NFL's coaching hot seat includes Mike Tomlin and Zac Taylor
There are several coaches under similar pressure this year. Can anyone pull off the same feat?
Sirianni led the Eagles to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons and the team fell just short of winning the Super Bowl in 2022. Then a 10-2 start in 2023 was followed by a major collapse and a lopsided playoff loss. That nearly cost Sirianni his job.
But he stuck around, gave new coordinators Kellen Moore (offense) and Vic Fangio (defense) more control and overcame a rocky relationship with fans to lead the Eagles to the franchise's second Super Bowl title in eight seasons.
Here are some of the NFL coaches who are on the hot seat:
Mike Tomlin
The Pittsburgh Steelers have never had a losing season under Tomlin, who is 183-107-2 with one Super Bowl title since replacing Bill Cowher in 2007. But they haven't won a playoff game since 2016.
They signed Aaron Rodgers and added other veterans, including cornerback Darius Slay, wide receiver DK Metcalf, cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith. Clearly, they're in win-now mode.
The Steelers have had only three head coaches since 1969. The organization values stability and Tomlin has been the model of consistency and winning. It's difficult to imagine Tomlin could be coaching for his future, but he needs to have postseason success.
Zac Taylor
The Cincinnati Bengals went to the Super Bowl in Taylor's third season and fell a few points short of going back the following year. But they've missed the playoffs following consecutive 9-8 seasons and poor starts have cost them.
The Bengals are 7-14-1 in September under Taylor. That needs to change. With Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Taylor's offense has plenty of firepower. A bottom-10 defense has been a problem the past two seasons.
Mike McDaniel
After leading the Miami Dolphins to the playoffs in his first two seasons, McDaniel's unit took a step backward last season.
The Dolphins finished 8-9 and have dealt with some turmoil in the offseason. Star wideout Tyreek Hill wanted out before changing his mind and publicly apologizing to QB Tua Tagovailoa and teammates.
McDaniel was brought in to lead Miami to playoff success. The Dolphins are still seeking their first postseason victory since Dec. 30, 2000.
Brian Daboll
The 2022 AP NFL Coach of the Year probably has the hottest seat going into this season.
Daboll led the Giants to nine wins plus one more in the playoffs as a rookie coach, but the team is 9-25 over the past two seasons.
The Giants are in a tough NFC East that includes the defending Super Bowl champs, a Commanders team that reached the conference title game and the talented-but-drama-laden Cowboys.
Russell Wilson will get first crack at trying to help save Daboll's job in New York. The Giants have Wilson, Jameis Winston and rookie first-round pick Jaxson Dart. Daboll needs to get enough wins to stick around to develop Dart.
Shane Steichen
He is 17-17 in two seasons with the Indianapolis Colts with no playoff appearances.
After helping develop Jalen Hurts in Philadelphia as the offensive coordinator for two seasons, Steichen hasn't had much success with Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis. Daniel Jones could be the choice for Steichen and the Colts at QB.
Jonathan Gannon
Like Steichen, Gannon parlayed his success as a coordinator in Philadelphia into a head coaching job. But he's 12-22 in two seasons in Arizona.
The Cardinals lost five of seven after a 6-4 start last season, and Gannon can't afford to have the losing carry over into this season.
Thursdays
Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter.
Kevin Stefanski
A two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year in five seasons in Cleveland, Stefanski and his Browns are coming off a dismal 3-14 campaign.
Quarterback instability — a common issue for the Browns — has plagued Stefanski, who has started 11 different QBs. Stefanski might have earned enough equity with a pair of 11-win seasons, but the Browns have to be much more competitive this season.
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Winnipeg Free Press
9 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice's disciplinary hearing set for Sept. 30, AP source says
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice will have a disciplinary hearing with the NFL on Sept. 30 in New York, a person with knowledge of the schedule told The Associated Press on Thursday. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the details haven't been announced, said Sue L. Robinson is scheduled to hear Rice's case. Robinson is a former U.S. district judge who serves as the disciplinary officer jointly appointed by the NFL and NFL Players Association. It's the second time under the 2020 collective bargaining agreement that the league and the players' union haven't agreed on length of discipline, sending the case to Robinson. She presided over Deshaun Watson's case in 2022. Rice still has to serve a 30-day jail sentence in the future for causing a chain-reaction crash last year on a Dallas highway that left multiple people injured. He already agreed to pay more than $1 million in a settlement with the victims. Rice is returning from a knee injury that cut short his sophomore season in the NFL following a standout rookie campaign. He would be eligible to play the first four games, including a Super Bowl rematch against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, before his hearing. ESPN was first to report the date of Rice's upcoming hearing. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ____ AP NFL:
Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Aaron Rodgers, T.J. Watt, and most other Steelers stars will skip preseason meeting with Tampa Bay
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Mike Tomlin is in no rush to see Aaron Rodgers in a game situation. The NFL's oldest player is going to sit out Pittsburgh's meeting with Tampa Bay, meaning the four-time MVP most likely won't make his official debut with the Steelers until the season opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 7. While Tomlin declined to officially rule out Rodgers for Pittsburgh's preseason finale with Carolina on Aug. 21, the NFL's longest tenured coach has rarely made starters available for the final exhibition game. Star outside linebacker T.J. Watt, wide receiver DK Metcalf, defensive back Jalen Ramsey and tight ends Jonnu Smith and Pat Freiermuth also will sit out for a second straight week. Linebacker Patrick Queen and defensive end Cam Heyward — who is 'holding in' amid a contract dispute — also will get the day off. 'Some of those veteran guys I mentioned have been doing it for a long time and particularly at a high level,' Tomlin said. 'Coupled with the fact that I've liked what I've seen from them in a practice setting, is the reason why sometimes I move that collective out of the way.' Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. ___ AP NFL:
Winnipeg Free Press
11 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Eagles' Landon Dickerson serves beers at practice while recovering from knee surgery
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Landon Dickerson played bartender and served cold ones for the Super Bowl champion Eagles with the injured offensive lineman's career temporarily on ice. The Eagles can't wait for Dickerson to resume his day job. Dickerson passed around beers Thursday at the end of a joint practice with the Cleveland Browns — with a brace on his right knee following meniscus surgery that will keep the three-time Pro Bowl lineman sidelined at least through the end of training camp. Dickerson was injured at the end of Sunday's open practice at Lincoln Financial Field. There is no set timetable for his return, and Brett Toth took first-team snaps at left guard this week at practice. Toth likely will start for the Eagles when they play their second preseason game Saturday against the Browns. 'Whatever they ask me to do, I'm going to step to the plate and give it the best I got,' Toth said. 'Hopefully I can perform to the standard that was before me.' Beyond that, there are no guarantees. The Eagles remain hopeful Dickerson could return for the season opener when the Eagles raise their championship banner on Sept. 4 against Dallas. 'Don't have to name any starters or any backups at any position,' coach Nick Sirianni said. 'Brett's done a nice job and I like the depth that we have at that position and I know we have options there, but you asked about Brett, I think Brett's doing a really good job and he's got a lot of versatility.' Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson remained confident that Toth could handle the spot but was relieved that Dickerson wasn't necessarily expected to remain sidelined deep into the season. 'It was alarming but I'm glad we got a good-case scenario,' Johnson said. 'Make no mistake, Landon's one of the, if not, the best guard in football.' Toth, who played at Army, has had three stints with the Eagles and spent a bulk of that time on the practice squad. 'H's a really smart individual, really good with the detail of the game,' Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo said. 'He understands a lot of positions, which is great to have a guy like that that can line up in multiple spots and be able to step in if something happens. So I think that's the biggest thing he brings and I think he's been in the system for a while.' ___ AP NFL:
