It is the time for season’s beatings as records fall and the temperature rises on coaches who have not had success. A look at those who are flirting with becoming victims of the coaching carousel.
Dan Quinn
The Atlanta Falcons’ coach should wind up with another team. A fresh start would benefit him and everyone in the ATL. Point to the Super Bowl collapse as the start of the downfall, sure, but the Falcons simply are no longer close to contenders. They are not pretenders. They are a team that is playing poorly and when you do it for that long, your coach usually pays.
Freddie Kitchens
Yes, it is only his first season. However, so much was expected from the Cleveland Browns. With all the buzz swirling around the team and failing to come close to expectations, if Freddie Kitchens isn’t out should the Browns stumble to the finish, expect the leash for be a short one in the Dawg Pound going forward.
Doug Marrone
It feels like it would take a miracle for Doug Marrone to keep his job as the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head coach. Hard to believe this team was thought to a Super Bowl contender a couple years ago. Will the entire front office change? It doesn’t matter. Marrone likely won’t be around to see what happens in Sacksonville.
Jason Garrett
The Cowboys could win the NFC East, go nowhere in the playoffs and Jason Garrett will finally be out in Dallas. This team is not built to be 6-6 and the frustration level from the owners’ box is starting to rise to the point of steam coming out of it.
Doug Pederson
Nothing has come to the front yet, but the Eagles’ coach has to be flirting with running out of time earned with his Super Bowl victory. Something is wrong in Philly and Doug Pederson has had time to fix it but doesn’t seem to have the remedy.
Pat Shurmur
No one in the NFC East should get comfortable as a head coach, especially Pat Shurmur. He could think handing off to Daniel Jones from Eli Manning would buy some time. However, an eight-game losing streak is rolling and there is little optimism. Ben McAdoo was fired after going 13-15 in 28 games. Shurmur is 7-21. Next!
Ron Rivera
The Panthers’ coach can’t get them going. The loss Sunday to Washington at home after taking a 14-0 lead was brutal. Add in the failure to score from the Washington 1 when Carolina had a chance to tie. Ron Rivera feels like another coach who will land on his feet in another gig.
Matt Patricia
There is no reason to think Matt Patricia will get a third year after the lack of movement toward contention by Detroit. They get leads, fail to protect them and at some point it has to fall on the coach. People can point to playing with second- and third-string quarterbacks but the Lions always find ways to lose. It doesn’t seem to matter who coaches them. They always wind up on the short side of the score.
And …
Bill Callahan likely won’t be back in Washington. It’s almost a given. Could Matt Nagy find himself in trouble in Chicago if the Bears don’t finish strong? He’ll probably get another year to fix the Bears but stranger things have happened. … How much patience will John Elway have with Vic Fangio? The Broncos lose a lot of close games and the Hall of Fame QB loves offense, which Denver lacks. Fangio deserves another year at least but…
