JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 29: head coach Doug Marrone of the Jacksonville Jaguars looks on before the start of a game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Indianapolis Colts at TIAA Bank Field on December 29, 2019, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
Which NFL coaches are on the hot seat heading into the 2020 season?
This past offseason, 16 percent of all NFL coaches were terminated: Freddie Kitchens in Cleveland, Jason Garrett in Dallas, Jay Gruden in Washington, Ron Rivera in Carolina, and Pat Shurmur in New York.
Kevin Stefanski took over for the Browns, Mike McCarthy for the Cowboys, Ron Rivera for The Football Team, Matt Rhule for the Panthers, and Joe Judge for the Giants.
Head coaches in today’s NFL are typically allocated a two-to-three-year grace period to showcase some semblance of prosperity. If wins do not cascade into the franchise’s vault, the skipper is put on notice. Head coaching turnover happens annually and is seemingly unavoidable.
The mass exodus of head coaches occurs on the day after the regular season concludes, and we call it Black Monday. Although, some coaches feel the wrath midseason if the general manager has an itchy trigger finger.
The upcoming season will be no different, rest assured. That said, the NFL has expanded its playoff entry criteria, and now a total of 14 teams make the playoff dance. In theory, this might enhance job security for some coaches as playoff appearances are an indicator of progress. But this is unlikely to wholly lessen the termination onslaught on Black Monday.
A handful of head coaches already have sweltering rumps. These are five of the notable ones.