Maybe he isn't Belichick, but he's a good coach. And so is Andy Reid, by the way.

Steve McNair might not have been great, but he was very good.

Fisher is 11 games over .500. That is not well above.

A good cosch? When is the last time they've been to the playoffs.

Look how many first round draft picks they've had.

And they can't even so much as sniff the wild card.

Jeff fisher is over there selling dreams, because the reality is pretty much that's he's trash at this point.

I agree w/you.

The Chargers have been dead men walking all year. A lot like the Browns in '95 when they knew the team was going to get moved the following year. I say we pick up Mike McCoy and watch him become the next Belichick.

I'd love McCoy as our offensive coordinator. He leaves a lot to be desired as a head coach. Reminds me of Whisenhunt.

Fisher has only 6 seasons with a winning record in 21 seasons as HC.

If a team is looking for a mediocre coach, he's your man.

I think McCoy is a pretty good coach. No team has had as many injuries as they have had and their roster was not nearly good enough to even survive a few injuries.

I think i heard out of 21 years of being a head coach he has 6 seasons over .500... unreal.

6 out of 21 seasons over .500.... i looked it up and he actually does have an overall record over .500... he's .520... wouldn't say that's 'well over' .500 but it is over it...

I don't believe that. There's much more to it than the coach. The owner and Front office play into the success or failure of an organization as well.

Fisher has final say over the roster.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl---final...-dolphins-.html