Next Stop Suggestions for Every NFL Coach on the Hot Seat

It's not easy having to do your job in front of millions of people every week. Especially when your job involves managing almost 100 millionaires year-round while also devising a way to keep another guy from managing his millionaires better than you. 

And there are only 32 positions to fill in the entire world. A world full of candidates ready to put you out on the street (or a smaller mansion) in the blink of an eye.

So, with the job market in such stellar shape, it might not be a bad idea to draft a backup plan or two. Here's some free advice for five of the NFL's most-likely exes.

Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are the NFL's worst team. They're so bad they lost 62-7 to a team the St. Louis Rams beat. They're currently without a quarterback, and instead of settling into the middle of their blatantly weak division, they've fallen all the way to the bottom of the league.

Their lack of success has only fueled the rumors that Peyton Manning has run this team since Tony Dungy left, and it's not a stretch to think that the Colts could return to success with Manning and sans Caldwell.

If that's the case, Caldwell could look to return to Wake Forest, where he was head coach from 1993-2000. Of course, he wouldn't be running the ship if Jim Grobe stays put, which seems likely, but a consistent job at a program known for staff consistency regardless of the on-field results could be a perfect fit for Caldwell.

Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins

His seat has certainly cooled over the past two weeks, but it's still far from comfortable. And while two consecutive wins have helped, it's unlikely that Sparano will return in 2012.

The Dolphins, even at 2-7, aren't out of the running for the top overall pick just yet, and any new quarterback would provide hope and a good time to start from scratch, roster- and staff-wide.

If, as expected, he's no longer living it up in South Beach next season, he could trade his Ricky Martin albums for some George Strait before moving to Texas. Where, naturally, he'd relieve Jason Garrett of offensive play-calling duties and relive Cowboys fans of the most frustrating red zone offense since Donovan McNabb played for the Eagles.

OK, maybe that's too big a step, and possibly a bad idea, but Sparano was a play-caller in Dallas under Bill Parcells in 2006 when the Cowboys produced two 1000-yard receivers, a 1000-yard running back and a 2,900-yard quarterback. 

At the very least, he could help as running game advisor.

Steve Spagnuolo, St. Louis Rams

The Rams have also won two games in a row after suffering through a winless start, and with Sam Bradford still very early in his promising career, the prospect of getting him an entire offseason under new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels might be enough to save Spagnuolo's job.

Beating the Saints was no small task, and there's hope for a strong finish in a weak division, but if the Rams are drafting in the top five again, the entire staff could be replaced.

Obviously, that wouldn't make much sense where Bradford's development is concerned, but stranger things have happened. And if the Rams do decide to make a change, Spags could be in a better position than most.

The Giants have loads of talent on the defensive line again, and with Tom Coughlin likely nearing retirement at some point in the near future, the Giants could be looking to replicate their 2007 Super Bowl formula when Spagnuolo designed the defense that finally slowed the Patriots and halted their undefeated season.

Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville Jaguars

Yes, the Jaguars are coming off their second win in three games, but this one's seemed almost inevitable for years.

Jacksonville can't draw a crowd, and with rumors of a move to another city still circulating, a clean break and a fresh start could be coming. The drafting of Blaine Gabbert was probably the right move, but there's a dearth of talent around him, and although the defense has played well recently, there's still a lack of consistency on both sides of the ball.

For a few seasons, when Jacksonville was enjoying a higher level of success, Del Rio's name was tossed around for college openings on occasion. It's unlikely that he'd be offered a prestigious head job anywhere, but he does have value as a defensive coordinator.

If Monte Kiffin decides to step down at USC, which isn't an impossibility considering he's 71 years old, Del Rio could be a nice fit to take over, especially since he played linebacker for the Trojans in the early '80s. 

Todd Haley, Kansas City Chiefs

For a few weeks, listing Haley on a list of hot-seat coaches might have seemed premature. The Chiefs, after opening on the wrong end of two embarrassing blowouts and three total losses, won four games in a row to get back into the AFC West discussion.

However, since their improbable overtime win over the San Diego Chargers, the Chiefs have dropped consecutive games against the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos, two teams generally considered among the worst in the NFL.

Haley's brash personality and frequent arguments with his players don't exactly help matters, and the Chiefs could choose to go in a different direction next season.

Haley's success as an offensive coordinator in Arizona earned him his first NFL head coaching gig, but a return to focusing on only one side of the ball could work well in a familiar setting, where he'd get to work with Larry Fitzgerald again while getting a chance to develop Kevin Kolb.

Of course, the staff chemistry would better if Ken Whisenhunt was still around, and that's far from guaranteed, but a coordinator role on any team with a veteran passer would be a fit for Haley.