NFL Rumors: 10 Head Coaches on the Hot Seat

The National Football League is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately business. This holds true especially for the head coaches.

It is an honor to be a member of this 32-team fraternity, but the opportunity cannot be squandered. The head coach must lead his team and build a winning environment with his respective franchise.

There are only five NFL head coaches who have won a Super Bowl: Mike Shanahan, Bill Belichick, Tom Coughlin, Mike Tomlin and Sean Payton.

With the sudden youth movement taking place and several NFL head coaches residing over underachieving squads, I comprised a list of the top 10 NFL head coaches on the hot seat or under pressure to win or their jobs will be in jeopardy.

10. Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

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GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 14: Head coach Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texans watches from the sidelines during preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 14, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated

There are only seven head coaches who have longer coaching tenures than Kubiak with the Texans, and all have been to the playoffs twice. Houston has yet to make it to the playoffs in their nine years of existence.

Owner Bob McNair gave Kubiak a contract extension after last season and completely supports Kubiak. McNair is unlikely to fire him because he wouldn’t want to pay a new coach and also the remainder of Kubiak’s contract. Eventually the Texans need to get to the playoffs under Kubiak or he will be job hunting.

9. Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers

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SAN DIEGO - OCTOBER 31: San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner looks on from the sideline against the Tennessee Titans at Qualcomm Stadium on October 31, 2010 in San Diego, California. The Chargers defeated the Titans 33-25. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Gett

Bad starts to the season seem to be annual in San Diego, but late season win streaks have saved Turner’s job as the head coach. In 2010, the Chargers are ranked No. 1 in total offense (420.2 YPG) and No. 2 in total defense (274.7 YPG), but their 4-5 record is third in the AFC West.

Injuries and holdouts have ravished the Chargers roster, but if the Chargers fail to make the playoffs or make a deep playoff run, Turner could receive a pink slip.

8. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 10: Head coach Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears watches from the sidelines against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

Smith has one year left on his contract so chances are that he’ll remain the at the helm.

The Bears are 23-25 under Smith the three previous seasons after losing Super Bowl XLI, failing to make the playoffs. If Chicago falters their 5-3 record this season, Smith could be the scapegoat and get fired.

7. Chan Gailey, Buffalo Bills

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - OCTOBER 10: Chan Gailey, head coach of the Buffalo Bills stands on the sidelines against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ralph Wilson Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. Jacksonville won 36-26. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Gett

The Bills are 0-8, but they play hard for Gailey. Five of their eight losses are by less than eight points, and their last three games by three points. Buffalo ranks near the bottom statistically in almost every offensive and defensive category.

An 0-16 season would definitely cost Gailey his job, but he may be safe regardless since Buffalo is one of the worst jobs in the NFL. Ownership is asking the fans to remain patients as the rebuilding process will take years.

If Gailey gets fired, the job would most likely go to a former NFL coach looking for a second chance or a coordinator or young coach looking to jump into a head coaching position.

6. Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos

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DENVER - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Denver Broncos looks at the scoreboard in the second half against the Indianapolis Colts during NFL action at INVESCO Field at Mile High on September 26, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Colts won 27-1

The Broncos started out to an unimaginable 6-0 start in 2009, but have lost 14 of their last 18 games. The 34-year-old has cleaned house in Denver, trading away franchise quarterback Jay Cutler and Pro-Bowl wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

The Denver offense has no balance whatsoever with the passing attack ranking third in the NFL (296.2 YPG), while the run game is ranked 32nd averaging an atrocious 67.2 YPG.

McDaniels' decision making and play calling could eventually cost him his job, but owner Pat Bowlen is very patient, so McDaniels has some security.

5. Mike Singletary, San Francisco 49ers

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SAN FRANCISCO - OCTOBER 17: Head coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers reacts on the sidelines during their game against the Oakland Raiders at Candlestick Park on October 17, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Image

Singletary’s interim coaching career started with the very memorable “I Want Winners” speech and sending tight end Vernon Davis to the locker room with ten minutes left in the game.

The 49ers' 5-4 finish in 2008 under Singletary prompted his hiring on a permanent basis.

The Niners have continued to underachieve under Singletary’s watch in the lowly NFC West. Some have called Singletary nothing more than “a motivational speaker with a whistle”. If the 49ers’ struggles continue during the second half of the season, management can tell Singletary they want winners and show him the door.

4. John Fox, Carolina Panthers

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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 19: Head coach John Fox of the Carolina Panthers reacts to a call against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 19, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty

The Panthers haven't had back-to-back winning season under Fox in the nine seasons he’s been the head coach.

Fox is in the last year of his contract so with the young Panthers struggling, management might want to make a coaching change after the season instead of re-signing Fox.

3. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

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CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals watches on during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Imag

Lewis has been on the hot seat for a while, but the 10-6 record and 2009 AFC North division title saved his job. With big expectations and the acquisition of wide receiver Terrell Owens, the Bengals have grossly underachieved in 2010 amassing a 2-6 record thus far.

Cincinnati will have to finish very strong and contend for a Wild Card spot in the playoffs, or Lewis will finally be fired.

2. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

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ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 31: (L-R) Head coach Wade Phillips and assistant head coach/offensive coordinator Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys look on against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cowboys Stadium on October 31, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones made his first-ever mid-season coaching change on Monday when he fired head coach and defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

Jones appointed offensive coordinator Garrett the interim head coach for the remainder of the season. The 44-year-old has no coaching experience and his offense ranks 10th in the NFL, but is very imbalanced ranking fourth in passing (283.6 YPG) and 31st in rushing (75.6 YPG).

The Cowboys will need to show some kind of life during the second half of the season for Garrett to get the head coaching gig permanently. If not, you can bet your bottom dollar that Jerry Jones will have Jon Gruden or Bill Cowher on the phone.

The pressure is all on Garrett to succeed.

1. Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: Head coach Brad Childress of the Minnesota Vikings reacts late in the second half the New Orleans Saints at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Childress was on the hot seat last year after butting heads with quarterback Brett Favre throughout the season. The power struggle between Childress and Favre has continued this season after the Vikings 3-5 record.

The straw that broke the camel’s back was when Childress waived wide receiver Randy Moss just four weeks after acquiring him from the New England Patriots. Childress failed to let management of his intentions to release Moss and that upset Vikings owner Ziggy Wilf. Childress was almost fired by Wilf when he found out about Moss being waived.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune conducted a poll asking readers if Brad Childress should be fired and an astounding 92 percent were in favor of Childress getting fired. Its highly unlikely Childress keeps his job unless he wins the Super Bowl.