NFL training camps are gearing up and the stark reality is more than a few of the 32 head coaches are entering their final seasons with their current teams.
Head-coaching turnover is a robust, ugly fact every NFL season. Heading into the 2024 season, there are some obvious names already sitting firmly on the hot seat, including the Dallas Cowboys’ Mike McCarthy, the New York Giants’ Brian Daboll and the New York Jets Robert Saleh.
However, there are always surprise firings every year and there are some under-the-radar hot-seat coaches that come to mind in what are critical seasons for their quality teams. If they underachieve, they could be in trouble.
Here is a look some some of these potential candidates, presented in alphabetical order:
Mike McDaniel
I’m a big believer in McDaniel’s offensive scheme and love the way he handles his team, but there have been rumblings about the belief Miami’s ownership has in him. The truth is, the Dolphins haven’t won a playoff game since 2000 and have lost 11 of the past 12 games to chief AFC East competitor, the Buffo Bills. That all doesn’t fall on McDaniel’s head. He has been Miami’s coach for just two years and he has led them to an overall 20-14 record with playoff berths coming in both seasons. Yet, if the Dolphins falter in the AFC and don’t make the playoffs this season, Miami’s ownership could get jumpy. If that happens, McDaniel will probably be hired by lunch elsewhere the day Miami lets him go. But it’s not out of the question to think his future in Miami could be murky if the Dolphins don’t take the next step in 2024.
Sean McDermott
Let’s be clear; the Buffalo Bills’ Super Bowl window is still wide open. It’s McDermott’s job this season to ensure it doesn’t begin to close. If the Bills somehow don’t make the playoffs in 2024 without major long-term injuries, McDermott very well could face scrutiny. It’s all about getting close to the Super Bowl in Buffalo. These are Josh Allen’s prime years. If McDermott fails to take advantage, the Bills may be tempted to try to go find the next hot offensive coach to pair with Allen to maximize his prime. It would be a surprise if McDermott isn’t in Buffalo in 2025, but the scenario isn’t out of the question.
Doug Pederson
Life moves fast in the NFL and Pederson doesn’t need to be reminded of that. He was fired as the coach of the Philadelphia Eagles three years after delivering the franchise’s only Super Bowl title. So, he knows success is fleeting in this league. Pederson has led the Jacksonville Jaguars to 9-8 records in both of his seasons there. His tenure is highlighted by a huge comeback victory over the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2022 NFL playoffs. But what the Jaguars’ ownership and fan base most remember is an alarming collapse to end last season. The Jaguars started the season 8-3 and looked like a real contender. Yet, they lost five of their six final games to miss the playoffs. If the Jaguars sputter again and waste quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s first year of his rich new contract, Jacksonville ownership may want to make a change.
Nick Sirianni
The Eagles proved with Pederson that sentimentality doesn’t get in their way of making tough decisions. Yes, Sirianni has been a good coach in Philly with a 34-17 record in three seasons and he nearly won the Super Bowl in his second season. Yet, this is a team built to win Super Bowls. So, the Eagles’ ugly late-season collapse in 2023 puts Sirianni in warming distance of the hot seat. The Eagles started the season 10-1 and looked, by far, like the best team in the league. Yet, they suddenly crumbled, losing five of their final six games to somehow blow the NFC East title. They were pounded by Tampa Bay in the first round of the playoffs. The scariest part was the Eagles looked like a bad team down the stretch. There were some rumors that Sirianni could have been forced out in January after that choke job, but the Eagles saw enough in him to keep him. With this roster and the expectations, Sirianni must deliver now. A Wild Card spot and a first round playoff departure may not fly in Philly for a second season in the row. Ownership might decide that the team’s Super Bowl window is now and conclude Sirianni isn’t the coach to deliver a championship if he doesn’t rebound this season.
