Skip to content

7 coaches on the hot seat in 2015

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

The turnover rate for NFL coaches is significant: since 1978, there have been 225 head-coaching changes in pro football, according to ESPN. That works out to approximately six coaching shake-ups every year, which proved appropriate in 2014 as - you guessed it - six head coaches lost their jobs.

With that kind of annual change in mind, here are seven coaches on the hot seat entering the 2015 season.

Jeff Fisher

How much leash does the highly touted Fisher have left? A smoke-and-mirrors success story, Fisher hasn't had a competent quarterback playing for him since the late Steve McNair. Not surprisingly, that's when Fisher had the most success as a head coach.

With the St. Louis Rams, it's been ugly, as Fisher's compiled a 20-27-1 record in three seasons. A complete roster turnover since Fisher took the job makes it hard to lay the blame at anyone else's doorstep.

Jay Gruden

The hottest seat on this list probably belongs to Gruden. The perfect storm of a new general manager, a weak roster, a volatile personality, and the Dan Snyder wild card is conspiring against the Washington Redskins coach.

No one seems to stick around for long in Washington anyway, with six coaches taking the reins over the past 14 years. Soon, Gruden may be running a Spider 2 Y Banana directly to the announcers booth, where he'll join his brother Jon.

Sean Payton

A complete rebuild draws closer and closer as the New Orleans Saints keep losing games. Payton, once untouchable, has always been linked to the Cowboys, and could orchestrate a move out of New Orleans should the Saints fail to re-establish their dominance over the NFC South.

Cap issues may ultimately force Saints management to start fresh. That could mean Payton, not one to shy away from an unpopular opinion, would quickly become dispensable.

Marvin Lewis

Lewis is on the perpetual one-year contract with the notoriously frugal Bengals' ownership. Cincinnati has never advanced past the wild-card round under Lewis, despite reaching the playoffs in five of the last six seasons.

Shockingly, Lewis is the second-longest tenured head coach in the NFL, but a shake-up will come at some point if the Bengals don't take a step forward.

Joe Philbin

It's hard to understand how Philbin still has a job at this point. A 23-25 record in three years isn't terrible, but the Miami Dolphins are not going to stand for mediocrity much longer.

With a significant investment and infusion of talent, Philbin will now need to prove he's the one to lead the Dolphins into Ryan Tannehill's prime. A playoff appearance will likely be necessary for the Richard Jenkins lookalike's survival.

Tom Coughlin

The seat shouldn't be too hot for the 68-year-old Coughlin - he may simply retire before getting fired. That said, a shake-up in New York could be coming soon after the Giants' regression to the mean over the past three seasons.

A resume boasting two Super Bowls usually makes a coach indispensable, but even when the Giants have been successful in the past six seasons, it's been because of improbable playoff runs.

Jim Tomsula

The NFL's answer to Chris Farley as the bus driver in "Billy Madison," Tomsula has his hands firmly on the wheel of the San Francisco 49ers' future. But how long before the bus is jerked comically into a ditch?

It would be surprising to see Tomsula dismissed in his first year as the team's head coach, but he has big shoes to fill in taking over a team that hasn't had a losing record in four years.

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox