Setting an Expiration Date for Each NFL Head Coach

Some things simply don't last forever—in the NFL coaching world, this could not be more accurate. In fact, stints with teams could last only up to a year or even shorter. 

Some coaches jump around the league a few times and then suddenly disappear, and some coaches jump around and then ultimately find a home for quite some time.

In some cases, a coach has been there for so long that maybe it's time for a change. In other cases the coach has only been there for a year and already needs to be swapped out for a new voice.

Either way, head coaches don't stay in the same place forever.

In that spirit, allow me to set an expiration date for each NFL head coach. 

Ken Whisenhunt

Expiration date: 2012 or 2013

Ken Whisenhunt has been with the Arizona Cardinals since 2007 and has a mediocre record of 39-40 entering the final week of the 2011 season.

Whisenhunt is a solid offensive-minded head coach but his time with the Cards is likely coming to an end as he hasn't made the playoffs in the last two seasons. 

It's time for a new voice in 'Zona. 

Mike Smith

Expiration date: 2015

Mike Smith has done a phenomenal job with the Atlanta Falcons ever since joining the team back in 2008.

Since then Smith has posted a solid 42-20 record and has been to the playoffs in two of his first three seasons. 

The only way I see Smith being let go by the Falcons is if he doesn't make a deep playoff run sometime soon. 

John Harbaugh

Expiration date: 2016

I'm going to guess that John Harbaugh is going to spend a lot of time with the Baltimore Ravens. 

Harbaugh is clearly a winner as he's posted a 43-20 record ever since taking over the reigns back in 2008 and certainly has shown signs of possibly taking his team to the tops of the NFL. 

Chan Gailey

Expiration date: 2013

I don't see Chan Gailey making it past 2013 with the Buffalo Bills unless his team can win a few playoff games and even a Super Bowl.

I really like what Gailey is doing but I see him more of a bridge moving into the future. 

Ron Rivera

Expiration date: 2018

I really like what I have seen from Ron Rivera in his first year as head coach of the Carolina Panthers as he has led them to a promising 6-9 record with one game left in 2011.

I can see Rivera and rookie quarterback Cam Newton bringing a lot of success to the fanbase of Carolina in the soon future. You can count on it. 

Lovie Smith

Expiration date: 2013

2011 appeared to be a success for Lovie Smith until Jay Cutler and Matt Forte were sidelined for the entire season. 

Smith has had some success with the Chicago Bears as he's posted a 70-57 record with the team ever since 2004 and has led them to multiple playoff berths as well as as Super Bowl. 

However, I'm going to give Smith one more season with the Bears and if he doesn't make a deep playoff run then he's out. 

Marvin Lewis

Expiration date: Who the hell knows?

Marvin Lewis should have been canned years ago by the Cincinnati Bengals but he keeps showing signs of improvement when you think he's going to be fired. 

Lewis has taken a team that lost Carson Palmer, Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens in a matter of a year and replaced them with rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green and has led them to an impressive 9-6 record with one game left in 2011.

To be honest with you, I honestly can't be an expiration date on Lewis as he expired years ago. 

Pat Shurmur

Expiration date: 2013

I do not believe that Pat Shurmur is the answer for the Cleveland Browns.

In just one season with the Browns, he has posted a 4-11 record entering the final week of the season and he has shown zero signs of improvement.

But, it's just one season so who knows how well he will rebound in 2012. 

Jason Garrett

Expiration date: 2012 or 2013

To be honest with you, if the Dallas Cowboys don't make the playoffs this season then I could actually see Jerry Jones firing Jason Garrett after one season with the team.

Garrett has made some terrible coaching decisions this season and has even iced his own kicker—who does that? 

John Fox

Expiration date: 2014

John Fox has definitely gained a lot of respect out of me in 2011 as I believed he was just an average coach entering this season.

Fox spent nine seasons with the Carolina Panthers and posted a mediocre 73-71 record but has really shown signs of being a great coach this season with Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos. 

Jim Schwartz

Expiration date: 2016

I think that Jim Schwartz is going to be head coach of the Detroit Lions until his team stops improving—which has shown no signs of happening.

Ever since taking over back in 2009, the Lions have been getting better each and every season and ultimately clinched a playoff berth this season. 

Mike McCarthy

Expiration date: Until the Green Bay Packers stop winning.

Mike McCarthy is already a Super Bowl winning head coach and has led his Green Bay Packers to an impressive 14-1 record with one game left to go in 2011.

I do not see McCarthy being fired anytime soon unless he starts losing on a regular basis. 

Gary Kubiak

Expiration date: 2012 or 2013

I think 2011 was "judgement year" for Gary Kubiak or at least until Matt Schaub went down with a season-ending injury.

Kubiak has been with the Houston Texans for a very long time, dating all the way back to 2006, and if he doesn't start winning playoff games then he will be canned. 

Jim Caldwell

Expiration date: The end of the 2011 season

It's time for the Indianapolis Colts to fire Jim Caldwell—he is the worst head coach in the NFL. I mean, he really sucks. 

Caldwell is invisible each and every game day and appears to have little say or control on his team. 

After this pitiful 2011 season, I believe he will be fired immediately following the end of the season. 

Mel Tucker

Expiration date: The end of the season.

Mel Tucker will not be brought back as head coach in 2012. I guarantee it. 

He is nothing but an interim head coach that best belongs as a defensive coordinator. 

Romeo Crennel

Expiration date: 2014

I believe that Romeo Crennel will be brought back as the full-time head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs following the end of the 2011 season.

Crennel has a good relationship with general manager Scott Pioli as they have ties going back to when they were with the New England Patriots. They're a perfect match.  

Todd Bowles

Expiration date: He will not be returning for 2012. 

I actually think the fact that Todd Bowles is an interim head coach is laughable.

Bowles has never been a coordinator in his entire career and should never be the head coach of a team in the NFL until he gains more experience. 

Leslie Frazier

Expiration date: 2014

I like Leslie Frazier has a head coach but he still has a lot to prove.

Frazier has posted a 3-12 record with the Minnesota Vikings this season and it's obvious that the team is rebuilding for the future.

Give Frazier sometime and we'll see how well he does with the Vikings. 

Bill Belichick

Expiration date: Until Tom Brady retires or when Bill Belichick dies. 

Bill Belichick will never be fired as head coach of the New England Patriots, he will retire when he feels like it's time to hang it up.

Let's put it this way: Belichick is the modern-day Vince Lombardi with his incredible 138-53 record as New England's head coach. 

Sean Payton

Expiration date: He's a lifer.

I do not see Sean Payton ever leaving the New Orleans Saints unless his success starts to disappear or that he simply decides to retire.

Payton is one hell of a head coach as he's already won one Super Bowl with the Saints and has an impressive 60-34 record in six seasons with New Orleans. 

Tom Coughlin

Expiration date: The end of this season or the next season.

Tom Coughlin has been on the hot seat for like three years now. It's only a matter of time until the New York Giants decide to go in a different direction. 

Rex Ryan

Expiration date: 2014

I think Rex Ryan is certainly going to get his chances with the New York Jets and have a little success and even win a Super Bowl—however he's not going to be there forever. 

Ryan has recorded an impressive 28-19 record in nearly three seasons with the Jets. 

Hue Jackson

Expiration date: 2014

I really like the direction that Hue Jackson has his team heading in as he's posted an 8-7 record with one game left in 2011 with a chance of making the playoffs.

If Jackson's success and improvement continues with the Oakland Raiders, then he should be there for a solid chunk of time. 

Andy Reid

Expiration date: The end of the season.

It's time for the Philadelphia Eagles to move on and get a new voice in the locker room—Andy Reid's time as a Philadelphia Eagle is all but over. 

Reid has had major success with the Eagles as he has a career 125-81 record over 13 years with the team but has yet to win a Super Bowl and should be fired by the end of the season after his extremely disappointing season with the so-called "Dream Team." 

Mike Tomlin

Expiration date: As long as he wants.

Mike Tomlin is one hell of a coach and is perfect for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In five seasons as head coach with the Steelers, Tomlin has gone to two Super Bowls, winning one of them, while recording an incredible 54-25 regular season record. 

I do not see Tomlin leaving the Steelers for a very, very long time. 

Norv Turner

Expiration date: The end of the season.

The San Diego Chargers need to get rid of Norv Turner ASAP. He is not a winner—he's a choker.

Turner is the kind of head coach that will get you so close to a Super Bowl but simply just never reach it. 

It's time for the Chargers to bring in someone that's actually won a title. 

Jim Harbaugh

Expiration date: 2020

After one season with the San Francisco 49ers, I am extremely impressed in Jim Harbaugh and I am a huge fan. 

Harbaugh has taken an 6-10 team and turned them into one of the elite teams in the NFL. 

I'm going to say that Harbaugh is going to be living in San Fran for quite sometime. 

Pete Carroll

Expiration date: 2013

His positive attitude and player's coach mentality will ultimately be the death of him at the NFL as Pete Carroll is best-suited as a head coach at the college ranks.

Carroll is a great football mind but I don't see him lasting too much longer with the Seattle Seahawks. 

Steve Spagnuolo

Expiration date: The end of the season. 

Here's a prediction for you: Steve Spagnuolo will be fired immediately following the end of 2011 and be interviewed for a defensive coordinator job with the Philadelphia Eagles, that is unless Andy Reid is fired as well. 

Raheem Morris

Expiration date: The end of the season.

Does a 17-30 record impress you? It shouldn't. 

It's time to fire Raheem Morris. 

Morris has completely lost the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster as they're currently on a nine-game losing streak entering the final week of 2011. 

Mike Munchak

Expiration date: 2015

I have been extremely impressed with Mike Munchak thus far in 2011 as he's led his team to an 8-7 record with a chance of making the playoffs in just his first season.

Munchak is a great football mind and should remain as head coach of the Tennessee Titans for quite sometime and develop rookie quarterback Jake Locker. 

Mike Shanahan

Expiration date: 2012

I am going to give Mike Shanahan just one more season as head coach of the Washington Redskins.

In two seasons with the 'Skins, Shanahan has gone 11-20 and has shown zero signs of improvement. Unless Shanahan can make the playoffs next season with a legitimate starting quarterback, then I'm predicting that he will be fired.