NFL Rumors: 10 Coaches With the Hottest Hot Seat

Every season, sports fans are treated to the football equivalent of a reality TV drama: the midseason coaching carousel. With "Playoffs? Playoffs?!?" out of sight, these coaches are now resorting to competing with Jersey Shore for the most entertaining bouts of anger, tears and tirades.

Most of the coaches on this list were seen as commanding playoffs teams at the start of the season. And while their rosters are loaded with talent, these sacrificial lambs have done nothing with it. Get set and tune in for the next episode.

1. Brad Childress

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EDEN PRAIRIE, MN - OCTOBER 7: Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress answers questions from the media during a press conference at Winter Park on October 7, 2010 in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)

Where can you even start with Big Bald Brad? He’s a bad locker room coach; he’s a bad coach with the media; and worst, he’s a terrible in-game manager.

Given the expectations of the Vikings going into the season, Childress would still be on the hotseat if he would have achieved a 2-5 record with this talent. But his mismanagement of the Randy Moss fiasco, his handling of Brett Favre and his affinity for blaming everyone but himself have put him at the top of this list.

2. Wade Phillips

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MINNEAPOLIS - OCTOBER 17: Dallas Cowboys head coach Wade Phillips looks on during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America Field on October 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings defeated the Cowboys 24-21. (Photo by Jeff Gross

If it weren’t for Childress’s timely decision to release Moss, Wade Phillips would easily top this list. For a team that many pundits had picked as a Super Bowl favorite to end up 1-6 against bad opponents is simply unacceptable.

What’s been more surprising is that Phillips is still the coach of the Cowboys, having survived several near firings. If he doesn’t right this ship and at least manage a winning record, he’s gone.

3. John Fox

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ST. LOUIS - OCTOBER 31: Head coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers looks on from the sidelines against the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome on October 31, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The Rams beat the Panthers 20-10. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/

Just a few seasons ago, John Fox was leading his Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl. Now they are bottom dwellers, with little talent and two very underachieving quarterbacks. Could another coach make this team better? Maybe. Will they get a chance next season? Almost definitely.

4. Mike Singletary

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HERTFORD, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 27: Head Coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers attends a press conference at The Grove Hotel on October 27, 2010 in Hertford, England. The San Francisco 49ers will meet the Denver Broncos in the NFL International Se

Football fans who dislike Mike Singletary are few and far between. Football fans crazy enough to say it to his face are even fewer (and after saying it, there would be none) and farther between.

But criticism deserves to be leveled at Singletary, who has the most talented team in the NFC West and has managed only one win out of it. While he may be a terrifying coach, he doesn’t seem to be able to win.

5. Norv Turner

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 10: Head coach Norv Turner of the San Diego Chargers stands on the sidelines during their game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 10, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Ima

How has Norval Turner continued to get coaching jobs? Frankly, if I were GM (I’m not as crazy as A.J. Smith, honest), he would have been fired EVERY season since he took over as coach.

This year, the Chargers are leading the league in offense AND defense, and have nothing to show for it. Turner had better start watching his back. The only stat that matters is wins, and Turner is simply not producing.

6. Josh McDaniels

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LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Head coach of the Denver Broncos Josh McDaniels speaks to the media during a press conference prior to the start of a team training session at The Brit Oval on October 29, 2010 in London, England. The Denver Broncos will pla

Last year, McDaniels was heralded as the next coming of Bill Belichick (minus the extensive training in filming the Jets). This year, the Broncos have looked terrible—culminating in a disastrous loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Without Brandon Marshall, there were going to be problems—but 2-6 on a team that fired Mike Shanahan after an 8-8 season isn’t going to cut it.

7. Marv Lewis

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DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 9: Head coach Marv Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals watches the action from the sidelines against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on August 9, 2007 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Boehm/Getty Images)

Putting Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco on the same team seemed like a recipe for disaster. How it spelled disaster for quarterback Carson Palmer is unclear.

What is clear is that the Bengals have had one good team the past several years—and that team lost in the first round of the playoffs. Lewis might survive this season, but he better get his stuff together.

8. Eric Mangini

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BEREA, OH - AUGUST 04: Head coach Eric Mangini of the Cleveland Browns looks on during training camp at the Cleveland Browns Training and Administrative Complex on August 4, 2010 in Berea, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Ah how the Mangenius has fallen. Last year, it took a late season rally for the Razr throwing coach to keep his job. This season the Browns have relied on trickery and deceit to get their two victories. But how long can they last being the football equivalent of a Charlie Sheen relationship? The answer is not too long.

9. Chan Gailey

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 10: Chan Gailey, head coach of the Buffalo Bills stands on the sidelines against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. Jacksonville won 36-26. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Gett

This dude was fired from the Chiefs last year IN PRESEASON. How has he managed to have a job? The team is 0-7. ‘Nuff said.

10. Tony Sparano

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 19: Head coach Tony Sparano of the Miami Dolphins watches from the sidelines during the game against the Minnesota Vikings on September 19, 2010 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Ge

Tony Sparano will probably not be fired. But without a win at home, there’s some pressure on him. And with Dan Carpenter having 10 field goals over the past two games on a team with Brandon Marshall, something must be done to the offense.

But chances are he’ll keep his job.