NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat Entering 2015 Season

The pressure to win in the NFL is at an all-time high. As television contracts, revenues and profits continue to skyrocket from worldwide interest in the league, franchise owners understandably want the biggest piece of the pie as possible. Thus, head coaches who have stumbled in recent years have found themselves on the hot seat entering the 2015 season.

Sometimes the immense pressure brings the best out of an individual. Two years ago, the Carolina Panthers entered the season with head coach Ron Rivera on the hot seat. He changed how he approached the position and has since had two successful seasons in a row.

Other situations leave the head coach looking like a lame duck. The Oakland Raiders should have fired coach Dennis Allen prior to the 2014 season but waited until the team started 0-4. Considering the talent he was working with, waiting to make the move was just poor management.

Expectations can be a dagger in the heart of coaching careers. A strong offseason and the perceived talent on a roster creates such expectations. When all doesn’t go as planned, the coach is easier to replace than a locker room, so sometimes a good coach takes the fall.

Entering the 2015 season, there are six clear-cut cases of a head coach being on the hot seat. We’ll take a look at each case and see what must happen for each coach to continue with his franchise in 2016. At the end, we’ll look at three more coaches who may also feel some heat.

Joe Philbin, Miami Dolphins

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When the Miami Dolphins drafted quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the first round of the 2012 draft, head coach Joe Philbin must have hoped Tannehill would help keep him in Miami for a long time. After two late-season collapses in 2013 and 2014—when the Dolphins were in the driver’s seat to win a Wild Card berth—Philbin could have been fired last season.

Tannehill's growth in first-year offensive coordinator Bill Lazor’s offense saved Philbin more than anything Philbin did last year. By tailoring an offense around Tannehill’s athleticism and accuracy, Lazor showed value worth keeping. Now, the pressure is again on Philbin to keep the team from crumbling down the stretch.

Anything short of the playoffs or a solid 10-6 record could be the end of the Philbin era in Miami. He’s 23-25 in three seasons, which just isn’t good enough. The additions of free agents Ndamukong Suh and Greg Jennings, plus a strong draft class, should be enough to boost this team into the playoffs.

Tom Coughlin, New York Giants

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The Tom Coughlin era in New York has been filled with much success, including two Super Bowl rings. His 96-80 record with the Giants is good, but the last two seasons have been wholly uninspiring. The Giants have been sitting at home the last three years while their competitors compete in the playoffs.

There was talk of Coughlin retiring after this past season, and the franchise seems to have an eye toward the next coaching regime once Coughlin is done. Barring another surprise Super Bowl run, Coughlin could be in his final year of coaching.

At 68 years old, Coughlin will not be coaching anywhere else but with the Giants. He could be forced into retirement if the team struggles this year, though. Anything less than 9-7 will likely spark the discussion of whether Coughlin should return in 2016.

Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams

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Jeff Fisher’s coaching resume is one of the most interesting you’ll find across the league. He has been incredibly consistent in producing mediocre teams throughout his 20-year career. During that time, his team has finished 8-8 five times and has produced just six winning seasons.

Since moving to the St. Louis Rams, Fisher’s team has been crippled by injuries. This spurred a trade for a new quarterback in Nick Foles. If Foles doesn’t pan out, Fisher could find himself looking for another franchise to join. That pressure to replace Fisher could rise if the Philadelphia Eagles get solid production from former Rams quarterback Sam Bradford.

The Rams must build some excitement for a potential move to Los Angeles. Having positive momentum from a playoff berth in 2015 would be a huge step for Fisher’s future. Anything less and there is a good chance Fisher is shown a pink slip.

Ken Whisenhunt, Tennessee Titans

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Entering his second season with the Tennessee Titans, head coach Ken Whisenhunt is already in a hot seat situation. He’s 3-25 in his last 28 contests, including a 2-14 campaign last year. He must now show he can guide a team to success without Kurt Warner at quarterback.

Although Whisenhunt usually prefers big, strong-arm quarterbacks, the Titans will enter the season with second-overall pick Marcus Mariota as the starter. Mariota was an accomplished passer at Oregon, but his fit with Wisenhunt certainly creates a lot of questions about how well the two will work together.

The Titans are also dealing with an ownership situation that could put Wisenhunt under more pressure. If the team changes owners, a new shot-caller will likely want to handpick his own coach. If Whisenhunt doesn’t impress in 2015, there’s not many reasons why a new owner would want to retain his services.

Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts

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When the Indianapolis Colts offered head coach Chuck Pagano a one-year extension at the conclusion of the 2014 season, their message was loud and clear: This upcoming season is crucial for Pagano’s tenure with the Colts. Despite three consecutive 11-5 seasons, Pagano still has much to prove in the Colts’ eyes.

Pagano supporters should point to the average talent that he’s had for three seasons. Outside of quarterback Andrew Luck, wide receiver T.Y. Hilton and cornerback Vontae Davis, the Colts’ roster additions haven’t been overly noteworthy. After adding veteran receiver Andre Johnson and running back Frank Gore this offseason, the Colts are hoping that’s no longer the issue.

Anti-Pagano arguments will question why the former defensive coordinator hasn’t built a better defensive unit. Over the past three years, the Colts’ defense finished 21^st, ninth and 19^th in points allowed. For being his specialty, there must be more consistency on that side of the ball for the team to win more games.

Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins

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The Washington Redskins hired Jay Gruden as head coach for one reason: get quarterback Robert Griffin III back on track. As his 4-12 debut record suggested, Gruden utterly failed in his first season. Another bad year and owner Dan Snyder could lose confidence in Gruden.

Part of the issue is Griffin’s health. He hasn’t been 100 percent since he tore his ACL as a rookie. The question is whether he will be that electric playmaker again.

If Griffin doesn’t show that same spark and Gruden can’t compensate with his coaching talent, the Redskins could clean house and start over at both positions. Gruden's offensive game plans were less than impressive in 2014, often relying on a conservative attack that lacked scoring potential. He cannot afford have a repeat season in 2015 and expect to keep his job in D.C.

Lukewarm Seats

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Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

This might seem surprising, as head coach Marvin Lewis has been excellent in Cincinnati, especially the last four years. Barring sudden development from Andy Dalton, his commitment to Dalton will continue to hold the franchise back in the playoffs. That could lead to ownership becoming impatient and forcing a change.

Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars

Despite not having the talent needed to succeed the last two seasons, the Jacksonville Jaguars need to see some sort of return from this offseason spending spree. Head coach Gus Bradley is beloved by players and has a strong pedigree. With more talent on the roster, it’s now time to turn things around.

Jim Tomsula, San Francisco 49ers

Although Jim Tomsula is in his first year as a head coach, the San Francisco 49ers did just fire Jim Harbaugh after a successful tenure. The 49ers are coming off one of the worst offseasons in NFL history, losing many talented players to retirement and free agency. This team is an early favorite to fall flat with a poor season.

All stats used are from sports-reference.com.

Ian Wharton is an NFL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. 

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