10 NFL Head Coaches on the Hot Seat in 2012

Certain NFL head coaches barely escaped being fired after subpar 2011 campaigns. These sideline signal-callers will have a lot to do to convince fans and ownership that they deserve to survive the 2012 season.

Next season is likely to see a large number of head coaches under heavy pressure from the start. Failure to meet expectations, consistent underachievement and rebuilding efforts stuck in neutral have set the stage for certain head coaches to either deliver or face dismissal.

Here is a list compiling the 10 head coaches who will be under the most pressure to produce favorable results in 2012.

10. Pat Shurmur, Cleveland Browns

Pat Shurmur will enter his second year as the Cleveland Browns head coach under no small amount of pressure. The Browns yet again propped up the AFC North, registering a dismal 4-12 mark.

The decision to switch to a 4-3 front yielded some success on defense, although stopping the run remains a major weakness. But Shurmur will be judged on his ability to produce a creditable offense in Cleveland. So far the results have not been good.

The Browns continue to struggle at quarterback, where Colt McCoy seemed to regress during his first year in Shurmur's system. The Peyton Hillis saga ruined the rushing attack and Shurmur couldn't identify an explosive weapon in the passing game.

With marquee free agents often difficult to entice for the Browns, Shurmur faces an uphill battle in a very tough division. 

9. Chan Gailey, Buffalo Bills

With second place in the AFC East behind the New England Patriots seemingly up for grabs, it's time for Chan Gailey to deliver a winner in Buffalo. The Bills have some good pieces already in place, but Gailey must find a way to translate that talent into more wins.

After two seasons of an ill-fated experiment with the 3-4 defense, Gailey has to get that side of the ball fixed in time for next season. Promoting Dave Wannstedt to defensive coordinator was an excellent first step.

But the AFC East is a competitive division and anything less than a playoff berth will surely signal the end of Gailey's time in Buffalo.

8. Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles

It would be a shame if Andy Reid's marvelous tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles came to an acrimonious end. But after the spectacular underachievement of the 2011 season, Reid simply has to return the Eagles to the postseason.

After signing seemingly every high-profile name available in last year's free-agent crop, the Eagles were supposed to have everything they needed to finally deliver an NFL title. But untimely mistakes and poor discipline proved to be their undoing for much of the season, resulting in a tame 8-8 finish.

Philadelphia went 4-2 in the NFC East last season, so it is certainly capable of reclaiming the division crown. Reid has to find a way to keep his top stars happy and return the Eagles to the level of play that saw them compete in five NFC Championship Games earlier in his career.

7. Ken Whisenhunt, Arizona Cardinals

Ken Whisenhunt has done a terrific job with the Arizona Cardinals. However, there is no denying the team has struggled to hit the heights that saw it reach the Super Bowl after the 2008/09 season.

The two main problems have been Whisenhunt's inability to produce a stout 3-4 defense and to find a replacement for retired quarterback Kurt Warner. Defensive coordinator Ray Horton's work in 2011 has the defense close to turning the corner.

But the quarterback issue remains the bane of the team. Even after acquiring Kevin Kolb, the Cardinals have found no answer to their problems under center. After posting only 13 wins in the last two seasons, if Kolb doesn't come good, Whisenhunt could be shown the door.

6. Leslie Frazier, Minnesota Vikings

After stabilizing the Minnesota Vikings as interim head coach in 2010, Leslie Frazier crashed to a 3-13 finish in his first full season. This leaves little margin for error for Frazier heading into 2012.

The Vikings have turned the team over to young quarterback Christian Ponder, but this decision was made only after Frazier had subjected the players and fans to the Donovan McNabb fiasco.

Frazier's defensive expertise was seriously undermined after the Vikings ranked 31st in points allowed, surrendering 449 in total. The Vikings have a lot of issues to solve. Frazier has to fix the defense and surround Ponder with a strong enough supporting cast to succeed.

Another offseason of poor talent selection and Frazier is unlikely to still be around after the 2012 regular season ends.

5. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

Jason Garrett could become the latest head coach to pay the price for perennial underachievers the Dallas Cowboys. After missing the playoffs in 2011, the pressure will be on Garrett to finally get the Cowboys to produce on a consistent basis.

They have as much talent as any team in the league and Garrett has to bear some of the responsibility for the Cowboys' inability to emerge as top contenders in the NFC. His play-calling and game management are often dubious, and the Cowboys are still a team that struggles with discipline and effort issues.

The window is rapidly closing for the Cowboys' crop of elite stars, and nothing short of a deep run into the postseason will be enough to prevent Garrett from being a casualty of the inevitable fallout. 

4. Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins

Mike Shanahan is simply living off his reputation in Washington. After managing only 11 wins in two years, the Redskins head coach continually moves the goal posts and redefines the scope and scale of his job.

Shanahan justified his first two years in D.C. comprising underwhelming 6-10 and 5-11 finishes by saying the job was bigger than he first anticipated. He also argued he needs more depth and is engaged in a five-year rebuilding plan to make the Redskins winners.

So far, only a solid 2011 draft class is all that Shanahan is able to hang his hat on. He has forced schemes onto players suited to different roles, botched the quarterback situation on two separate occasions and has publicly fallen out with star players.

Shanahan can only deflect criticism for so long, and no fresh excuses will be tolerated if the Redskins endure another losing campaign in 2012.

3. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears

It's difficult to fathom quite how Lovie Smith has remained in charge of the Chicago Bears for so long. It seems that no matter how many mediocre seasons he posts in the Windy City, Smith abides.

But with a new general manager in place, Smith might not be able to rely on the same level of tolerance he has become accustomed to through the years. Phil Emery is likely to expect instant success from a talented roster and Smith will have to do all he can to make sure the Bears can keep pace with the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers in the NFC North.

If the Bears can't match their division foes for the course of the season, expect Smith to be gone soon after their 2012 campaign concludes.

2. Rex Ryan, New York Jets

Rex Ryan's act is beginning to get a little old in New York. Following a year of in-fighting and a misfiring offense, Ryan now has a divided and aging squad that can no longer back up his brash claims.

Ryan has constructed the New York Jets to win now, but the team that made it to consecutive AFC Championship Games following the 2009 and 2010 seasons now seems beset by major problems in crucial areas. Quarterback Mark Sanchez seems to have taken a big step back in his development and Ryan's defense has gotten old at key positions.

There may simply be too much to do return the Jets to Super Bowl contention in 2012. If Ryan can't address the issues amongst the team, the fans and press will likely start to call loudly for his head.

1. Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers

How long can Norv Turner survive in San Diego? Surely, Philip Rivers won't be able to successfully lobby for his coach forever? Somehow Turner remains at the helm in San Diego despite again missing the playoffs with a supremely talented squad.

The Chargers are capable of beating anybody on their day, but too often under Turner the team finds new and innovative ways to hit the self-destruct button. Special teams blunders bore the brunt of 2010's collapse. In 2011 the notorious slow starters and strong finishers contrived to pull off a complete reversal of their usual form.

San Diego began the season strongly but capitulated down the stretch. This time it was the turnovers of franchise quarterback Rivers and the regression of a normally stout defense, which proved their undoing.

But Turner will still be on the sidelines for the Chargers in 2012 in what certainly has to be his final chance to turn potential into a winning reality.