NFL Head Coaches Under the Most Pressure in 2016

Under the gun. On the hot seat. Take your pick.

Every offseason, there are your fair share of head coaching changes in the NFL. After this year’s campaign, there will be more. Dating back to 2011, there have been a minimum of seven changes at the position from the start of the previous season.

Here is a look at six head coaches (listed in team alphabetical order) who will sweat a little more this season than the other 26 men who own the same title. Each have their own kind of unique pressure when it comes to the job, so don’t assume all are doomed if their teams have disappointing seasons.

However, there’s no guarantee that Jan. 2, 2017 (aka Black Monday) will be an enjoyable day as well.

Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Your ears have a tendency to perk up when a Pro Football Hall of Famer speaks.

Earlier in June, former Buffalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly was interviewed by radio host Jim Rome, and the prolific passer made it quite clear what the expectations are for his former team and their current head coach when it came to reaching the playoffs.

“I think we need to do it (make the playoffs),” said Kelly. “I think we have to do it. If we don't, I think Rex will probably be looking for another job. I think everybody knows that, including Rex. We have the nucleus to get it done.”

In his first season with the club in 2015, Ryan finished a disappointing 8-8. While the offense made strides, the defense plummeted from fourth in the league to 19th overall. A unit that led the league with an imposing 54 sacks saw that total cut more than in half (21). When you consider that defense is Ryan’s forte, it made the team’s showing even more distressing.

Since leading the New York Jets to the AFC title game in both 2009 and 2010, Ryan has yet to return to the playoffs or even post a winning record in his last five seasons. The heat is on in Orchard Park for a franchise that hasn’t seen the postseason since 1999.

Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars

Gary McCullough/Associated Press

It has been quite some time since expectations have been this high for the Jacksonville Jaguars. With that comes increased pressure on the team’s head coach.

Gus Bradley enters his fourth season on the sidelines, and the club owns a 12-36 record under his command. In 2015, five teams equaled or exceeded that victory total.

In each of his first two years with the club, the Jaguars finished last in the league in scoring. 

However, quarterback Blake Bortles and the passing game emerged as a strength a year ago. Free agency has brought 2015 AFC rushing leader Chris Ivory and top defensive free agents such as defensive end Malik Jackson, cornerback Prince Amukamara and free safety Tashaun Gipson.

The club also scored big in the first two rounds of April’s draft, grabbing both cornerback Jalen Ramsey and linebacker Myles Jack.

The Jaguars’ last division title came in 1999, when the then-AFC Central comprised of six teams. The team hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2007. Off a 5-11 showing this past season, Bradley and his club will have a lot of eyes upon them that haven’t been there for quite some time. It’s a crucial season for the team’s field general and the organization as a whole.

Jeff Fisher, Los Angeles Rams

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Jeff Fisher seems to be the right man for the now-Los Angeles Rams. After all, he was once at the helm of the Houston Oilers, who became the Tennessee Oilers, who became the Tennessee Titans. He guided that franchise to a Super Bowl appearance in 1999.

But has he been the right coach all along since inheriting this team in 2012? The Rams haven’t posted a winning record or reached the playoffs under his guidance. The feeling with this club is that it has a lot of defensive talent but always seem to be shorthanded at quarterback.

Last offseason, the franchise basically dealt Sam Bradford to the Philadelphia Eagles for 2013 Pro Bowler Nick Foles. Late in 2015, the Rams’ newest signal-caller was benched for Case Keenum. This spring, general manager Les Snead and the franchise made the bold move up in the draft to select quarterback Jared Goff with the first overall pick. And the club gave up plenty when it came to future draft choices, including a first-round pick in 2017.

After leading the Titans to an NFL-best 13-3 record in 2008, Fisher failed to take the club to the playoffs in his final two seasons in Nashville. Combine that with a failure to produce up to expectations with the Rams, and the next change of venue could just involve the current head coach.

Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints

Gerald Herbert/Associated Press

Sean Payton’s 10-year track record with the New Orleans Saints is pretty impressive. Including playoffs, he owns a 93-61 overall mark in the nine seasons he’s coached the club. That victory total is tied for the all-time franchise record with Jim Mora.

He is also the longest tenured coach on this list. The fact remains that after three straight playoff appearances from 2009-11, including a Super Bowl XLIV title in 2009, the club has finished 7-9 three of the past four seasons and out of the postseason. In 2013, the Saints opened 5-0 and reached the playoffs, but they stumbled to a 6-5 finish and were overtaken by the Carolina Panthers for the NFC South title.

Offense has not been the issue. For what it’s worth, the Saints have never finished lower than sixth in the league in total yards per game. In 2015, New Orleans boasted the NFL’s second-ranked offense and top passing game.

On the other hand, the D in the Big Easy has stood for disaster as of late. In 2012, when Payton was suspended by the NFL for his role in “BountyGate,” the Saints gave up the most total yards in a season in league history. In each of the last two years, the club has finished next-to-last in total defense. Also in 2015, New Orleans allowed 45 touchdown passes, the most in a season in NFL history.

It’s time for a turnaround in New Orleans. Over the last two offseasons, the Saints have gone through a lot of personnel changes. Could the head coach be on the next list?

Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers

Gregory Bull/Associated Press

Back in 2013, the San Diego Chargers opened 5-7 but won their final four games to grab a playoff spot. The team then went into Cincinnati and beat the Bengals in the AFC Wild Card Round before succumbing to the eventual AFC champion Denver Broncos one week later.

Kudos to new head coach Mike McCoy, who had led the Bolts to their first postseason appearance since 2009.

But things change quickly in this league. The Chargers finished 9-7 one year later, but that wasn’t good enough to get back to the postseason. After a 2-2 start in 2015, McCoy’s club dropped 10 of their final 12 contests. The team’s record of 4-12 was their worst showing since an identical finish in 2003.

Quarterback Philip Rivers still appears to be at the top of his game, although turnovers continue to haunt him at times. The return of offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt to the team is a big plus for not only the 34-year-old quarterback but second-year running back Melvin Gordon as well. Rookie defensive end Joey Bosa, the team’s first-round pick, hopes to aid a defense that has slipped in recent seasons.

But it’s McCoy who must raise this team’s game. The Denver Broncos are defending Super Bowl champions, while the Kansas City Chiefs were a playoff team in 2015. And there’s plenty of anticipation regarding the Oakland Raiders this season.

The Chargers were the only team in the NFL not to win a game within the division last season. That’s cause enough for concern for all involved, especially McCoy.

Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers

Marcio Jose Sanchez/Associated Press

The San Francisco 49ers nor any other club has taken the field yet for the 2016 season. So how can new sideline leader Chip Kelly be under pressure already?

In this case, it’s about reputation.

Fair or unfair, the former University of Oregon head coach’s tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles began with success and ended with a disappointing season. He led his newest group of Birds to the NFC East title in 2013, and the team opened 9-3 one year later. But the Eagles dropped three of their final four games and missed the playoffs despite a 10-6 record.

This past offseason, Kelly seemingly deconstructed his roster by trading away quarterback Nick Foles and running back LeSean McCoy, as well as not re-signing wide receiver Jeremy Maclin. The decision to add 2014 NFL Offensive Player of the Year DeMarco Murray to the backfield backfired. A disgruntled team went 6-9 under his guidance before Philadelphia management pulled the plug on Kelly with one game to go.

Now he’s part of the rebuilding process in San Francisco, where general manager Trent Baalke will be responsible for the pieces. In late April, Cam Inman of the Mercury News spoke of the good rapport between Baalke and Kelly.

More significantly this season, there's an opportunity here for Kelly. It's a chance to re-establish himself as an innovative head coach while not taking on responsibilities he may not have been qualified for given his lack of experience in the league.

Unless otherwise noted, all player and team statistics come from Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN.com. All player ratings courtesy of Pro Football Focus. All 2016 free-agent and salary-cap information, contract terms and 2016 transactions are courtesy of Spotrac. Depth charts via Ourlads.