Hot-Seat Watch for NFL Players, Coaches After Week 15

Two weeks remain in the 2014 NFL season, and that means speculation concerning the job status of certain players, coaches and general managers is ready to ramp up into overdrive.

With the end of the season in sight, it's easy to see which players, coaches and general managers are in danger of losing their jobs. Some are foregone conclusions, but others still have a chance to turn things around.

The criteria for this list are simple: If the coach, general manager or player is struggling mightily, and the team is performing poorly and not going to make the playoffs, then it's fair to say he is on the hot seat. And in some cases (what's up, Mike Smith?), a playoff appearance might not even be enough to save a job.

With these factors in play, conjecture about job statuses can officially begin, with media reports factoring into the aforementioned speculation.

Here is the hot-seat watch for NFL players, coaches and general managers after Week 15.

Jim Harbaugh, Head Coach, San Francisco 49ers

John Froschauer/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

We're still not sure just why San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is on the hot seat, but this much seems readily apparent: Harbaugh and the 49ers are on a crash course for a messy divorce that will see Harbaugh coaching elsewhere in 2015.

The 49ers were officially eliminated from playoff contention with their loss to the Seahawks and Detroit's win over Minnesota. With their record sitting at a disappointing 7-7 and nothing left to play for, Harbaugh is now approaching "Dead Man Walking" status, which is extremely unfortunate given what he's done for the 49ers franchise.

Before Harbaugh was named 49ers head coach prior to the 2011 season, the proud franchise had gone eight consecutive seasons without a playoff berth. But with Harbaugh in tow, the 49ers advanced to three straight NFC Championship Games (with a Super Bowl sandwiched in-between) and once again became one of the league's model franchises.

But supposed infighting with owner Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke has clearly soured this once-fruitful relationship. Harbaugh was nearly (infamously) traded to the Browns this past offseason, and as Tim Kawakami of the Mercury News writes, the 2014 49ers were set up to fail by letting the world know that Harbaugh was on the outs:

"

Baalke and York have every right to be weary of Harbaugh after all these years. They might choose a better coach than Harbaugh could be for them in 2015, and maybe that’s defensive line coach Jim Tomsula. But the indirect way 49ers management went about this was unprofessional, weak, and it destroyed an entire season.

"

Regardless of the situation, one thing is clear: Harbaugh is done in San Francisco. It's just a matter of whether or not he'll be fired, traded or forced to resign. 

We have a feeling that the 49ers will regret jettisoning one of the league's finest coaches, and there isn't any doubt that Harbaugh will be paid handsomely to coach somewhere else in 2015 and beyond.

Prediction: Harbaugh and the 49ers will part ways.

When Will It Happen: At the conclusion of the season

Jay Gruden, Head Coach, Washington Redskins

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

The nightmarish first season as Washington Redskins coach continued for Jay Gruden this past Sunday, as his team lost 24-13 to the New York Giants, dropping their record to 3-11.

For Gruden, it's hard to imagine things possibly going worse in year one. Rumors of his demise have persisted, the on-field product is brutal, and he's publicly clashed with "franchise" quarterback Robert Griffin III.

Things didn't get any better on Sunday, as the Redskins collapsed after a questionable call to end the first half took away what appeared to be a rushing touchdown from Griffin, who was inserted into the game after an injury to starting passer Colt McCoy (read the last part of this sentence again and let it sink in).

Receiver Santana Moss went ballistic on the officiating crew and earned an ejection, and apparently, Gruden had no clue Moss had been tossed from the proceedings, and he had to be told by Fox's Tony Siragusa (h/t Eric Edholm of Yahoo Sports).

Of course, it's always good when the head coach has no idea one of his players has been ejected. What a joke.

It's (once again) an unmitigated disaster in our nation's capital, and Gruden has been powerless to stop it. It's going to be fascinating to see how he handles the final two games of the season, and whether or not he reinserts Griffin into the starting lineup.

While the smart money is on Gruden returning in 2015, nothing can ever be certain when Washington owner Daniel Snyder is the one making the decisions.

Prediction: Gruden will be retained for 2015.

When Will It Happen: It will be announced at season's end.

Josh McCown, Quarterback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

Honestly, it doesn't make any sense.

It's unfathomable that coach Lovie Smith and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to stick with 35-year-old journeyman Josh McCown as their starting quarterback. It's ridiculous on many levels and does nothing for the future of the organization.

The Bucs are now 2-12 and face the pathetic reality of being eliminated from playoff contention in the outrageously horrendous NFC South. After Sunday's loss against the Cam Newton-less Panthers, McCown is now 1-8 as the team's starter and is clearly not the future at the position.

So why does Smith keep trotting him out there?

The more intelligent play would be to let backup Mike Glennon—who is 25 years old and holds a career touchdown-to-interception ratio of 29 to 15—start the final two games and evaluate him for 2015 and beyond.

Playing McCown does absolutely nothing for anyone. McCown's substandard play and losing ways should earn him a trip to the bench.

Prediction: McCown will start the final two games because it appears Smith has zero idea what he's doing as it concerns the quarterback position.

When Will It Happen: McCown won't be benched.

Reggie McKenzie, General Manager, Oakland Raiders

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

Have you watched the Oakland Raiders for the duration of Reggie McKenzie's era (error) as general manager? If so, then you don't need to ask why his seat is drenched in kerosene and ready to burst into flames.

With Sunday's blowout loss to Kansas City in the books, McKenzie's Raiders are now 10-36 in his nearly three years in charge. That simply isn't good enough and should earn him a ticket out of town.

The Raiders aren't a good football team, and it's because their roster is atrocious. And that lies at the feet of McKenzie. It becomes more and more apparent every week that no head coach—not Bill Belichick, not Vince Lombardi, not an amalgamation of the two—would be able to coax victories out of this sad-sack team.

Not only did McKenzie assemble this failed roster but he also fired now-deposed coach Dennis Allen. While Allen was clearly in over his head, he never truly had a shot with the league's worst group of players. And McKenzie deserves to come back for year four and hire another coach? Please.

What head coach worth his salt would come to the Raiders with McKenzie installed as the general manager? It's not going to happen.

Owner Mark Davis needs to do the right thing at season's end and fire the overmatched McKenzie. It's the only way (along with opening the checkbook) to ensure that a top-flight coach (looking at you, Jim Harbaugh) comes to the Black Hole.

Prediction: McKenzie will be fired.

When Will It Happen: On Black Monday

Every Tennessee Titans QB

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

On Sunday, the Tennessee Titans managed to drop a home decision to the New York Jets, which is cause enough to put people squarely on the hot seat.

In what's degenerated into a lost season in the Music City (Tennessee is now 2-12), one thing is clear: The starting quarterback for the 2015 Titans is not currently on the roster.

Whether it's Jake Locker, Zach Mettenberger or Charlie Whitehurst, these Titans quarterbacks aren't reliable and need to be replaced if the franchise harbors any hope of returning to the postseason for the first time since 2008.

Locker entered the season as the starter, but he has proven utterly unable to stay healthy over his career. Mettenberger has shown flashes when healthy, but handing him the keys to a 16-game season in 2015 would be irresponsible at best and a fireable offense at worst. And Whitehurst is nothing more than a backup.

It doesn't matter which passer emerges from the clown car for the season's final two games. Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt surely has his eye on a signal-caller at the collegiate level, as the Titans will hold a high pick in next year's draft.

That means it would behoove both Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston to start looking for houses in the Nashville area.

Prediction: Tennessee's Week 1 starter in 2015 is not currently on the roster.

When Will It Happen: The Titans will select a passer at the top of next year's draft.

Ryan Lindley, Quarterback, Arizona Cardinals

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

There's good news and bad news for the Arizona Cardinals.

The good news is that by virtue of Sunday's results and their Thursday night win over the Rams, the 11-3 Cardinals have officially clinched a postseason berth. 

The bad news is that they're in the midst of dealing with yet another injury to a starting quarterback, as Drew Stanton suffered an MCL sprain that could keep him sidelined a month, per ESPN's Chris Mortensen. And with Carson Palmer already out for the season with a torn ACL, that means coach Bruce Arians and company have to turn to their third-string passer.

Enter Ryan Lindley, he of the career zero touchdown passes and seven interceptions in 181 attempts.

The same Lindley who set back quarterback play at least 50 years in a 2012 loss at the Jets.

This is the guy the Cardinals are going to trust come January in a must-win postseason game?

Arians is surely smart enough to know that Lindley isn't good enough to get the job done. Rookie Logan Thomas is the other option on the Cardinals roster and don't be shocked if Thomas ends up replacing Lindley next Sunday night in Seattle in what could serve as the de facto NFC West title game. 

Prediction: Lindley will be pulled from next Sunday night's game against Seattle.

When Will It Happen: After a second gruesome interception

Joe Philbin, Head Coach, Miami Dolphins

Steven Senne/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

The Miami Dolphins were predictably destroyed by the Patriots on Sunday, dropping their record to 7-7 and all but eliminating them from postseason contention.

This means that for the second straight year, a December swoon will keep coach Joe Philbin's team out of the playoffs.

And this time, Philbin should pay with his job.

Whether it's the BullyGate scandal, last year's season-ending collapse, hideous errors in game management or this year's disaster, Philbin has done more than enough to earn an ouster. The only question is if owner Stephen Ross will pull the trigger in two weeks.

In the past, Ross has shown a desire to add a marquee name at head coach, and with Jim Harbaugh expected to hit the market, it should surprise no one if Ross makes a significant run at Harbaugh and Philbin is thrown to the wayside.

The bottom line is that Philbin hasn't gotten the job done in nearly three full seasons on South Beach. The last two losses (a dispiriting home defeat against Baltimore and Sunday's blowout affair in New England) exemplify Philbin's time in charge—the Dolphins have been bridesmaids, never the bride, and it's hard to imagine that ever changing with Philbin at the helm.

Once the Dolphins are officially eliminated from playoff contention, Philbin should officially lose his job. It's that simple.

Prediction: Philbin will be fired.

When Will It Happen: On Black Monday

Mike Smith, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

David Goldman/Associated Press

Why He's on the Hot Seat

The only reason that the job status of Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith is still up in the air is because the Falcons play in the atrocious NFC South.

If the Falcons played in any other division—and were eliminated from playoff contention—there would be no question that Smith would be on his way out the door. It's been a brutal season in Atlanta.

After last year's 4-12 disaster, the directive for Smith was clear: return the Falcons to the postseason. Well, after Sunday's home defeat to Pittsburgh, the Falcons are once again on the outside looking in, with a road trip to New Orleans looming in Week 16. 

Smith has not gotten the job done. He's made awful errors in game and time management (the way he bungled the end of the Lions' loss in London made Herm Edwards blush), and his team hasn't performed up to par. 

Smith's only chance to keep his job is to win the NFC South, and even that might not be enough. But with the Falcons looking unlikely to do so at this current juncture, the wise bet would be on Smith being replaced at season's end.

Prediction: Smith will be fired.

When Will It Happen: On Black Monday