NFL Predictions 2011: The 12 Coaches Most Likely To Be Fired by Season's End

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the national unemployment rate is currently at 9.2 percent.

Several in the NFL coaching brethren will join the jobless after all this season's games have been played. With the "win or bust" nature in professional football, management is never slow to make a change in who should be guiding their teams.

Here are the 12 assistant and head coaches that have the greatest chance of seeing their walking papers by the conclusion of the 2011 campaign.

Mel Tucker

After the performance of the Jaguars defense in 2010, it's hard to believe that its coordinator is still employed by the franchise.

Since taking over this position prior to the 2009 season, Mel Tucker has seen the Jags defense yield nearly 365 yards per contest to go along with 25 points a game.

Two years of futility would seem to be enough, but Jacksonville has given him at least one more chance. Here's saying 2011 will be the last straw.

Brian Daboll

In 2010, Daboll was the offensive coordinator of a Cleveland Browns team that ranked 29th in total offense.

Now, he has been hired with the task of guiding a Miami Dolphins offense that was ranked 21st in yards per game last season under Dan Henning.

The Dolphins need a quick turnaround in this department in order to return to the playoffs, so it wouldn't be a shock if they kept a short leash on Daboll.

Jim Haslett

When Haslett transitioned from being the head man of the UFL's Florida Tuskers to being the defensive coordinator of the Washington Redskins in 2010, he appeared to be linking up with a unit primed to stay as one of the league's best.

But just like the Redskins as a whole, the defense's performance went south. It ranked second worst in yards allowed per game (389.2).

Owner Dan Snyder and Washington management won't sit well with another year similar to the last one.

Greg Olson

In his two seasons guiding the offense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Olson hasn't done much to impress.

He didn't satisfy his last employer, the St. Louis Rams. Olson was given the pink slip after the 2007 campaign.

So far with the Bucs, Olson's group has been ranked 28th and then 21st in terms of yards per game.

If things don't take an upswing, the Bucs will certainly be looking for a new offensive coordinator to mold a young, budding quarterback in Josh Freeman.

Marvin Lewis

It's been a roller-coaster tenure for Marvin Lewis in Cincinnati.

On the field, the Bengals have won two division titles in the eight years that he has been at the helm. Conversely, they've suffered through a 4-11-1 season in 2008 and a 4-12 campaign in 2010.

Off the field, there have been several members of the team calling for trades (Carson Palmer is the present pleader) and other embarrassing incidents involving players.

With Palmer threatening retirement, Lewis has tabbed rookie Andy Dalton as the starting QB for 2011. A promising year from the former TCU standout could keep Lewis standing in the Queen City.

Hue Jackson

Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson is on the hot seat.

Wait...didn't he get hired for this job earlier this year? Yes. Is his boss still the cantankerous Al Davis? Yes.

Well, it all makes sense now, because no Raiders head man is on safe ground when the 82-year-old owner remains in charge of the Silver and Black.

Tom Cable, Jackson's predecessor, was terminated after leading Oakland to an 8-8 record and an unblemished mark against the AFC West.

Good luck, Hue.

Tom Coughlin

Coaching in the pressure cooker that is the NFL is tough enough.

But the New York City area is one where fan and media criticism of coaching can boil over with just one poor performance.

The Tom Coughlin eulogy for his life with the Giants has been written several times over. Calls for Coughlin's head came loudest in 2006, when New York collapsed late to finish 8-8 with a first-round playoff loss. He saved his job quite nicely the next year by winning the Super Bowl.

However, the 2010 season saw a similar second-half downfall and more groans from Giant supporters.

Jack Del Rio

Del Rio's contract as head coach of the Jaguars lasts until the end of the 2012 season, but Jacksonville management could short-circuit that with another mediocre record.

Since reaching the AFC Divisional Round in 2007, the Jags have posted marks of 5-11, 7-9 and 8-8. That's too slow of a climb up the mountain for an NFL team to be satisfied.

Jacksonville doesn't have a lot going for it in terms of fan support (24th in average attendance), so a shake-up at head coach may be just what it needs.

Chan Gailey

When Gailey was the surprising next head coach of the Buffalo Bills, it was hard to realize that he had only two full seasons at this job on the professional level.

Those two years came with the Dallas Cowboys—and both resulted in playoff berths.

Januaries in Buffalo are pretty quiet now, and they'll continue to remain silent. The Bills simply don't have the talent to complete against New England and New York in the AFC East.

That means there could be a quick end to Gailey's stay in upstate New York.

Jason Garrett

After taking over midseason for the fired Wade Phillips, Jason Garrett finished 2010 with a record of 5-3.

The former Dallas quarterback showed in a short period of time that he is capable of being a head coach. The problem is owner Jerry Jones may be looking for more splash with his super-large stadium still in near-mint condition.

That fact is even truer with the likes of Bill Cowher and Jon Gruden on the free-agent head coaching list.

Gary Kubiak

While Norv Turner needs to get deep into the postseason in order to retain his status, Gary Kubiak needs to just make the playoffs with the on-the-cusp Houston Texans.

With Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson leading the offense, the Texans' time to win is now.

Kubiak took steps toward improvement in his first three years at the helm—the high-water mark being a 9-7 effort in 2009. However, 2010 was a step back, as the Texans were 6-10.

Another swing-and-a-miss at a postseason will mean curtains for Kubiak.

Norv Turner

In 13 seasons as an NFL head coach, Norv Turner has compiled a less-than-spectacular record of 99-105. Still, his most successful days have come at his current location.

With the San Diego Chargers, Turner has won three AFC West division titles and has reached the conference title game once.

But with the talent he has at his disposal, many feel he should have already reached a Super Bowl by now.

Former Bolts head coach Marty Schottenheimer was canned after a 14-2 season went ringless, so that alone is proof that winning regular-season games doesn't guarantee job stability in San Diego.