After 10 weeks of regular-season football, all 32 NFL teams continue to push for a coveted spot in the playoffs. Some head coaches have cracked the code to winning consistently, while others are looking to make 2023 the year they want to forget. It’s not entirely their fault that their respective teams have not performed optimally. But the amount of scrutiny they face is always substantial, come victory or defeat.
These are a few NFL head coaches sitting in the “hot seat” at the current moment.
NFL Head Coaches Currently in the Hot Seat (Pt. 1)
Brandon Staley: Los Angeles Chargers
It may seem harsh to scrutinize a guy only in his third year as a head coach. But if he commands a loaded roster like the Los Angeles Chargers, any excuse for underwhelming results will not fly. Brandon Staley has come under fire for many reasons, ranging from his clock management late in the game to his choke job in last year’s playoff game against Jacksonville.
Many Chargers fans have gone on to call out Staley and the front office for wasting quarterback Justin Herbert’s talent. Currently, the Chargers sit at 4-5 in 2023 and 3rd in the AFC West. If Staley cannot mount a turnaround for the back half of the season, the Chargers organization might go scouting for his successor sooner rather than later.
Brian Daboll: New York Giants
2022 was the season of high hopes for Giants fans. They clawed their way to a wild card spot in the playoffs and had an upset road win over the Minnesota Vikings. All of this was accomplished under a first-year head coach, Brian Daboll. Not to mention, Daboll was named “AP NFL Coach of the Year” for this effort. But what on Earth happened to the Giants in 2023!?
The Giants sit at the bottom of the NFC East at 2-8, and they are starting their 3rd string quarterback. Plus, their offense ranks last in the league in total yards per game and points scored per game. Indeed, there is still lots of football left between now and the playoffs. But for Daboll and company, things will most likely get worse before they get better.
Ron Rivera: Washington Commanders
Back in 2020, previous team owner, Dan Snyder, recruited Ron Rivera to lead the-then Football Team after eight rather fruitful years with the Carolina Panthers. While Rivera was able to lead the Panthers to a Super Bowl bid, he has not yet replicated the same success in the nation’s capital, taking the Commanders to the postseason only once in his four years there. As the Commanders dawned new ownership, the new brass opted to keep the two-time Coach of the Year.
But as Washington sits with a 4-6 record, the time to find Rivera’s successor may be peeking around the corner. The Commanders are showing playoff-caliber potential, especially quarterback Sam Howell. But Rivera will need to find new ways to win with the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys still dominating the NFC East.
Mike Vrabel: Tennessee Titans
Not so long ago, Mike Vrabel and the Titans looked like playoff contenders in the AFC. With Ryan Tannehill getting a new lease under center and Derrick Henry in the backfield, the Titans threw it down with the best of them. But last season, a bone-headed move that involved trading Pro-Bowl wideout, A.J. Brown demoted the offense from potent to uninspiring. Although rookie quarterback Will Levis is showing signs of being a go-to signal caller, he still has flaws in his game.
Tennessee is currently 3-6 in the season, and Mike Vrabel must find new ways to create something from almost nothing. However, it’s easier said than done with their division rivals, Houston and Jacksonville, making strong cases for playoff spots. The Titans front office should meet Vrabel halfway on reclaiming their winning ways because it will only get tougher from here.
Tune in next week for Part Two of this segment.
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