Power Ranking the Top NFL Coaching Jobs That Will Open Up in 2012

The NFL start has brought many questions to teams who have under performed. In the process of the season, teams will begin to wonder whether their head coach is the right man for the job.

This article is meant to discuss coaching jobs that will be open in 2012. I have arranged the jobs that will be open from least likely to most likely. Here are the 11 coaching jobs that can become available during and after the 2011 season. 

11.) Atlanta Falcons Mike Smith

After losing to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday Night Football 25-14, the Falcons have demonstrated inconsistency during the early part of the season.

Coach Mike Smith may not be in the hot seat yet, but the Falcons have lost three of the first five games this season. If the Falcons cannot turn things around and don't make the playoffs, expect management to begin thinking of finding a replacement. 

The Falcons have all the pieces to generate a winning football team and should not disappoint the fans of Atlanta

10.) New York Giants Tom Coughlin

Coach Tom Coughlin seems to always be in the hot seat. After beating the then undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, the Giants have struggled to reach the playoffs. When they reach the playoffs though, they have a hard time winning games and have shown inconsistency over the past few seasons.  

Although they are currently 3-2, the team did lose to the Seattle Seahwaks this past Sunday at home, giving fans concerns if this team can succeed.

Not only that, the Giants hold a difficult schedule, having to face the Patriots, Saints, Jets, Packers and their division opponents for the remainder of the season. If the season turns downhill, expect fans to pressure management to make changes with the coaching staff.

9.) Philadelphia Eagles Andy Reid

By now we all know that this Eagles team is not the "Dream Team" QB Vince Young mentioned during the offseason. Instead, the Eagles are 1-4 and sit at the bottom of the competitive NFC East.

Coach Reid stated after the loss to the Buffalo Bills that, "I take full responsibility." It seems that every week the Eagles find a way to lose, and this has to be disheartening for the organization.

Reid might not have much pressure yet, but a couple more loses can cause management to debate whether they have the right coach for the job. The Eagles went and acquired star players—including the biggest free agent, CB Nnamdi Asomugha—during the offseason and have no excuse for not having the players to win games.

8.) St. Louis Rams Steve Spagnuolo

Having the hardest schedule in the NFL doesn't help Spagnuolo's job become much easier. The problem here is how his team is performing. 

Over the past four weeks, the Rams have shown inconsistency throughout each of their games. It was so bad that I even wrote about how the Rams are the worst team in the NFL.

If the Rams cannot get anything going, expect the team to find a new coach who can bring this team around and get the them in the right direction. 

7.) Indianapolis Colts Jim Caldwell

OK, I understand that coach Caldwell does not have his star quarterback in Peyton Manning. That does not mean that the team can all of a sudden be this bad. 

After an 0-4 start it, seemed as though the Colts were going to win their first game at home against the Kansas City Chiefs. Instead, the Chiefs rallied and won the game 28-24. Fans cannot be happy with the performance the team has had.

If the Colts are in the running for Andrew Luck, then they are in the right direction. However, if the owners do not appreciate the performance the team is putting, then expect Caldwell to be replaced. 

6.) Seattle Seahawks Pete Carroll

The Seahawks did an outstanding job in beating the Giants on the road this Sunday. However, the inconsistency in the quarterback position should worry coach Carroll.

With the injury to QB Tarvaris Jackson, the Seahawks are in a big hole. Ranking 26th in the passing game and 28th in the run, the offense has not been able to develop under Carroll since his hiring. At the same time, it appears that the probability of reaching the playoffs for consecutive years seems really low due to the rise of the San Francisco 49ers, who seem to be on the verge of dominating the NFC West.

If the Seahawks hold another losing record at the end of the season, Carroll should expect his job to be in jeopardy. He has had past failures while being a head coach in the NFL, and I would not be surprised if he was replaced again. 

5.) Arizona Cardinals Ken Whisenhunt

After a great first win against the Carolina Panthers, the Cardinals have lost four consecutive games, bringing the team to a 1-4 record. Similarly with the Seahawks, the rise of the 49ers has made the possibility of winning the division extremely hard for the Cardinals. 

The biggest problem the team faces is perhaps themselves. The team went out during the offseason and acquired QB Kevin Kolb from the Eagles. However, the Cardinals have been inconsistent on both sides of the field.

If Whisenhunt wants to continue coaching in the NFL, he needs to push his team to play more consistently and win games. If not, expect the Cardinals to find a coach who is offensive-minded to go along with Kolb and WR Larry Fitzgerald.

4.) Kansas City Chiefs Todd Haley

Haley is in the same situation that Whisenhunt is currently in. The AFC West holds the Chargers and the emerging Raiders, who will both make the division hard to win. Not only that, but losing RB Jamaal Charles was a major hit to the Chiefs' offensive.

The Chiefs will have a hard 2011 campaign. The difference for Haley in retaining his job is the amount of games the team can win. If the Chiefs cannot be competitive against elite teams or in their division, expect Haley to be fired and the Chiefs to move into another direction. 

3.) Jacksonville Jaguars Jack Del Rio

The Jaguars are in a mess. Jack Del Rio decided that releasing QB David Garrard and starting rookie QB Blaine Gabbert was in the best interest for the team. Instead, the team is dead last in passing in the league and has a 1-4 record. 

With the Colts struggling, it appeared that the Jaguars could be in the mix to win the AFC South. Apparently, that is not going to happen, since the Jaguars are inconsistent on both sides of the field and cannot produce wins. 

In a league where winning games determines coaching jobs, Jack Del Rio may see his coaching career end in Jacksonville when the season is over.

2.) Denver Broncos John Fox

Can things get any worse in Denver? On Sunday, Coach Fox decided to bring in QB Tim Tebow in the second half against the Chargers. Although the move gave the Broncos a spark, the result still ended in a lost. 

The 1-4 Broncos are now headed into a bye week were the controversy of whether Tebow or QB Kyle Orton should start. The fans want Tebow, but it's ultimately on coach Fox to determine who can give his team the best chance to win football games.

If he cannot solve this problem, expect John Elway and the Broncos management to find a head coach who can bring back a winning environment to city of Denver.

1.) Miami Dolphins Tony Sparano

Perhaps the hottest seat in the NFL has to go to the Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano. The team is 0-4 and second to last in passing yards allowed per game. The schedule also doesn't make Sparano's job easier.

With a competitive AFC East, the Dolphins need to find quality wins to keep Sparano as the coach. If this cannot happen, expect the team to move in another direction and search at the end of the season for a new head coach who can bring the Miami Dolphins back to winning.