NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat: Week 1 Edition

The NFL season's Week 1 has come and gone, and it did a fantastic job reminding us of why we love football. I don't want to be a complete downer, but it is time to start talking about which NFL coaches are already on the hot seat.

This may be a little premature, but I guarantee that after some of the embarrassing performances from the first week, there are a few coaches already feeling the heat. Here is our first week's edition of NFL coaches on the hot seat.

Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints

HSI (Hot Seat Index): Starting to warm

I know the New Orleans Saints are only two years removed from a Super Bowl victory. However, just look at Sean Payton's last two games against the Seattle Seahawks in last year's playoffs and Thursday night against the Green Bay Packers.

Neither performance went very well for Payton or the Saints. In fact, their defense was dominated in both games.

It's hard to imagine Payton's job being in jeopardy right now, which is why his HSI is only starting to warm. If he can't figure out how to win with the talent on his team, he will start feeling his seat heating up really fast. 

Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

HSI (Hot Seat Index): Coldish-Warm

Jason Garrett will basically always be on the hot seat as long as he is the head coach for the Dallas Cowboys—that is the benefit of having Jerry Jones as your boss. The only way that Garrett won't be on the hot seat for the entire season is if he wins games.

Unfortunately, after a complete meltdown on Sunday night against the New York Jets, Garrett has a little warmer seat on the HSI. A few more losses in a row could spell the end of Garrett's coaching career in Dallas.

Norv Turner, San Diego Chargers

HSI (Hot Seat Index): Steadily warm

Norv Turner is the only coach on this list that won his game this week. This should tell you just how close Turner is to being fired from the San Diego Chargers.

It seems like every year Turner is on the hot seat, yet every year, he finds a way to keep his job. With the Chargers playing terrible football against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, a victory certainly isn't enough to warrant taking Turner off the hot seat.

Turner needs to come away with a huge win against the New England Patriots next week, or his HSI will rise.

Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs

HSI (Hot Seat Index): Warmish hot

Had Todd Haley and the Kansas City Chiefs not been blown out by a score of 41-7 at home, we probably wouldn't be talking about this right now. Heck, if Haley had lost to anyone other than the Buffalo Bills, we wouldn't be talking about this.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs did lose to the Bills, and they did lose by a score of 41-7 at Arrowhead Stadium. That doesn't bode well for Haley, considering he has an up-and-down career with Kansas City already.

Losing Charlie Weis might be the deciding factor in Haley losing his job. If the Chiefs put up another lame offensive performance this week, Haley's HSI is going to be raising quite a bit.

 

Tom Coughlin, New York Giants

HSI (Hot Seat Index): Burning up like crazy

First, how bad did the New York Giants look against the Washington Redskins? Either A) Rex Grossman is a great quarterback (nope), or B) the Giants are going to be really bad this year.

If the answer is B, than Tom Coughlin may be the first head coach fired this year. If the answer is A, then the end of the world is near.

I'm sorry, Mr. Coughlin, but for the safety of all humanity, I hope your team is going to be really bad this year.