When it comes to football, nobody’s job is safe.
We’re just three weeks into the NFL season, but already more than a handful of coaches’ jobs might be in jeopardy.
We took a look across the league and examined who we think might be on the hot seat. Here are eight NFL coaches who could be out of a job sooner than later.
Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Payton’s job reportedly was in flux before last season, but an 0-3 start despite having a seemingly prolific offense certainly isn’t helping his case.
Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars
People were expecting big things from the Jags after they had another very promising offseason and added loads of young talent. Yet Bradley, the former Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator, has had a porous defense since taking over as Jacksonville coach in 2013. A 12-39 record in three-plus seasons just won’t get it done.
Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo had one of the league’s scariest defenses in 2014, and then good ol’ Rex — known for his defensive coaching — came to town and turned things upside down. It’s easy to put up with this boisterous coach when you’re winning, but Buffalo probably is getting sicker and sicker of the Bills’ biggest blowhard with each and every loss.
Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts
Look, Pagano seems to be an excellent football coach. If anyone should be fired in Indy, it’s general manager Ryan Grigson. But the Colts wanted to fire Pagano all last season, and then suddenly extended his contract. We think Jim Irsay could eat the money if the wins don’t start rolling in soon.
Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans
We don’t even understand how he won the head-coaching job after going 1-8 as an interim coach last season. Quarterback Marcus Mariota seems to have regressed, even after the Titans made a splash by bringing in running back DeMarco Murray and drafting Derrick Henry. Tennessee squeezed out a Week 2 victory, but Mularkey might be squeezed out of his job soon anyway.
Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are fighting for the right to stay in San Diego, but McCoy has done nothing but coach them to a 23-28 record in three-plus seasons. His contract was extended through the 2017 season, but we don’t think he’ll last that long.
Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins
The Redskins have looked pretty bad in starting 1-2 this season after making the playoffs in 2015. There’s apparently unrest in the locker room, as players reportedly are turning on quarterback Kirk Cousins, whom Washington committed to after releasing Robert Griffin III. Plus, the Redskins seemingly don’t even know how to use cornerback Josh Norman, their prized offseason acquisition.
Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns
The 0-3 Browns shouldn’t fire Jackson, but this is Cleveland we’re talking about. Of the 19 coaches in Browns history, nine of them have lasted two or fewer seasons, and one of them is Jackson, currently in Year 1. Since 1999, they’ve had nine coaches, and just two of them (Butch David, Romeo Crennel) lasted longer than two years. Good luck, Hue.
Thumbnail photo via Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports Images
