Six NFL Head Coaches on the Hot Seat in 2023

From 2018-22, an average of approximately six NFL head coaches were fired during each coaching cycle. Likewise, the 2023 NFL season is expected to be a pivotal year for these six coaches around the league, whether it be a lack of success or numerous early playoff exits. Here are six head coaches on the hot seat entering this season: (six being the least hot to one being the hottest).

6. Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys. Since becoming the Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, McCarthy has posted a 30-20 record, including back-to-back 12 win seasons and an NFC East Division title in 2021. However, the team’s regular season success over the past two seasons has not carried over to January, as McCarthy only has one playoff win against a Bucs team who made the playoffs due to being beneficiaries of one of the worst calls in recent memory. Simply put, this Cowboys team is too talented on both sides of the ball to have only one playoff win to show for it. After firing former Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore, under whom the Cowboys ranked in the top four in the NFL in points per game and yards per game during his four year tenure as OC, McCarthy has assumed play-calling duties on offense. The Cowboys have not made an appearance in the NFC Championship game since 1996 and the pressure mounting on the team, specifically quarterback Dak Prescott, is at an all-time high. Conclusively, if the Cowboys one again fail to make inroads come January, do not be rule out Jerry Jones deciding to move in a different direction.

5. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns. In 2020, Stefanski, as a first-year Head Coach, led the Cleveland Browns to their first playoff appearance since 2002 and their first playoff victory since 1994 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, in 2021, the Browns failed to meet lofty expectations and missed the Playoffs with an 8-9 record largely due to injury and subpar performance from former quarterback Baker Mayfield. Last season, the Browns had poor luck with injuries and suspensions to key players on both sides of the ball. However, Stefanski and his coaching staff, including former Defensive Coordinator Joe Woods, have been largely blamed by Browns fans and NFL fans in general for close losses to the New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, and Los Angeles Chargers. Had the Browns won those games, they likely would have made the playoffs. This past offseason, the Browns have added talent on both sides of the ball, including wide receiver Marquise Goodwin and Elijah Moore, defensive tackles Dalvin Tomlinson and Maruice Hurst, and safety Juan Thornhill, including having suspended star quarterback Deshaun Watson for a full season. The talent is there on the Browns roster and the AFC North is one of the toughest divisions in the league year in and year out. If the Browns underachieve once again this year, especially with Jimmy Haslm, an owner who is not afraid to pull the trigger, there is a strong chance Stefanski is out of a job come “Black Monday.”

4. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2022, Todd Bowles inherited a Buccaneers team that had just won the Super Bowl and won 12 games the previous two years. The Bucs took a major step back in 2022, finishing 8-9, but won a very weak NFC South division, resulting in a blowout Wild Card round loss to the Cowboys. Tom Brady is now retired. Baker Mayfield is expected to start under center. The once strong offensive line is now a shell of itself due to injury, free agency, and retirement. The team also struggled defensively at many points during the season. The offense was held back by poor play and questionable play calling, leading to the firing of offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich. If Bowles is unable to make noise in a wide open NFC South division this year, it is likely that the Bucs will have a new head coach come Week 1, 2024.

3. Brandon Staley, Los Angeles Chargers. Since becoming the Chargers Head Coach in 2021, Brandon Staley has failed to make the most of what is considered one of the better rosters in the NFL, led by arguably the best young QBs in the league in Justin Herbert. An 8-5 start in 2021 positioned Staley’s Chargers nicely to clinch a playoff spot in his first year as a head coach. However, they finished 1-3 down the stretch and missed the playoffs, including a blowout Week 16 loss to the lowly Houston Texans and an overtime loss in a “win and in” Week 18 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, in which a questionable coaching decision by Staley in overtime likely cost the Chargers a playoff spot. With a win or a tie against the Raiders, the Chargers would have made the playoffs. With a loss, they would be eliminated. On third down and 4, with the Raiders having the ball at the Chargers 40 yard line, Staley elected to call a timeout when the Raiders planned to take a knee and run the clock out, allowing both teams into the playoffs with a tie. The Raiders then ran the football and converted the third down and four, allowing them into field goal range, leading to a game winning field goal from Daniel Carlson. The Raiders made the playoffs, while the Chargers were eliminated with the loss. This past season, with a playoff spot and the fifth seed in the AFC all but locked up for the Chargers, Staley elected to play his starters in a meaningless Week 18 game against the Denver Broncos. Consequently, star wide receiver Mike Williams suffered a back injury, leaving him out for the team’s playoff game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The next week, during the Wild Card Postseason game against the jaguars, Staley’s Chargers squandered a 27-0 second quarter lead and ended up losing the game 31-30. Staley was strongly criticized by fans and members of the media for his play calling a failure to make second half adjustments. There is simply too much talent on the roster for the Chargers to not be considered a Super Bowl contender in the AFC with the Chiefs, Bills, and Bengals. Offensive Coordinator Joe Lombardi was fired this past offseason and Staley is running out of scapegoats and time. Similar to the Cowboys, if the Chargers fail to make inroads this upcoming season, do not rule out the team moving in a different direction.

2. Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas Raiders. Last season, the Raiders led in four games with scores of 23-7 against the Cardinals in Week 2, 17-0 against the Chiefs in Week 5 and the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, and a 16-3 4th quarter lead against the Rams in Week 14. Surely, the Raiders won all four of these games right? Nope. They found a way to lose all four of them and that doesn’t even include the embarrassing home loss to a Colts team coached by Jeff Saturday. For a team that made all-in moves in 2022 by acquiring outside linebacker Chandler Jones and star wideout Devonte Adams to accompany pro bowlers Maxx Crosby, Derek Carr, and Josh Jacobs, the Raiders failed to meet lofty expectations. Carr, who significantly regressed under McDaniels, is now in New Orleans and replaced by Jimmy Garopollo, a former backup in New England where McDaniels was previously offensive coordinator. The AFC West is likely the toughest division and the Raiders are nowhere near the AFC’s elite class, likely leaving the playoffs off the table. Consequently, it is likely that the Raiders will be looking to hire their 12th head coach since 2000 at the conclusion of the 2023 season.

1. Ron Rivera, Washington Commanders. After an illustrious nine year stint as head coach of the Carolina Panthers, a run which included three straight NFC South titles and a Super Bowl birth in 2015, Ron Rivera was hired by Washington in 2020. The move initially paid dividends, as Washington went from having the 27th ranked defense in 2019 to 4th in 2020. Despite the team’s 7-9 record, it was enough to clinch a division title and playoff spot in a weak NFC East, as Washington nearly upset the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, the team has had back to back losing seasons and has made little progress since Rivera’s first season with the team. Former offensive coordinator Scott Turner was fired in favor of Eric Bienemi to help with the development of second-year quarterback Sam Howell. If the Commanders get off to another slow start this season, Rivera’s three consecutive losing seasons, along with a team ownership change may result in Bienemi becoming the team’s interim Head Coach by midseason.