Tom Coughlin and NFL Head Coaches Under the Most Pressure in 2015

A 6-10 record last season cast an unfriendly shadow on the New York Giants' two Super Bowl titles under Tom Coughlin. As a result, he, Jay Gruden, Joe Philbin and several other NFL head coaches are under immense pressure in 2015 to bring winning ways to their respective franchises. 

The NFL is a cruel and unforgiving business. One minute you're a team savior and the fans love you, and the next you're booed out of a job. 

Most coaches are on the hot seat because their team lost too many games in the past. Some, though, have made the playoffs as recently as last season but have failed to build on their successes.

In either case, a pink slip could be in the future for these coaches if they don't exceed expectations this fall. 

We'll examine each coach's record last year, predicted win totals in 2015, strength of talent to work with and tenure with his current team. The level of urgency from ownership or general managers will also factor into these rankings. 

Let's dive in!

Honorable Mentions

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

In this case, it might be better to be an honorable mention than have a spot on this list. 

These coaches are probably safe from losing their job in 2015. As you know with sports, though, anything can happen. Heck, John Fox got canned in Denver even after leading his Broncos to a 12-4 record and a fourth-straight AFC West title last season. 

Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers

The Panthers are back-to-back NFC South champs. That's the good news for head coach Ron Rivera. The bad? His team finished with a losing record last season in a terrible division.

Although Rivera has slowly created a playoff team, there were reports he would be fired in 2012 and 2013, not to mention a "Fire Ron Rivera" Facebook page. At least his star quarterback, Cam Newton, just signed a five-year contract extension last month. 

Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles

Kelly, who now makes all roster-based decisions, made a few surprising and questionable moves this past offseason. Whether it was trading Nick Foles for Sam Bradford, signing Tim Tebow, trading LeSean McCoy for Kiko Alonso or signing running backs Ryan Matthews and DeMarco Murray within days of each other, the Eagles coach has a lot to answer for in 2015. His team may have missed the playoffs last season, but he still won 10 games.

Kelly has to prove his roster moves generate wins, or the City of Brotherly Love will have his head.

10. Lovie Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Record last season: 2-14

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 6.0

After finishing 2-14, Lovie Smith's first season with the Bucs was largely a disaster from top to bottom. 

The offense, haunted by a mediocre quarterback battle between Josh McCown and Mike Glennon, finished 29th in the league in points scored.

Smith's defense wasn't much better, allowing the eighth-most points in the league. 

Thankfully for Smith, he has a promising rookie quarterback in Jameis Winston who could turn the team around. The Heisman winner has weapons to work with as well in wide receivers Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson and tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins. 

BucsNation.com's Sander Philipse offered some insight on what Winston brings Tampa Bay this season: "As long as that hope and perspective for the future is present, Lovie Smith's job is secure. And as long as Jameis Winston looks like a future franchise quarterback, the Bucs will have hope and perspective."

Barring a disastrous season from Winston, a la JaMarcus Russell, Smith should stay off the hot seat. As we've seen in the not-so-distant past, though, Winston has had some off-the-field trouble that could lead to bigger problems for Smith. 

A performance like last season's would be a precursor for any coach firing. Yet Smith largely stayed off the hot seat because of his past success and reputation. 

Another 2-14 season or Winston debacle could easily cost Smith his job, though. 

9. Ken Whisenhunt, Tennessee Titans

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Record last season: 2-14

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 5.5

Ken Whisenhunt is in a similar situation as his counterpart in Tampa Bay. The Titans finished tied with the Bucs for the worst record in the league last season, and Marcus Mariota, the Heisman Trophy winner last season with Oregon, will take the reins of the offense. 

Drafting Mariota second overall probably bought Whisenhunt another year or two until the rookie develops in this offense. 

The variety of risky offseason moves could doom the future for Whisenhunt in Tennessee, though.

Brian Orakpo missed nine games last year while on injured reserve yet racked up 10 sacks in 2013. Da'Norris Searcy had two breakout seasons with the Bills but will be tasked with shoring up one of the worst run defenses at the strong safety position. 

Mariota and rookie wideout Dorial Green-Beckham were widely viewed as two of the highest-risk, lowest-reward players in this year's draft. 

Whisenhunt, like Smith, simply needs to avoid disaster for the second straight season and show Mariota's growth in his offense. 

8. Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams

Doug McSchooler/Associated Press

Record last season: 6-10

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 8.0

Last season marked the third straight losing season since Fisher came to St. Louis. Long ago are the days of 1999 when he led the 13-3 Titans to the Super Bowl. 

In 2015, Fisher will have to deal with a tough NFC West and new faces in his offense.

The Rams recently traded quarterback Sam Bradford to Philadelphia for Nick Foles and drafted running back Todd Gurley in the first round of the NFL draft. 

Although Bradford missed most of the past two seasons with ACL injuries, Foles may not be an upgrade to Fisher's offense. In addition, Gurley is coming off ACL surgery and may not be ready for the start of the season.

At least St. Louis maintained a dominant defensive line going into next season. 

Another losing season and postseason absence from Fisher could cost him his job. Then again, the 57-year-old has a grand reputation for avoiding dismissal. 

7. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

Record last season: 7-9

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 9.0

The Saints missed the playoffs last year for the first time since 2008 under Sean Payton. It's unfortunate timing too, because it doesn't look much better for the 2015 campaign. 

A Jimmy Graham trade and an aging Marques Colston leave Drew Brees just second-year man Brandin Cooks as the lone dangerous weapon in the receiving corps. 

There's also concern that a 36-year-old Brees may be declining, as New Orleans spent a third-round draft pick on quarterback Garrett Grayson. 

The Saints' running game should improve drastically, though, with the emergence of every-down back Mark Ingram and the additions of center Max Unger and running back C.J. Spiller. Yet with one of the best quarterbacks in the league, expect Payton to rely heavily on the passing game. 

Payton's defense is a whole other story. In 2014, New Orleans finished 31st in defensive DVOA, per Football Outsiders. 

A weak NFC South and easy schedule should benefit the Saints this season. But if the team falls under .500 again, Payton may lose control of the team for good. 

6. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

LM Otero/Associated Press

Record last season: 12-4

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 9.5

In 2014, Garrett had the best record of any coach on this list, and he's still feeling the heat in Dallas. 

Although the Cowboys gave their head coach a five-year extension in January following Garrett's first NFC East crown, he has a lot to live up to.

Three straight 8-8 seasons prior to last season have as much to do with that as owner Jerry Jones' high expectations. 

There were rumblings last summer that Jones would fire Garrett if he didn't produce a playoff team. 

He did, so he's safe...for now. 

However, Garrett must now continue the winning trend and advance deeper into the postseason rather than regress back to .500-play. 

Adam Schein of NFL Media pointed out how Jones and the Cowboys brass feels toward Garrett last season:

"

Garrett's in-game coaching has left much to be desired. Consequently, the Cowboys continue shuffling play-calling duties, with Scott Linehan taking over as offensive coordinator in January. Jones told me that he thinks Linehan will take a big load off Garrett's plate, allowing the head coach to concentrate on broader decision-making. And Jones said the organization values the bright Garrett, who is "inching closer" to greatness, in the COO's words.

But Garrett can't continue to move at the pace of a tortoise -- time isn't on his side.

"

A 12-4 record last season is a little faster than a tortoise, but Garrett can't afford to miss the postseason again this time around. 

5. Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars

John Raoux/Associated Press

Record last season: 3-13

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 5.5

Gus Bradley has survived his first two seasons of double-digit losses in Jacksonville, but one more might be the final straw. 

He'll have a tough time getting over that hump with the struggles of the Jaguars' recent high draft picks. Luke Joeckel, the second overall pick in 2013, hasn't lived up to expectations at left tackle. Blake Bortles had a rough rookie season at quarterback in 2014, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. And to cap it off, this year's fifth overall pick Dante Fowler Jr. is out for the season with an ACL tear. 

Bradley will face an uphill battle this season even after adding free-agent tight end Julius Thomas and rookie running back T.J. Yeldon into the offensive mix. 

When you consider Bradley and his general manager basically ignored the rest of the team to draft Bortles, it doesn't give the head coach any security if the young quarterback doesn't work out. 

4. Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Record last season: 11-5

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 8.5

In his first year as the Lions coach, Jim Caldwell took his team to the playoffs. But how they lost in their divisional game at the Cowboys is the issue. 

A refusal to go for it on 4th-and-1 in Cowboys' territory, up three points in the fourth quarter, arguably cost the Lions the win. 

SB Nation's Rodger Sherman offered some commentary afterward: 

"

He had the opportunity to add to his team's lead by picking up a yard, which is something NFL teams can do more often than not. If they'd picked it up, they could've added to their lead. Caldwell had a pretty good chance of picking up a first down and was on a part of the field where missing wouldn't hurt. And he decided to willingly give possession of the ball to the other team for field position.

"

The recent factor of Caldwell's failure to manage playoff game taints a solid head coaching record including a trip to the Super Bowl with the Colts in 2009. 

A bigger problem next season for the Lions could be the tough competition in the NFC North. With the Packers as early favorites to win the division, Caldwell will have to get past the John Fox-led Bears and an improved Minnesota. 

3. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants

Rich Schultz/Getty Images

Record last season: 6-10

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 8.0

The New York media is notoriously unforgiving, so it wasn't surprising to see some reporters calling for Coughlin to be fired as early as November last season. 

Two straight losing seasons for the Giants can do that. 

Coughlin has had a lot to overcome, though—a string of injuries over the past two years paired with a struggling Eli Manning in new offensive coordinator Bob McAdoo's system. Nevertheless, the head coach is largely being held to blame in New York. 

The recent drama surrounding Jason Pierre-Paul doesn't help either. 

If the Giants fall below .500 for a third year in a row, look for Coughlin to be shown the door. 

2. Joe Philbin, Miami Dolphins

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

Record last season: 8-8

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 9.0

The Dolphins simply have too much talent on their roster to be go 8-8 and miss out on the postseason.

Joe Philbin hasn't won enough games in Miami, and unless he can get the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time since 2008, he'll be on the hot seat. 

The 2015 Dolphins might be the best team on paper that Philbin has had in his four years at the helm. Ryan Tannehill, one of the top young quarterbacks in the league, has newly acquired targets in wideouts Greg Jennings and Kenny Stills and tight end Jordan Cameron. Throw in first-rounder DeVante Parker, and Philbin should have one of the top passing offenses this year. 

Miami's defense got a major boost this offseason with the signing of Ndamukong Suh to pair with Cameron Wake on the line. 

Although the Patriots present a major obstacle, Miami should have no problem getting to the playoffs. 

If he doesn't? Well, that might be the last straw for Philbin. 

1. Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins

Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images

Record last season: 4-12

2015 over/under win total (via Covers.com): 6.0

The circus was alive and well last year regarding Jay Gruden's relationships with quarterback Robert Griffin III and owner Daniel Snyder. 

It's a little unfortunate that Gruden may be held responsible if Griffin injures himself yet again in 2015, which could happen at any point during the season. 

If so, the starting battle between backup quarterbacks Colt McCoy and Kirk Cousins will take center stage for the second time. Gruden doesn't have much control in how Snyder will react to this combustible situation—whether it's midseason or at the conclusion of another disaster. 

Gruden will also have to deal with a below-average roster to go along with Snyder judging his every move.