It’s been a quarter of the NFL season, and some teams have failed to meet expectations throughout the first four weeks. As a result, some head coaches have found themselves in the hot seat as leadership questions whether they are the right fit for their organizations going forward.
While some head coaches entered the season on the hot seat, others landed there because of disappointing results. Now, with the second quarter beginning this week, these NFL head coaches are under the most pressure to turn things around.
Head Coaches on the Hot Seat
1. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles has struggled since last season. Since the Buccaneers went 6-2 halfway through last season, the team has lost 11 of its last 13 games, including a 0-4 start this year. Because of this stretch, the team missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019 and failed to win the NFC South for the first time since 2020, putting Bowles on the hot seat.
Bowles deserves to be on the hot seat, considering the talent on his roster. In Bowles’ first three years as the Buccaneers’ head coach, he made the playoffs and won the NFC South title every year. However, these recent struggles have called into question Bowles’ ability to take the Buccaneers to the next level. He hasn’t won more than 10 games in a season in Tampa Bay and has benefited from a weak NFC South, winning the division with eight or nine wins in two of those three seasons.
This season, the Buccaneers have lost all their games by seven points or less due to self-inflicted mistakes, a trend that stretches back to last season. The offense has been ineffective at protecting the ball, committing nine turnovers that have put the defense in bad situations and led to 40 points from turnovers. These struggles have put more pressure on the defense and raised questions about Bowles’ coaching.
Because they play in the NFC South, the Buccaneers still have time to turn their season around. However, they will have to do it without quarterback Baker Mayfield for at least two weeks due to a right thumb injury. These struggles ultimately fall on Bowles, and they could cost him his job if the Buccaneers miss the playoffs.
2. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor entered this season on the hot seat after the Bengals missed the playoffs for three straight seasons. However, the 2-2 start has only intensified the pressure.
The Bengals got off to another strong start, winning their first two games. The defense, their biggest weakness over the last three seasons, seemed to have taken a step forward, forcing four turnovers against the Buccaneers and allowing just six points to the Houston Texans. Their offense played just as well; it was consistent, and most importantly, everyone stayed healthy, including quarterback Joe Burrow.
However, their problems have become apparent in their last two games. They lost to a Steelers team that had scored only one touchdown on offense before the game, giving up 30 points and two costly fumbles. Last week, the offense let the team down, committing two turnovers in Jacksonville Jaguars territory, including one in the red zone. Despite a strong defensive performance, the team still lost due to inconsistency and now has to deal with the injuries to wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Another promising start has started to unravel for the Bengals. The good news is that things should get easier for the Bengals as they have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the NFL, starting this week against a 0-4 Miami Dolphins team. However, Taylor has to turn things around quickly in Cincinnati to show the team can do more than make the playoffs. If the Bengals fall short of expectations again, we should expect a new head coach in Cincinnati next season.
3. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
Ever since the Green Bay Packers made the Divisional Round in quarterback Jordan Love‘s first season as the starter in 2023, the team was expected to continue improving. Instead, the Packers have regressed, failing to make it past the Wild Card round in each of the last two seasons. Now, after a 2-2 start and many problems, head coach Matt LaFleur‘s future is in jeopardy.
Despite their 2-2 record, the Packers haven’t looked good, struggling in their first four games. The offensive line has been one of the league’s worst, and Love has been sacked eight times, including seven in the first two games. Since running back Josh Jacobs was placed on the Commissioner’s Exempt list before the season began, the Packers have had the league’s worst running game, averaging 58 yards per game and failing to score any touchdowns, which has put heavy pressure on Love to throw the ball.
Along with its offensive struggles, the defense has struggled without Micah Parsons, allowing almost 139.2 rushing yards per game (28th in the NFL) and 26.3 points per game. Lastly, the Packers are the second-most penalized team in the league with 42, showing discipline issues. This kind of problem falls on the coaching staff.
These issues stem from problems that became apparent last season, when the Packers collapsed after starting 9-3-1 and lost their last five games. While injuries may have played a part, the team has failed to make a significant jump since Love’s first season. Last season’s Parsons trade put the Packers in Super Bowl contention, but now they are nowhere near that level. Change could be coming in Green Bay if this season ends disappointingly once again.
4. Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys might be in their second season under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, but team owner Jerry Jones has shown to be desperate to win a Super Bowl as soon as possible. After a 2-2 start, Dallas has to make adjustments if it wants to avoid missing the playoffs while still making a deep postseason run.
While the pressure on Schottenheimer cooled a bit after last week’s win over the Houston Texans, several problems on the Cowboys are keeping them from reaching their potential. Like last season, the defense has struggled and is once again one of the worst in the NFL. They rank 30th in total defense, 31st in run defense, and allow 389.5 yards and 28 points per game. This has put a lot of pressure on the offense, which is among the best in the league, to run up the score like last season.
Before the win against the Texans, Schottenheimer’s coaching was questioned after the Cowboys let the Baltimore Ravens drive down the field in seven seconds to score the game-winning field goal. He also drew criticism for questionable play calling on offense, as the Cowboys failed to score a potential game-winning touchdown on three-and-goal opportunities that started on the Ravens’ two-yard line with 23 seconds left. This hasn’t been the only issue with his head coaching, as the Cowboys were the NFL’s most-penalized team last season.
The Cowboys’ offense ranks in the top 10 in almost every major offensive statistic and has averaged 30.5 points per game, led by quarterback Dak Prescott, helping offset the team’s porous defense. However, the team is 2-2 instead of having a better record because of questionable coaching, especially on defense. Schottenheimer needs to improve his decision-making skills and get more out of this team quickly, or the Cowboys could be looking for another head coach next season.
Main Image: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
