Hot-Seat Watch for Every NFL Coach

If recent NFL history has taught us anything, it's that it's a safe bet to assume that of the 32 head coaches in power as of today, (at least) a handful will be shown the door at some point in the next eight months.

This winter, right after the season ended, head coaches in Tampa Bay, Miami, Indianapolis, Jacksonville and Oakland were let go. Some owners didn't even wait until the end of the regular season to hand out pink slips to their head coach; Kansas City fired Todd Haley after Week 14, and the Dolphins fired Tony Sparano that same day. 

Maybe there won't be that many coaching casualties during or immediately after the 2012 regular season, but you never know. 

So which coaches are safe and which should be staying up at night, hoping they aren't going to be asked to clean out their offices anytime soon? 

NOTE: To continue on the "hot seat" metaphor, each head coach will have a "HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE" rating in this slideshow. A hot-seat rating of "0 degrees" means his job security couldn't be any firmer. A hot seat rating approaching 100 degrees? Quite the opposite—his blistering hot seat means he's perilously close to being canned. 

San Francisco 49ers: Jim Harbaugh

As you'll see as this slideshow continues on, there are many "0 degrees" entries. That may seem like a strange concept considering how the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately?" league and how often head coaches get fired. However, in most cases, it would be ridiculous to say any new head coach or a head coach that has very recently won a Super Bowl is even close to being on the hot seat.

And while Harbaugh isn't either a new head coach or a coach with a Lombardi Trophy on his resume, his seat couldn't be any colder.

In just his first season he took the 49ers—a team that hadn't really come close to a playoff berth in years—to a fumbled punt away from the Super Bowl. 

Granted, that performance (and the fact that the 49ers have made some noteworthy offseason upgrades) really raises expectations. However, even if this team were to finish 2-14 in 2012, no one will be calling for Harbaugh's head. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 0 degrees

Arizona Cardinals: Ken Whisenhunt

Whisenhunt has a special place in Cardinals franchise history. He's the only head coach ever to guide the club to a Super Bowl. More importantly, he nearly led that same club to a considerable upset over the Steelers. 

So he certainly has built up a great deal of credibility in the Valley of the Sun.

However, the last two years have been playoff-less, and if the decision to bring in Kevin Kolb continues to be viewed as a flop (because of what they gave up to get him from Philadelphia and Kolb's generous contract), it's going to reflect very poorly on the head coach.

As long as the Cardinals don't finish 2-14 or 3-13, I don't see the Cardinals firing Wiz during or after the 2012 season. However, there is definitely talent (Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Peterson, Beanie Wells, Sam Acho, Calais Campbell and now Michael Floyd) on this team, so the playoffs aren't an unreasonable request from management. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 50 degrees

Seattle Seahawks: Pete Carroll

Seahawks fans may disagree, but this has to be a make-or-break year for Carroll.

Yes, it was only two seasons ago that he led the club to a division title and a remarkable playoff win over the defending Super Bowl champion Saints. 

That was only one victory, though, and that NFC West crown came by way of an underwhelming 7-9 record. 

So couple his overall losing record in two seasons with the high-priced signings (Sidney Rice, Matt Flynn, Zach Miller) he has overseen and a few curious high draft picks (Bruce Irvin, James Carpenter), and there are plenty of questions about his decision making. 

Of course, even a 10-win season would freeze over his hot seat pretty quickly. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 75 degrees

St. Louis Rams: Jeff Fisher

Not all the "new" head coaches have an extended honeymoon period. Those who have failed in previous gigs don't necessarily demand the same type of free pass as those who have won division titles or even a Super Bowl.

So Jeff Fisher, who is one of the most successful Super Bowl title-less head coaches in NFL history, should enjoy a season devoid of pressure—and not just because of all he achieved during a decade-and-a-half in Tennessee.

Even with some serious talent at key spots like quarterback, running back and defensive line, this Rams team is clearly a work-in-progress. Few expect St. Louis to contend for a playoff spot. In fact, a .500 season would be something of a blessing. 

So if the expectations aren't very high (at least in the first year), the hot seat cannot be very hot. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 0 degrees

New Orleans Saints: Joe Vitt

Obviously this is the most complicated coaching scenario in today's NFL—maybe in the history of the NFL.

Vitt is presumably keeping Sean Payton's (hot) seat warm for the next 10 months, so it's pretty hard to gauge his own stability as a head coach. 

Still, he's walking into a situation that has high expectations. The Saints were a popular choice to win the Super Bowl last year, and even with the Bountygate suspensions/expulsions, that probably won't change—unless, of course, Drew Brees isn't under center in Week 1.

It's unlikely the front office (which doesn't even have its general manager, Mickey Loomis, during the first eight games of the regular season) will replace Vitt under any circumstances. They will want to maintain some level of consistency. However, if things unravel, because he is at the helm, he'll be the fall guy. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 50 degrees

Atlanta Falcons: Mike Smith

Here's another tricky hot coaching situation.

In just a few seasons, Mike Smith has become one of the most successful head coaches in team history. He's led a franchise that had never once had back-to-back winning seasons to four straight winning seasons and three playoff berths. 

However, they've lost all three of those playoff games, the last two by huge margins. And since general manager Thomas Dimitroff and owner Arthur Blank have basically went all in with moves like trading up for Julio Jones, trading for Asante Samuel and giving big contracts to players like Michael Turner, Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez, reaching the playoffs is not good enough. 

Smith might not have to win a Super Bowl in 2012 to keep his job, but if the Falcons reach the postseason and again fail to win a game, ownership might think that's as far as Smith is able to take this team. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 50 degrees

Carolina Panthers: Ron Rivera

Rivera is no longer a first-time, rookie head coach. More importantly, for all Cam Newton's heroics in 2011, the team finished 6-10 and lost its final two games. So it's not like he was a miracle worker in that first season.

Things are clearly looking up, however. After a poor start (2-6) last year, the Panthers showed considerable improvement just to have a shot at a winning record. 

More to the point, this team isn't exactly loaded with superstars. The Panthers have Newton, Steve Smith, a trio of good running backs and some talented defensive players, but this was not a team people looked at and said, "Why aren't they winning more games?"

Short of taking a huge step backwards and losing far more games in 2012 than they did in 2011, Rivera will definitely be around for a third season. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 10 degrees

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Greg Schiano

This is the list's first rookie head coach, and whether you liked or hated the hire, Schiano will be around to become a second-year head coach.

That doesn't mean he can sit back and relax, though.

After a very promising 2010 season a lot was expected of the young Bucs in 2011 and they fell miserably short under Raheem Morris. So while this is a new staff and a new season, some of those expectations carry over to 2012—especially since Tampa Bay made a handful of big-time offseason moves. 

In addition to Vincent Jackson and Carl Nicks, Tampa Bay's two first-round draft choices, Mark Barron and Doug Martin, are going to be asked to contribute right away. 

So while Schiano should go through 2012 unconcerned about his job security, given his talent and the fact they play in a pretty tough division, his job isn't going to be an easy one. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 0 degrees

Green Bay Packers: Mike McCarthy

It's been almost 18 months since the Packers won Super Bowl XLV, so McCarthy cannot exactly rest on those laurels much longer. And since Green Bay was expected to repeat (or at least return to the Super Bowl) last January based on its 15-1 record and then was beaten handily at home by the Giants, he isn't necessarily bulletproof. 

Still, this team is poised for another big season given all its talent, and Super Bowl-winning head coaches don't get fired within two seasons of winning the title. 

Besides, if anything goes wrong in Green Bay this year and the loaded Packers struggle to even make the playoffs, people will point the finger at Dom Capers and his shaky defense, or the fact that ultra-successful offensive coordinator Joe Philbin is gone. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 0 degrees

Detroit Lions: Jim Schwartz

On paper, Schwartz might deserve an extremely cold hot-seat rating. 

Not only has he taken a previously 0-16 franchise back to respectability, earning its first playoff berth in over a decade, but he's infused tremendous excitement within this club, largely because of how potent that offense is.

However, there seem to be major discipline problems for the Lions. Ndamukong Suh's anger management issues, Nick Fairley and Mikel Leshoure's multiple arrests, the fight between Titus Young and Louis Delmas, as well as their place as one of the league's most penalized teams in 2011—all point to that fact. 

No one will really care about all that if the Lions have another solid playoff season, which is a strong possibility. However, couple those issues with an underachieving 2012, and Schwartz will be able to find respite from the cold January weather in Detroit on his increasingly warm seat. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 35 degrees

Chicago Bears: Lovie Smith

Although last year the Bears chose to replace the general manager, and not the head coach, that should not be terribly comforting news to Lovie Smith. 

Sure, Phil Emery may have a desire to bring in "his own" head coach, but Smith hasn't exactly done enough to suggest a coaching change is unnecessary.  

Smith may have taken this team to its first Super Bowl in more than 20 years, but that was seven seasons ago. And he may have taken the Bears to the NFC Championship Game, but losing on their home turf to the archrival Packers (who went on to win the Super Bowl) had to be a major strike against him as well. 

And don't discount all the roster upgrades this club has gone through in the past few seasons. They spent a ton on Julius Peppers and Jay Cutler (who they traded two first-round picks to acquire) and now brought in Brandon Marshall as well. And what do they have to show for it?

The Bears are certainly a contender for a postseason spot this year, and that would allow Smith to keep his job. However, the NFC North has a recent Super Bowl champion (the Packers) and an extremely young and talented team (the Lions) that are also in the mix. More than likely, Smith's Bears have to finish ahead of at least one of those clubs just to qualify for the playoffs. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 70 degrees

Minnesota Vikings: Leslie Frazier

Frazier hasn't exactly had the best luck since taking over permanently for Brad Childress in 2010.

The Donovan McNabb move was a disaster.

The stadium situation (both the roof of the Metrodome collapsing and the struggles to get a new one) has caused headaches for the franchise.

And now Adrian Peterson, easily the team's best player, is trying to recover from a torn-up knee that will either keep him sidelined during parts of the season or at the very least sap some of his great running ability.

Still, those excuses won't be enough to dial down the heat. 

If the Vikings aren't able to show considerable improvement upon last year's 3-13 record, Zygi Wilf—no longer looking for a new city for the franchise—might look for a new head coach. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 75 degrees

New York Giants: Tom Coughlin

Speaking about Mike McCarthy, I said it was almost impossible for a recent Super Bowl winning head coach to be on the hot seat—let alone be fired. But don't forget that Tom Coughlin. Less than four years removed from pulling off one of the greatest upsets in Super Bowl history, he was dangerously close to being relieved of his duties last year. 

Then, of course, he won the Super Bowl again, was given a new contract extension and rose to second on NFL.com's coaches power rankings.

So winning a Super bowl cures all, right? Probably.

However, Coughlin does reside in New York City, where the expectations will be tremendous once again.

Furthermore, he is the NFL's oldest head coach. Sooner or later, the front office will be looking for an heir apparent. Not in 2012, though.

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 5 degrees

Philadelphia Eagles: Andy Reid

Recently it was announced that, following the shakeup of the front office in Philadelphia, Andy Reid gained "more power." 

So on the surface, that might make it seem like Reid is less likely to lose his job, but I don't think that's the case. 

Even if they didn't sign as many stars and spend as much money as they did last offseason, the Eagles made a handful of big moves, trading for DeMeco Ryans, drafting Fletcher Cox and giving DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy new deals. Those moves and Michael Vick's advancing age mean this team is built to win a championship in 2012, not 2013 or 2014—now. 

And since they missed the postseason last go around, they have a relatively tough road to hoe. 

Finally, even if he cherishes Reid, it has to burn owner Jeffrey Lurie (who is writing all the checks for those high-profile contracts) that the rival Giants have won two Super Bowls in the last five years, while Philly hasn't even appeared in one during that same stretch. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 70 degrees

Dallas Cowboys: Jason Garrett

Jerry Jones is not a patient man, and since this Dallas Cowboys team really has not done much of anything in the past two seasons, that has to apply some serious heat to Jason Garrett.

Jones made the popular, but not necessarily wisest, choice back in 2010 when he named Garrett, who had very little coaching experience, as his head coach. And now that Garrett has had a full year to learn on the job, there will be even more scrutiny on that choice. 

Like the Eagles owner, it had to greatly frustrate Jones to see the Giants win a second Super Bowl in five years, and if there's someone that will suffer as a result of those frustrations, it's not going to be someone on the roster. It will be Garrett, who has a roster featuring several stars (Tony Romo, DeMarcus Ware, Jason Witten) near or over 30 years old. 

With that proverbial window closing, 2012 might be Garrett's last chance to at least take Dallas to the postseason. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 70 degrees

Washington Redskins: Mike Shanahan

I used to think a Super Bowl-winning head coach (let alone a two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach) could never be fired. Well, back in January 2009, the Broncos proved me wrong when they canned Shanahan.

And while that was a pretty complicated scenario (he had been on the job for a long time and the team was coming off an epic collapse in which it squandered a three-game division lead with three to play), Shanahan doesn't enjoy much more job security today than he did back then.

Not only have the 'Skins missed out on the playoffs each of his two seasons (they haven't even come close to .500), but Shanahan's offenses have been ranked 25th and 26th respectively in those two seasons. Shanahan made his career with high-powered offenses, and that was one of the reasons Washington was so excited to have him on board. 

The acquisition of Robert Griffin III only makes those expectations even higher. Maybe if this were 10 years ago, when rookie quarterbacks held a clipboard, that wouldn't be the case. However, if RG3 isn't at least as good as Cam Newton was in 2011, Shanahan will feel tremendous heat for it. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 60 degrees

Denver Broncos: John Fox

If it were three months ago and I was writing up this slide, I would say John Fox has the coldest "hot seat" of any non-rookie coach on this list. And that includes Tom Coughlin and Mike McCarthy.

However—and let me preface this by saying that I am not a Tim Tebow honk—given the major change this franchise made to its most important, most high-profile position, the Broncos did open themselves up to major second-guessing. 

By trading Tebow and signing an aging, damaged Peyton Manning, they, in essence, messed with a winning formula. And make no mistake about it, Fox signed off on the move. Certainly the potential for success is there, and it would seem like swapping out Tebow for Manning is an upgrade. And they may end up winning one or even two Super Bowls in the process.

The spotlight will be even more intense now, though, and if the Broncos struggle even a little bit on offense, it will start to reflect poorly on Fox. John Elway may have been the one making the decision, but Fox will shoulder the bulk of the blame if the Broncos cannot repeat as AFC West champions and push deeper into the playoffs.

Having said all that, the Broncos aren't firing John Fox in 2012, 2013 and probably beyond that.  

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 20 degrees

San Diego Chargers: Norv Turner

Turner isn't sitting on the hottest of coaching seats—that is reserved for another AFC name who has also coached LaDainian Tomlinson—but it's close. 

The Chargers have underachieved year after year, and it's pretty safe to assume that if they fall short of the playoffs this season, Turner will be held responsible. 

Ever since he took over for Marty Schottenheimer, Turner's teams have been blessed with great talent on both sides of the ball. And while last year's edition might not have had quite as much depth or skill as the 2007-2009 editions, they added several key pieces this offseason and should be considered a favorite in the division.

On a side note, making the playoffs may be the ultimate litmus test in determining Turner's fate, but Philip Rivers' play will be a close second. Despite posting the same type of yardage totals he always does, at times last year Rivers didn't look right. His stats bore that out, as his completion percentage dipped considerably and he threw a career-high 20 interceptions.

If Turner cannot improve those numbers in addition to his team's win total, he'll be out of a job. Maybe even in the middle of the regular season.  

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 90 degrees

Oakland Raiders: Dennis Allen

Again, true rookie head coaches all start with a clean slate—unless you're the Oakland Raiders head coach.

Al Davis may have passed away, thus presumably leading to more a stable approach to hiring and firing coaches, but let's wait and see.

Despite the franchise's terrible track record—not just firing head coaches, but firing them after two or fewer seasons—Dennis Allen should and will be given plenty of opportunities to implement his system. Even if the Raiders take a huge step back in 2012 and fall to 3-13 or 4-12, Allen won't find himself on a hot seat heading into 2013. 

At least, I don't think so. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 5 degrees

Kansas City Chiefs: Romeo Crennel

Crennel already failed in one head coaching stop (Cleveland), so even if this is his first full season on the job, he has one strike against him. I genuinely believe head coaches with previous success get the benefit of the doubt, while those without a Super Bowl win or appearance, or at least a few playoff games, don't. 

Still, because he is taking over a very, very young team that has several injury-related question marks going forward, and his team plays in a competitive division, he's not going to be fired. 

However, that doesn't mean the Chiefs front office and their fans will be satisfied just to go 8-8. 

There is a great deal of talent on this club, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and several offseason additions (Dontari Poe, Peyton Hillis, Eric Winston, Stanford Routt, Kevin Boss) do suggest this team can compete for the AFC West title. So if they fall short, Romeo's seat will burn a little bit brighter. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 10 degrees

Houston Texans: Gary Kubiak

Much like the Detroit Lions, it's great for the fans, the owner and the coaching staff that the Houston Texans had a phenomenal 2012, but it also ups the expectations considerably. 

Had Houston failed to make the playoffs last year, it was very likely Kubiak was going to be unloaded; that would have made six straight seasons without a playoff berth. Almost no head coach, especially a first-timer without any playoff success, could survive that.

However, the Texans did make the playoffs and had a nice run, defeating Cincinnati and nearly the Ravens. 

Since he achieved much of that with a rookie, third-string quarterback, and since they added a really talented player in Whitney Mercilus, many in the media have the Texans as the favorites to come out of the AFC for Super Bowl XLVII.

If they come up inches short in that respect, Kubiak won't be canned. If this team, with so much offensive and defensive talent, takes a major step back, though, that's another case. That would make him 1-7 in playoff action, and few head coaches can survive that type of track record. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 60 degrees

Tennessee Titans: Mike Munchak

Mike Munchak's Titans were one of the most pleasant (and underrated) surprises of the 2011 season. They came very close to a playoff berth.

And considering they did that in a year that they lost their top receiver in Kenny Britt very early on and saw franchise back Chris Johnson have a subpar (for him) season, it was a small miracle that the Titans went 9-7.

That will raise expectations a great deal in Tennessee, as will the additions of Steve Hutchinson and Kamerion Wimbley.

Furthermore, Munchak does have a big decision ahead of him regarding the starting quarterback job: Jake Locker or Matt Hasselbeck. Making the "wrong" decision (if there is one) won't cost him his job, but it will slow down the great progress this team showed in 2011. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 10 degrees

Jacksonville Jaguars: Mike Mularkey

As I said earlier, new head coaches don't automatically get a clean slate. And considering how bad things ended up for Mike Mularkey in Buffalo, he doesn't have the track record of a Jeff Fisher or Mike Shanahan.

Still, not much is really expected of the Jags right now, and since the team has new ownership—ownership that approved the hiring of Mularkey—he's going to be given at least two seasons to improve a troubled franchise. 

That task is now much harder given Maurice Jones-Drew's increasing unhappiness, but Mularkey isn't responsible for MJD's contract status, so he won't be held accountable. 

Still, without Jones-Drew, the Jaguars passing game will struggle, and since one of the reasons Mularkey was brought in was to tutor Blaine Gabbert, Mularkey has one hand tied behind his back right now. And ultimately he will be held accountable if Gabbert doesn't prove worthy of his 10th overall selection. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 10 degrees

Indianapolis Colts: Chuck Pagano

No new head coach should feel any less pressure or any more secure in their job than Chuck Pagano. In short, things cannot get any worse for the Colts in 2012. 

More to the point, though, Pagano and his new staff do have a roster with promising talent (and not just Andrew Luck), they have two excellent young tight ends, they convinced Reggie Wayne to come back, and they still have Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney. 

Normally, I'd say that that level of talent increases expectations and as a result increases the heat on the coach, but not when the entire franchise just cleaned house from top to bottom and has a ready-made heir apparent (i.e. Luck) for the role of cornerstone and face of the franchise. 

In short, the Colts didn't hire Pagano to take over just to fire him after one season, no matter how good or bad that first season is. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 0 degrees

Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh

John Harbaugh has done an amazing job in his four years with the Ravens. They've been a playoff team every year, they've won at least a playoff game every year and they've been to the AFC Championship Game twice. That's a pretty remarkable resume for a guy with no previous head coaching or coordinating experience. 

Getting that close to the Super Bowl each year only makes presumptions go up, though. Couple that with the fact that Ray Lewis and Ed Reed both have been rumored to be nearing retirement, and the championship window is closing. 

Now, cutting Harbaugh loose won't make that window open up any, but another year without a championship appearance might lead the front office to consider starting from scratch, especially if Lewis and Reed decide to call it quits. 

I'm not suggesting the Raves will show Harbaugh the door or that he is not a top-notch coach, but Harbaugh and the entire Ravens team has to be thinking it's Super Bowl or bust in 2012. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 50 degrees

Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin

Given the way the Rooney family has stuck by their head coaches over the past 40 years, this entry may as well be a no-brainer "0 degrees"—maybe even negative 30 degrees. 

However, Tomlin has set himself up to be second-guessed. He let Bruce Arians go even though Ben Roethlisberger was unhappy about it. And now that many of the holdovers from the Bill Cowher era (Hines Ward, Aaron Smith, James Farrior, possibly Casey Hampton) are gone, his leadership will be even more important.

Still, Tomlin's not going anywhere. 

On a side note, Tomlin's firm job security may seem strange in comparison to that of his division rival/counterpart John Harbaugh. However, Tomlin has won a Super Bowl and appeared in another, losing a very close battle to Green Bay, whereas Harbaugh has yet to make the trip. It may be unfair, but Super Bowls are how head coaches are measured.

And if you don't believe that, ask Marty Schottenheimer. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 10 degrees

Cincinnati Bengals: Marvin Lewis

I'm not quite sure what to make of Marvin Lewis' job security. A year ago at this time, it almost seemed like the Bengals wanted to fire Lewis, but they eventually gave him a contract extension, which expires after this season.

This spring, there was talk about giving him another extension, but it hasn't happened yet. And maybe the reason is the track record of Lewis' teams after an excellent playoff year. In 2005, when the Bengals won the division, they missed out on the playoffs the next three seasons. In 2009, after they earned a wild card, they slipped to dead last in the AFC North the next year. 

That, plus the fact that his teams still don't have a playoff win, means Lewis does have a lot to prove this year. Much of that goodwill from the 2011 season will be washed away if the team slips under .500, especially since Andy Dalton and A.J. Green are budding superstars and that defense showed so much promise in 2011. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 40 degrees

Cleveland Browns: Pat Shurmur

Other than the Raiders, the Browns have been arguably the least loyal franchise in terms of retaining head coaches. Since 2001 they've fired four.

With Mike Holmgren at the helm, though, it seems unlikely they'll let Shurmur go anytime soon, no matter how bad their 2012 record is.

After all, they are still somewhat cleaning up from (what they must have thought were) the mistakes made by Eric Mangini's regime. They let Peyton Hills go and will probably move Colt McCoy out and Brandon Weeden in.

So given all those moving parts and the fact that they really didn't spend any money in free agency this year, the expectations for Shurmur's team can't be terribly high, inside or outside the Browns complex in Berea, Ohio. If that's the case, Shurmur can't really do much wrong, at least not in his second year. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 20 degrees

New England Patriots: Bill Belichick

If Belichick can survive the fallout from Spygate and blowing a shot at an undefeated season by losing a Super Bowl to a 12-point underdog, he can surely survive the fallout from a second close Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants. 

Whether you like or hate the Hoodie, he's still the most decorated, most successful head coach in the game. By far. And he clearly has endless support from both his owner and his players. And there really isn't any reason to think that will change.

Yes, the Pats have had some playoff struggles in the past few years (other than last January's blowout of the Broncos, their regular-season dominance hasn't translated to the playoffs as anticipated), and they've lost a pair of Super Bowls to allegedly inferior teams. However, Belichick routinely has his club in the hunt for a division title and has done so despite injuries, free agency departures and all the expectations. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 0 degrees

New York Jets: Rex Ryan

Part of it has to be his crosstown counterpart winning a second Super Bowl in five years, but that isn't the only reason why Rex Ryan is sitting on the hottest seat of all 32 NFL head coaches. 

Ryan enjoyed tremendous success in 2009 and 2010, taking the Jets to the doorstep of the Super Bowl.

However, 2011 was largely a disaster, and not just because they missed out on the postseason. Mark Sanchez didn't show much improvement, the defense finished 20th in the NFL in points allowed and they lost their last three games. Oh, and they were swept by the rival Patriots. 

Had all that happened to any other head coach, it wouldn't be enough to put them in major hot water. From the moment he arrived in New York, though, Ryan has been brash and cocky and boasting a "Super Bowl or bust" mentality.

Well, they haven't gotten to the Super Bowl, so the "bust" part might be on the horizon.

And now that they've taken on the Tim Tebow circus (to go along with cranky superstars Santonio Holmes and Darrelle Revis), things will only get more contentious and tense, especially if the losses start to pile up. 

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 95 degrees

Buffalo Bills: Chan Gailey

The Bills made major strides in 2011—well, maybe in the first month of 2011. In September they looked capable of snapping their long playoff drought and even supplanting the Patriots for AFC East supremacy; remember, they topped New England in Week 3.

Things quickly fell apart for Gailey's team, though, as the Bills lost two of their next four, then suffered through a terrible seven-game losing skid. That didn't completely undo all they achieved with that 3-0 start, but it came close. 

Now, 2012 gives the Bills and Gailey a fresh start, and with the arrival of Mario Williams and a few very promising rookies, namely Stephon Gilmore, the Bills are poised to have a solid year. 

They don't have to win the Super Bowl, or necessarily even earn a playoff spot, for Gailey to keep his job, but they do have to play Week 1 through Week 17 with much more consistency than they did last season.

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 35 degrees

Miami Dolphins: Joe Philbin

Not only is Philbin a rookie head coach, but he wasn't even the Dolphins' first or second choice—that alone should give him a year's grace period. Along those same lines, since the Dolphins reportedly missed out on several other "first choices" (Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn, even Alex Smith), the expectations in Miami have to be low—at least from the outset of the regular season.

Sure, they have a talented backfield, a very athletic rookie quarterback and a defense that in 2011 performed much better than people remember, finishing third against the run and sixth in total points allowed. 

However, this team is starting from scratch, and even if a worst-to-first turnaround is very possible in today's NFL (and the franchise achieved that same miracle back in 2008), no one is expecting the 'Fins to be even .500, let alone a playoff team. 

And regardless of the presence of Chad Ochocinco or the HBO Hard Knocks cameras, that's not going to change at any point in Philbin's first season on the job.  

HOT SEAT TEMPERATURE: 0 degrees