NFL Coaches Who Will Be on the Hot Seat in 2013

After the 2012 regular season ended, seven head coaches were fired by their respective franchises after spending the year on the hot seat. While only seven coaches were fired, many coaches are still on the hot seat going into the 2013 season. 

One name that came up a lot in speculation of who would be fired after this past season is Rex Ryan. It's obvious that Ryan is not a particularly shy person, and while his brash behavior is embraced by many, it doesn’t look too good if you don’t have the wins to bolster it. 

Ryan is just one of many guys who may be let go if things don’t start to improve next season.

Here are five coaches who are on the hot seat going into next season.

Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions

Following an impressive 2011 season, Jim Schwartz and the Lions were looking to take the next step and really compete in the playoffs. Well, that sure didn’t happen. 

Schwartz is really feeling the pressure following a miserable 4-12 season in which his team was in the news for all the wrong reasons (aside from Calvin Johnson’s receiving record, of course). Between several player arrests and the meltdown of Titus Young, the Lions were the most discombobulated team of the 2012 season. 

Schwartz is still under contract for another two seasons, but if there isn’t significant improvement next year then he will most likely be fired.

Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

Some people may question why Marvin Lewis is on this list following two consecutive playoff seasons, but when you look at the big picture, his time in Cincy hasn’t been overwhelmingly successful. 

While he was partially responsible for bringing in the young studs in A.J. Green and Andy Dalton, Lewis hasn’t been able to win a playoff game in three career playoff appearances. 

If Lewis isn’t able to get it together in his 11th year with Cincinnati, then he will more than likely be on the chopping block come 2014. The Bengals undoubtedly have talent on their roster, but it seems as if it is being wasted under Lewis’ tutelage. 

It looks like Lewis has one last year to figure things out, or he will be fired. 

Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins

Mike Shanahan is entering the fourth year of his contract with Washington and is feeling some heat coming into this next season. Yes, even after a year where the Redskins won the NFC East, Shanahan is on the hot seat. 

After his first two years in the nation’s capital, not many people gave him a chance to get out the 2012 season with his job. But, between two rookie sensations in Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris, he was able to find a winning formula and put together a 10-6 season. 

That’s great and all, but what’s next? 

Dan Snyder isn’t exactly the most patient owner and wants to win championships now. While Snyder may have some questionable methods when it comes to ownership, if Shanahan doesn’t take another big leap in 2013, he may be justified in pulling the trigger on firing him. 

Time will tell, but I’d certainly say that Shanahan is on thinner ice than some may expect.

Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

Jason Garrett’s career as the Cowboys’ head coach hasn’t exactly been a memorable one. Compared to the legacy of legendary coaches that have been in Dallas, Garrett’s tenure is certainly a forgettable one to date. 

Since taking over for Wade Phillips as the Cowboys head coach, Garrett has gone just 21-19, a less-than-impressive record. After the end of the 2012 season, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones had this to say (per 105.3 The Fan’s New School with Shan and RJ)

“There are a lot of teams that haven’t been at .500, but nobody hasn’t been at .500 and spent as much cash as I’m spending.”

It is clear that Jones is impatient with Garrett’s lack of success and may not want to put up with it after the 2013 season. That is, if he makes it to the end of the season. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens in Dallas.

Rex Ryan, New York Jets

After four years of talking about being a Super Bowl-caliber team, it’s time to start showing it. Rex Ryan is certainly a good football coach and knows how to get his team pumped up, but that doesn’t win football games. 

While you can’t place the blame entirely on Ryan’s shoulders for the failure that was the 2012 New York Jets team, there is surely some blame to be put on him. After making an AFC championship appearance in his first two seasons, there is some merit behind Ryan’s coaching methods. 

Since then, Mark Sanchez has regressed in a major way, and the Jets are desperate for some leadership. It is imperative that the quarterback position be addressed this offseason, not just for the team’s sake, but for Ryan’s sake.