On Sunday, we saw the second HC firing of the season. The Green Bay Packers moved on from Mike McCarthy after 13 seasons. This move comes in the middle of an under-performing season from the Packers. On top of their performance, it seems the relationship between McCarthy and QB Aaron Rodgers is strained beyond repair. McCarthy finishes his Packers career with a record of 125-77-2 and a Super Bowl ring.
Former Browns HC Hue Jackson was fired in October. He was quickly replaced by interim HC Gregg Williams. Two are down, but we know that there are plenty more to fall. The turnover in the NFL is fast and unforgiving. Who else is on the hot seat and could be out of a job by “Black Monday.”
NYJ – Todd Bowles
Bowles has done next to nothing with the New York Jets. In his tenure with the Jets, the team has won just 38.3% of their games. This is inexcusable considering they play the Dolphins and Bills a combined four times a year. They’re on their way to a third straight fourth-place finish in the AFC East. A change would be good for the organization to help rookie QB Sam Darnold grow in his second season.
The blame, however, can’t fall solely on him. GM Mike Maccagnan hasn’t done much to get players in free agency. Their drafting has been average to above-average, but when it comes to adding talented vets, they haven’t done it. In terms of offensive talent to help Darnold, the only piece brought in during the offseason was WR Terrelle Pryor who only played six games before being released.
Will he be fired: Yes.
WAS – Jay Gruden
Gruden has brought the Redskins to the playoffs one time in his five years with the Redskins. The NFC East, other than last year, has been one of the worst divisions in football. Despite this, Washington has finished above third just that one time. Some of this can be attributed to poor talent acquisition, but a lot of the moves are just plain stupid.
Here, instead of putting the blame on the GM, the blame all goes to owner Dan Snyder. Snyder has done nothing to move the team forward. He’s been involved with multiple hot-topic issues including signing Reuben Foster and refusing to change the name of his team among other things.
Will he be fired: No.
CIN – Marvin Lewis
How many years do we have to keep talking about this. Being in the middle of the league isn’t a good thing. Teams aren’t punished as heavily as those in the NBA, but it’s still bad. Lewis has been HC of Cincinnati for 16 years, making him the second-longest tenured HC behind Belichick. Except, instead of being a perennial powerhouse, the Bengals haven’t won a playoff game since 1991. NOT ONE. Yet every year, owner Mike Brown trots out Marvin Lewis to the fans.
Last year, we were finally toward Marvin Lewis would step down. In less than a week, he had a contract extension. It’s truly laughable. Currently, the Bengals sit at 5-7, third in the AFC North, ahead of the Browns by half-of-a-game. With QB Andy Dalton out for the season, it’s likely the Bengals finish in last in the division. Will that finally be enough to get him out?
Will he be fired: No.
TB – Dirk Koetter
In almost three seasons with Tampa Bay, Koetter has won less than 50% of his games. He’s struggled to make a decision and stick with a QB for this season, bouncing between Jameis Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick every week. Koetter hasn’t taken control of the team. Not to mention they’ve already fired their defensive coordinator Mike Smith due to ineffectiveness.
Tampa Bay could take a great step forward by moving on from Koetter this offseason. That will make the decision of what to do with Jameis Winston even more pressing. With guys like Mike Evans entering their prime, do you really want to have them learn a new system with (potentially) a new QB? It’s tough to say. What I do know is there are better options than Dirk Koetter in the coaching pool.
Will he be fired: Yes.
BONUS:
Falcons OC Steve Sarkisian needs to be fired YESTERDAY. A team with that much offensive talent is just wasting away because of ineptitude of their playcaller. Injuries on defense are one thing, but not getting Julio more involved in the redzone is another.
BONUS (pt. 2):
I wouldn’t be shocked to see Ron Rivera go. They started off so hot at the beginning of the season, and they’ve started to slide, something we’ve seen before from the Panthers.