Every NFL Head Coach's Kryptonite

NFL coaches are fired for a wide range of reasons, but it seems that each coach finds himself in a specifically troubling situation. These situations arise because of players on the roster, management in place or just inability to get the job done.

The upcoming slides break down a reason why each NFL head coach could potentially lose his job. It's important to note that most of these coaches have a stable situation. However, if the NFL has shown us anything, it's that you can't rule out any situation.

Dallas Cowboys

Coach: Jason Garrett

Kryptonite: Jerry Jones

Jason Garrett has the same issue every recent Dallas Cowboys' head coach had: Jerry Jones looking over his shoulder. I can't imagine my boss heavily involved in everything I do, and critiquing every little decision. Jones has supported Garrett to this point, but he'll ultimately be the reason Garrett loses his job.

The situation is exacerbated by the fact that Jones makes all the personnel decisions. He's the guy who decides what players to draft and who to bring in via free agency. There's an enormous amount of pressure on a coach when his boss, general manager and owner are all the same person.

New York Giants

Coach: Tom Coughlin

Kryptonite: New York Media

Despite his continued success with the New York Giants, Tom Coughlin continues to receive some harsh treatment from the New York media. It seems that it only takes one poor season or an extended losing streak to place Coughlin on the hot seat.

The media doesn't make decisions about a coach's job status, but don't underestimate the role a media firestorm can play. At the end of the day, owners want to sell tickets and to ensure they fill the stadium, they must keep the media and fans happy.

Coughlin's two Super Bowl wins have earned him plenty of good will, but there's some Kryptonite, it's the New York media.

Philadelphia Eagles

Coach: Andy Reid

Kryptonite: Philadelphia Eagles fan base

Andy Reid's coaching and personnel decisions are what made the Philadelphia Eagles a playoff contender for the last decade. However, his failure to win a Super Bowl has the Eagles' fan base unhappy with his job performance. As is the case with Tom Coughlin, Reid may find himself out of work because of a push from the media and fan base.

It's doubtful that Reid can survive another disappointing season. The Eagles again enter the season with the expectation of winning the Super Bowl. Anything less could result in a regime change in Philadelphia.

Washington Redskins

Coach: Mike Shanahan

Kryptonite: Quarterback

Mike Shanahan's time with the Washington Redskins has been plagued by poor quarterback play. Most of the blame falls at the feet of Shanahan, as he's the one that decided to bring in Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman and John Beck. One could argue that he would have been better off sticking with Jason Campbell.

Now, Shanahan has put all his eggs in the basket of Robert Griffin III. Despite his tremendous potential, Griffin III will need some time to develop. The question is, will Shanahan be around when Griffin III finally reaches his full potential?

Detroit Lions

Coach: Jim Schwartz

Kryptonite: Matthew Stafford's Health

The Detroit Lions playoff run last season was thanks the to play of Matthew Stafford, but maybe more importantly the health of Stafford. This Lions team has plenty of talent on both sides of the ball, but they'll only go as far as Stafford can take them. Jim Schwartz's future depends on Stafford's ability to remain healthy.

It's also important to note the changing culture in Detroit. This is a franchise that has raised expectations, and will no longer tolerate losing. Schwartz and Co. must consistently contend for and make playoff appearances. The presence of teams like the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears within the division might make that a difficult task.

Chicago Bears

Coach: Lovie Smith

Kryptonite: Offensive Coordinators

Since taking over the head coaching job with the Chicago Bears, Lovie Smith has consistently fielded one the NFL's top defenses. However, the same cannot be said for the offensive production. Smith has had a list of uninspiring offensive coordinators, who struggled to match the production of the defense. That list includes coaches like Ron Turner, Mike Martz and now Mike Tice.

It's quite possible that Smith's shot at winning a Super Bowl with the Bears has passed. His group of elite defenders like Brian Urlacher, Lance Briggs and Julius Peppers are all towards the end of their careers. He again is resting his hopes on the ability of an offensive coordinator to match the defensive output. Can Mike Tice get the job done?

Green Bay Packers

Coach: Mike McCarthy

Kryptonite: Defensive Consistency

The Green Bay Packers offense is one of the most explosive units in the entire NFL. This unit figures to find success as long as Mike McCarthy is calling the shots and Aaron Rodgers is under center. However, the success of the Packers relies on the defense's ability to find some consistency.

During their Super Bowl title run, the Packers defense found success by creating turnovers and generating pressure. However, this unit really struggled last season and played a major role in the team's exit from the playoffs.

McCarthy will also field a powerful offensive attack, but he must find a way to improve the play on the defensive side of the ball.

Minnesota Vikings

Coach: Leslie Frazier

Kryptonite: Overall Lack of Talent

The Minnesota Vikings are in the middle of a rebuilding process, which promises to make it tough for Leslie Frazier to keep his job. NFL coaches typically aren't able to survive three consecutive seasons of missing the playoffs. Frazier and the Vikings seem all but guaranteed to miss the playoffs again this season.

It wouldn't be a bold statement to say that the Vikings are more than one season away from getting back into contention. The rebuilding process in Minnesota will likely be finished with a different head coach in place.

Atlanta Falcons

Coach: Mike Smith

Kryptonite: Playoff Struggles/Matchups

Regular season wins are great, but fans and owners want to see championships. The expectations for the Atlanta Falcons are Super Bowl or bust, and this doesn't bode well for Mike Smith. Early playoff exits the past two seasons have shined the spotlight on his job status.

However, Smith and the Falcons haven't exactly found much luck with their playoff draws. The past two seasons, they were bounced from the playoffs by the eventual Super Bowl champions. Still, another season of failed playoff success could spell the end for Smith.

Carolina Panthers

Coach: Ron Rivera

Kryptonite: Cam Newton's Development

The Carolina Panthers are a franchise whose arrow is pointing up. This newfound hope is thanks to the impressive rookie season of Cam Newton. Ron Rivera's job status seems safe thanks to the perceived development of Newton. However, it's entirely possible that Newton suffers a sophomore slump.

A great example of a quarterback's decline in production is Sam Bradford, who went from Rookie of the Year to taking a step back in his second season. Bradford's struggles played a major role in the dismissal of Steve Spagnuolo.

The expectations surrounding Newton and the team could be the Kryptonite for Rivera.

New Orleans Saints

Coach: Sean Payton/ Joe Vitt/ Aaron Kromer

Kryptonite: Bounty Controversy

Typically, NFL coaches don't survive a scandal as big as the New Orleans Saints' bounty controversy. Sean Payton still has a job with the Saints, but it's possible that this scandal is the beginning of the end of his run in New Orleans. To be honest, I'm a little shocked that Tom Benson hasn't dismissed both Payton and GM Mickey Loomis.

The bounty situation is an extreme black eye for the NFL, but more importantly a black eye for the Saints franchise. Whatever the real truth is, from what we know it appears that Payton and company lied to their employer.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Coach: Greg Schiano

Kryptonite: Overly Strict

Greg Schiano found great success on the college level. This success had a lot to do with his focus and control of his football team.

The NFL is very different from the college game, and the players aren't as receptive to strict and aggressive coaches. Schiano could suffer some backlash from his in-your-face coaching style.

This might be more of an issue for a Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster that features some players with maturity questions. Players like Aqib Talib, Mike Williams and LeGarrette Blount have all had their issues on and off the field. It will be interesting to see how Schiano handles his first discipline problem.

Arizona Cardinals

Coach: Ken Whisenhunt

Kryptonite: Quarterback

Despite a short run of success with Kurt Warner, Ken Whisenhunt has suffered through some very poor quarterback play. Both Matt Leinart and Kevin Kolb failed to live up to their billings as the franchise quarterback.

Whisenhunt is squarely on the hot seat, and only an exceptional season from Kolb or John Skelton will save his job.

When Whisenhunt was hired away from the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was seen as an offensive guru who helped develop Ben Roethlisberger. However, he hasn't been able to develop any of the quarterbacks at his disposal in Arizona.

Seattle Seahawks

Coach: Pete Carroll

Kryptonite: Power within the Organization

In order for the Seattle Seahawks to lure Pete Carroll away from USC they needed to give him a lot of power within the organization. He currently holds the title of Head Coach and Executive Vice President of Football Operations. Basically, this means that Carroll is heavily involved in all football decisions.

Power is great, but it means you bare the responsibility of both failure and success. The Seahawks have made some pretty bold draft decisions the past two seasons, and if guys like James Carpenter and Bruce Irvin don't pan out, it could cost Carroll his job.

Carroll will get all the blame if this franchise fails to find success.

St. Louis Rams

Coach: Jeff Fisher

Kryptonite: Lack of Offensive Weapons

Jeff Fisher is a terrific coach, but he must push to add more talent on the St. Louis Rams' offensive side of the ball.

There is a major void of talent at the wide receiver position, which will directly impact the development of Sam Bradford. A coach's job status depends heavily on the play of the quarterback position.

St. Louis could have been a little more aggressive in the draft and added someone like Justin Blackmon or Michael Floyd. Instead, they opted to go with Brian Quick in the second round. Quick has upside, but he will need some time to transition to the NFL.

San Francisco 49ers

Coach: Jim Harbaugh

Kryptonite: Ego

Jim Harbaugh doesn't hide his confidence or passion for the game of football. He's a fiery guy who isn't afraid to speak his mind. The way he carries himself might rub some people the wrong way; just ask Jim Schwartz. Aggressive people tend to quickly wear out their welcome in the workplace.

Harbaugh is in no way on the hot seat, but in the end, it will be his attitude and ego that costs him his job. I foresee a disagreement with management that results in a parting, more than likely a resignation than a firing.

Buffalo Bills

Coach: Chan Gailey

Kryptonite: Inspiration

Things in Buffalo are starting to get exciting, thanks to the recent flurry of offseason moves. The signing of Mario Williams has sparked a lot of optimism, which isn't always a great thing for a coaching staff. Chan Gailey is now charged with the task of meeting the high expectations in Buffalo.

Gailey is a good football coach, but doesn't really inspire a lot of excitement. Fans and the media are drawn to big-name coaches or an up-and-coming coordinator. Gailey has been around for years, and his hire was met with some criticism.

Raised expectations in Buffalo will result in the call for a more inspiring head coach.

Miami Dolphins

Coach: Joe Philbin

Kryptonite: Ryan Tannehill

Joe Philbin was hired by the Miami Dolphins because of his work with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers offense.

His offensive mind and quarterback mentoring will immediately be put to the test, thanks to the drafting of Ryan Tannehill. This Miami franchise is desperate for someone to end their long drought of a true franchise quarterback.

Tannehill is the ultimate piece of clay because of his raw physical talents. Philbin and company will be held directly responsible for the development of Miami's 2012 draft prize. Failing to make Tannehill anything but a star will result in the loss of jobs.

New England Patriots

Coach: Bill Belichick

Kryptonite: Tom Brady's Health/Longevity

Bill Belichick's run in New England will end when he's ready to retire. However, that decision could be directly linked to the career of Tom Brady. It's entirely possible that Belichick calls it quits around the same time Brady hangs it up.

By the time Brady is ready to retire, Belichick might not be willing to deal with breaking in a new quarterback. It's routinely discussed that this is a quarterback-driven league, and moving on without Brady could mean several losing seasons in New England.

New York Jets

Coach: Rex Ryan

Kryptonite: His Mouth

Rex Ryan loves to talk, especially about how his football team will win the Super Bowl. At first, his honesty was refreshing and entertaining.

However, it's now become annoying and has attracted a lot of extra attention to his football team. The more a coach is in the spotlight, the more opportunity he gives the bosses to fire him.

Ryan has raised expectations in New York not only with play on the field but with his declarations. His free-speaking ways have also carried into the locker room, where players openly discuss team matters with the media.

This Jets team is surrounded by controversy, and that's thanks to the way their head coach handles himself.

Baltimore Ravens

Coach: John Harbaugh

Kryptonite: Ray Lewis and Ed Reed's Eventual Retirement

I like John Harbaugh as a head coach, he's disciplined and appears to have the support of the Baltimore Ravens' players.

However, a lot of his success is thanks the the presence of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Both players are nearing the end of their careers, at which time Harbaugh will have a more difficult time sustaining success.

Despite constant staff turnover, the Ravens defense has remained one of the top units in the NFL. It's safe to say that the success of this defense has more to do with the players than the coaching staff. Lewis and Reed's leadership plays a major in the team's ability to transition coaches seamlessly.

Cincinnati Bengals

Coach: Marvin Lewis

Kryptonite: Mike Brown

Cincinnati Bengals' owner Mike Brown is well known because of the criticism he receives. He's often blamed for the Bengals' long stretches of failure and turning away high-profile players. Brown's unpredictability is one of the reasons many are surprised Marvin Lewis still has a job.

Brown is also the reason Lewis will eventually lose his job. However, it's safe to say Lewis is on solid ground and in no danger to lose his job.

Cleveland Browns

Coach: Pat Shurmur

Kryptonite: Brandon Weeden

When the Cleveland Browns decided to draft Brandon Weeden, they signaled that Pat Shurmur has a short leash. Weeden will be 29 years old when the season begins, which means there isn't much time to develop him into a franchise quarterback. Shurmur must immediately find a way to make Weeden a successful NFL quarterback.

Despite his age, Weeden isn't any more prepared than the other rookies entering the NFL. His experience at Oklahoma State didn't prepare him for a pro-style offense. He'll need time to pick up the terminology, route concepts and reads. As short as a three-year learning curve could spell the end of Shurmur's run in Cleveland.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Coach: Mike Tomlin

Kryptonite: Expectations

The expectations for the Pittsburgh Steelers is sky high, with only a Super Bowl win an acceptable outcome. Luckily for Mike Tomlin, he has kept the Steelers on the winning path. However, it's these expectations that could eventually drive him out of Pittsburgh.

This is a very stable franchise that only had three head coaches since 1969. Mike Tomlin's job is probably among the safest in the NFL. Still, a few consecutive losing seasons can cost any coach his job. It'll likely take a three- or four-year playoff drought to force a change.

Houston Texans

Coach: Gary Kubiak

Kryptonite: Health of Matt Schaub

Gary Kubiak seems to have nine lives based on his ability to survive several disappointing seasons with the Houston Texans.

However, last season's playoff success will make a missed playoff appearance intolerable. In order for the Texans to do some damage in the postseason, they need Matt Schaub to remain healthy.

Don't sleep on the Tennessee Titans who are more than capable of shocking the Texans by stealing the division title. Again, Tennessee's chances increase if Schaub is unable to remain on the field. Schaub has only played 16 games in two of his eight seasons.

Indianapolis Colts

Coach: Chuck Pagano

Kryptonite: Lack of Talent on Defense

Chuck Pagano earn a shot as a head coach because of his success coaching the Baltimore Ravens defense. When the Indianapolis Colts decided to move on from the Peyton Manning era, they also decided to change the team's philosophy.

It appears that management wants this team to be more defense-oriented, but this unit is still void of top-notch talent. Pagano may struggle squeezing the only two stars, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, into his 3-4 system.

Ultimately, Pagano's job status will depend on his ability to get the most out of the talent available on defense.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Coach: Mike Mularkey

Kryptonite: Blaine Gabbert

Most offensive-minded coaches are brought in under the assumption that they can develop a young quarterback. Mike Mularkey was an attractive candidate for the Jacksonville Jaguars because of the role he played in developing Matt Ryan. There's immediate pressure on Mularkey to turn Blaine Gabbert into a franchise quarterback.

Last season, the Jaguars made a bold move by moving up to land Gabbert. After a disappointing rookie season, there are a lot of questions surrounding Gabbert's ability to develop into a winning quarterback. Mularkey will get a chance to turn Gabbert into a star, and if he can't, he and Gabbert will be out of Jacksonville.

Tennessee Titans

Coach: Mike Munchak

Kryptonite: Jake Locker's Development

Mike Munchak is another head coach whose future is tied to the development of a young quarterback. Jake Locker will eventually get his chance to start, and when he does, it's important that he finds early success.

Munchak is already in this second season as head coach, and he can't afford to struggle through as many as two Jake Locker development years.

Locker is a very talented player, but there are legitimate questions about his accuracy and ability to read defenses. When Locker gets his chance to start, he must show that he's made improvements, or it will be the end of Munchak in Tennessee.

Denver Broncos

Coach: John Fox

Kryptonite: The Running Game

The addition of Peyton Manning will bring changes to the Denver Broncos offensive attack. However, John Fox will still want to feature a strong running game. If the running game struggles to find success, it could spark a bit of a power struggle with Manning. It's no secret that Manning wants the ball in his hands and wants to run his offense.

Despite a strong season from Willis McGahee, there are question marks surrounding Denver's running back corps. The issues include McGahee's age limiting his effectiveness, Knowshon Moreno's extensive injury history and Ronnie Hillman's lack of experience.

It will be interesting to see how things work out in Denver.

Kansas City Chiefs

Coach: Romeo Crennel

Kryptonite: Defensive Consistency

This Kansas City Chiefs' roster is full of talent on both sides of the ball. However, this team is built to win games with strong defensive play.

Romeo Crennel must find a way to get the most out of his defense. Kansas City didn't hire a defensive coordinator, leaving the success of the defense squarely on the shoulders of Crennel.

A major project for Crennel will be developing new nose tackle Dontari Poe. Poe's a very raw prospect who has the potential to develop into a dominant force up front. So much of the success for a 3-4 defense depends on getting great production from the nose tackle position.

Oakland Raiders

Coach: Dennis Allen

Kryptonite: Al Davis' Imprint on the Roster

Al Davis wasn't just the owner of the Oakland Raiders, he also played a major role in all personnel decisions.

His imprint can be found all across the roster, which will make it tough for Dennis Allen to ease into the head coaching position. He'll need to find a way to change the culture and deal with a roster of Al Davis' guys.

Vets like Richard Seymour and Tommie Kelly might not be open to change and are stuck with the Raiders because of their salary. Allen is also saddled with the presence of Carson Palmer as his franchise quarterback. Palmer is still a good player, but his best days are long behind him. 

It's almost better for a young coach to take over a young and newer roster.

San Diego Chargers

Coach: Norv Turner

Kryptonite: Team Mistakes

I don't know if it's discipline, organization problems or lack of motivation, but the San Diego Chargers continue to give underwhelming performances.

It's a miracle that Norv Turner has held his position as head coach for this long. The coach is the one who typically gets the blame for a team that underperforms.

Turner is on the hot seat and won't survive another disappointing season. San Diego made a lot of moves in free agency to increase the talent on the roster.

A season filled with mistakes, a poor start or failure to make the playoffs should spell the end for Turner.