Hot-Seat Watch for NFL Players, Coaches After Week 12

The NFL is rounding into the final turn this season, which can only mean we're getting close to one thing: the coaching carousel.

Well, there may be a few things to look forward to as the season winds down, but some coaches will inevitably be moving on once it ends.

Coaches aren't the only ones on hot seats—some key players might be on their way to the bench or worse thanks to some poor play.

Here are some of the coaches, players or even general managers who are on hot seats to varying degrees based on individual or team performance to date. 

Mike Smith and Thomas Dimitroff, HC and GM, Atlanta Falcons

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Why They're on the Hot Seat

Why not?

The Atlanta Falcons have been abhorrent for the past couple of seasons despite being legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Oh, sure, they were in first place heading into a home tilt against the perennial doormat Browns, but a loss against Cleveland pushed them to 0-7 outside the loathsome NFC South.

It was a game the Falcons had in hand, but horrible clock management may have struck the first hammer blow to the nails sealing Mike Smith's coffin.

Mark Bradley of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution summed up the dire situation in Atlanta nicely after the late-game debacle against Cleveland: 

"

The Falcons have become a horribly coached team. (They’re not all that talented, either, but let’s deal with one cosmic failure at a time.) Cleveland’s Mike Pettine coached an awful game Sunday — misusing his timeouts at the end of the first half, watching his quarterback throw the three worst interceptions ever clustered — and deserved to leave the Georgia Dome a loser for such largesse. But no. Mike Smith trumped him.

The Falcons’ defense is the NFL’s worst, though it kept them in the game Sunday despite yielding 475 yards. The offense was supposed to be great, but it was mostly overpowered by the league’s 22nd-ranked defense. A game the Falcons used to steal was botched. And this coach, who spent five years putting his men in position to win such games, presided over a second unthinkable loss in 28 days.

Time for a new coach? Afraid so. New players, too.

"

As for his boss, general manager Thomas Dimitroff isn't absolved in the Falcons' fall. Atlanta has had some bad luck with injuries over the past couple of seasons, but Dimitroff has been unable to retain the quality veterans or draft enough quality players to remain competitive.

Prediction: Both Smith and Dimitroff will no longer run the Falcons.

When It Will Happen: Black Monday—December 29, the first day after the regular season ends.

Marc Trestman, HC, Chicago Bears

Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

Never mind the fact the Chicago Bears are on a two-game winning streak. 

It rings hollow considering the Chicago Bears are still below .500 after having beaten two of the worst teams in the NFL, at any rate.

A hot start to his tenure in Chicago has given way to a cold reality that the Bears are just not very good. Hailed as a quarterback whisperer, Trestman was able to squeeze more out of now-departed journeyman Josh McCown than he has from current starter Jay Cutler.

Trestman's squad could wind up with nine or 10 losses this season, given the team's tough schedule the rest of the way. Considering the Bears got rid of Lovie Smith after a 10-6 season—albeit after just three postseason berths in nine seasons—Trestman may not be long for the Windy City.

Prediction: Trestman will get one more season to show he is the man for the job.

When It Will Happen: Bears brass won't be as patient as it was with Lovie Smith, however. He will be gone after next year if the team fails again.

Tony Sparano and Reggie McKenzie, HC and GM, Oakland Raiders

Stephen Brashear/Associated Press

Why They're on the Hot Seat

Simply put, the Oakland Raiders are arguably the worst football team in the league.

True, they have been playing better as of late, and they finally got their first victory in unlikely fashion against the soaring Kansas City Chiefs.

As cathartic as that may have been for the Raiders and their fans, that 1-10 record isn't pretty. Neither is the future at this point.

Sure, McKenzie piloted the Raiders through salary-cap hell and multiple NFL drafts without original first-round draft picks, but the team should be better than this by now. He had the most cap space with which to operate this offseason, and the team somehow got worse.

Granted, the Raiders were all but forced to throw second-round rookie quarterback Derek Carr into the fire, but that's little excuse for being winless through 10 games before breaking through.

It probably didn't help that Dennis Allen—a McKenzie hire—was the head coach to start the year. He was clearly not the man for the job, which is why he was canned after Oakland's Week 4 thrashing in London at the hands of the Miami Dolphins.

As for head coach Tony Sparano, he was put in an impossible situation. The Raiders won their first game of the season and have generally played better since Sparano took over, but McKenzie is going to want the best available option this coming offseason.

Prediction: Owner Mike Davis is going to give McKenzie one more offseason with massive cap space to get the Raiders going. Sparano is likely a dead man walking.

When It Will Happen: Another poor season will be the end of the road for McKenzie.

Jim Harbaugh, HC, San Francisco 49ers

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

A narrow victory against Washington means little.

The San Francisco 49ers were supposed to contend for the NFC West crown this season, as they have for the past several years under head coach Jim Harbaugh. While they are still just a couple of games back of the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers are currently out of the playoff picture.

Jim Harbaugh's team was dangerously close to losing to Washington at home, which could have triggered a tailspin that would have sealed his fate in San Francisco. 

That comes a week after barely beating the woeful New York Giants, having scored 33 points in the two games combined. True, the 49ers have won three in a row, but they have a brutal schedule to close out the season, including two games against the defending Super Bowl champs.

Regardless of what happens the rest of the way, Harbaugh has clearly worn out his welcome in the Bay Area.

Rumors of a trade swirled during the offseason, whisperings of a fractious relationship with general manager Trent Baalke have merited public denials, and there have even been accusations that his players want him out, per NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal. 

Legendary 49ers receiver Jerry Rice recently told Pro football Now that he thinks Harbaugh will be gone after the season, per SI.com.

Prediction: Jim Harbaugh will walk...

When It Will Happen: ...unless the 49ers somehow win the Super Bowl.

Joe Philbin, HC, Miami Dolphins

Marc Serota/Getty Images

Why He's on the Hot Seat

We have seen this film before.

The Miami Dolphins are 6-5, in the thick of the AFC playoff race despite a tough loss to the Denver Broncos last week. That three-point defeat stings nearly as much as the last-minute losses to the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions.

All told, the Dolphins have lost three games to three of the top teams in the NFL—the Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions and aforementioned Broncos—by a combined 10 points.

So why is head coach Joe Philbin on the hot seat?

Last season, the Dolphins were in a similar spot. They went into the home stretch of the 2013 season with a legitimate shot at a playoff berth with an 8-6 record coming off a win against the New England Patriots.

They would wind up getting shut out in Buffalo and losing to the woeful New York Jets. It was an awful close to the season that got general manager Jeff Ireland fired and had many expecting Philbin to follow him out the door.

He was spared, and here we are. Will history repeat itself?

The Dolphins have a legitimate shot at a playoff berth, but they will likely need to win four of their final five games to get there. Should the Jets play spoiler once more and Miami fall more than once the rest of the way, however, the Dolphins could be teetering on the line between the playoffs and irrelevance.

If they fall on the wrong side of that yet again, it could be all she wrote for Philbin.

Prediction: The Dolphins will make it to 9-7 but miss the playoffs, and Stephen Ross will waffle about Philbin's status.

When It Will Happen: The handwringing will last all offseason in South Florida.

Tom Coughlin, HC, New York Giants

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

At what point does the rope from winning two championships run out?

Tom Coughlin may well be nearing the end of the line with yet another brutal season at the helm of the New York Giants.

His team showed well on Sunday Night Football, holding a lead for much of the game against the first-place Dallas Cowboys. Ultimately, the game ended like most have ever since the Giants won their last Super Bowl—with a loss.

Coughlin's team seems stuck in a quagmire of mediocrity—or worse. Quarterback Eli Manning has regressed to become a barely passable NFL starter, and the team has been unable to hang with the rest of the NFC East over the past few years, save woeful Washington.

Then there is the fact Coughlin is one of the oldest men to ever coach a team in NFL history. The retirement clock is ticking on the 68-year-old Waterloo native.

It's time the Giants part ways with Coughlin—that or retirement, which could be the easiest way for New York to force him out.

Prediction: Tom Coughlin will retire with dignity.

When It Will Happen: The Giants will wait a little longer.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

At some point, you'll find a fire where there's smoke.

Washington is a bad football team, and Robert Griffin III is a poor quarterback. These are the facts, a reason why there were rumblings he might be benched even before his performance against the San Francisco 49ers, per ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen: 

"

If Jay Gruden's stinging words this week about quarterback Robert Griffin III have not resonated, team sources tell ESPN that the Washington Redskins coach is prepared to speak louder if the third-year quarterback does not perform more consistently Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.

That means Griffin could be yanked Sunday in favor of Colt McCoy, who is 2-0 as Griffin's sub, or an evaluation will be made to make a move next week.

Gruden's criticism has cited a breakdown in fundamentals, Griffin's inability to overcome adversity and even that he has been "coddled."

"

And what a performance that was.

Griffin slogged his way to a 13-point effort on offense, completing just 11 passes for 109 yards while getting sacked five times for 32 yards. Somehow Washington held a lead late in the game, but San Francisco prevailed in the end.

Washington had a chance to come back and win, but Griffin's final drive sputtered like his career. It's a wonder Griffin wasn't benched. 

He didn't get yanked, but his performance may have marked the end of the road—assuming owner Dan Snyder doesn't step in and impose his will, at any rate.

Prediction: Griffin is going to be benched in favor of Colt McCoy.

When It Will Happen: As soon as possible.

Jay Gruden, HC, Washington

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

The malaise in Washington isn't all on the quarterback.

As easy as it is to pin the team's woes on Robert Griffin III, the entire operation has been a disaster this season. Rookie head coach Jay Gruden has proved his detractors right.

On the contrary, Washington appears headed in the wrong direction despite the new coaching staff. Two of the team's three victories have come against terrible teams in the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans. The third was a surprise against division rival Dallas Cowboys after the defense literally broke Tony Romo's back.

It's feasible Washington won't win again this season. So what would that look like for Gruden? Even worse, what will it look like if that happens after Gruden benches Griffin, who is a known favorite of team owner Dan Snyder?

In truth, one season may not be enough to fire Gruden. After all, even ill-advised hire Jim Zorn got two seasons under Snyder. 

Prediction: Snyder doesn't typically own up to hiring mistakes after just one season, so Jay Gruden should be safe...

When It Will Happen: ...unless Washington completely craters and Gruden continues to throw Snyder's favorite quarterback under the bus.

Gus Bradley, HC, Jacksonville Jaguars

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

The air is out of the balloon in Jacksonville. Again.

What started off as a season of hope—hope that the cellar door was open and the Jaguars were on their way out—has become yet another descent into the basement of the AFC South.

General manager Dave Caldwell and head coach Gus Bradley turned the team to a new page a couple of years ago after the Jaguars exorcised Gene Smith and Mike Mularkey in 2013. Unfortunately, the exorcism hasn't worked, not yet anyway.

Two offseasons of slicing and dicing on the roster have done nothing to help make the Jaguars competitive, however. Jacksonville had a widely praised draft this season, which followed a productive free-agent period. 

The Jaguars have one win to show for it, and they sport the league's worst offense to go along with one of the worst defenses, though the latter has played well in spurts.

In short, Jacksonville has barely been competitive this season.

As bad as things are, it was understood this was a rebuilding project, so Bradley may have a little leeway yet. A relatively soft schedule could get a few meaningless wins under Bradley's belt, along with some positive momentum heading into the offseason.

Prediction: Bradley will get one more season to prove himself.

When It Will Happen: The Jaguars need to get out of the cellar next season. 

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