Which NFL Head Coaches Are Getting Fired?

We are just a few weeks shy of the end of the NFL’s regular season. Simultaneously, we are inching closer to black Monday. While it may at first seem obvious as to which head coach will lose their job, there’s always a surprise or two sprinkled in. Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll were the initial firings, but there’s obviously more to come. So, let’s take a look at these candidates.

Zac Taylor

Joe Burrow is currently going through what appears to be a mid-life crisis, one that resembles Andrew Luck’s a few years back. While the Bengals organization as a whole has failed Burrow due to their inability to field an actual defense or beef up his protection, coaching hasn’t been the best either. Zac Taylor’s tenure as head coach has been painfully mediocre since the start. His game-management and decision making has been erratic, and the culture in Cincinnati feels non-existent. Additionally, it feels like Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are the only reason why he succeeds. Unfortunately for Bengals fans, it’s a long shot that Taylor gets fired. Bengals owner Mike Brown has not shown willingness to fire coaches who are under contract. Marvin Lewis is a perfect example, as he was fired during the last year of his contract.

Raheem Morris

The hire of Raheem Morris felt uninspired when it was first announced, especially compared with others in his class. Jim Harbaugh, Mike Macdonald, Dave Canales and even Dan Quinn have done solid to great work with their respective teams in these two seasons. Meanwhile, Raheem Morris’ contributions continue to fall flat. After a disappointing 8-9 record where Morris’ influence did little to help the Falcons, his current campaign is going worse. Atlanta’s got a respectable roster, yet they are continuously underperforming and are sitting at 5-9. Morris also struggles with time-management, particularly in end of half/game situations, continuously wasting timeouts. Furthermore, as a CEO-type head coach, with the exception of Jeff Ulbrich, his coordinator and assistant coach hires have come to naught.

Kevin Stefanski

It wouldn’t be a shock if Kevin Stefanski were to immediately get picked up by another team in the scenario where he gets fired. Time and time again he’s been dealt a bad hand, and found decent success despite those bad hands. However, it’s clear that a mutual break-up is due. In their last 32 competitions, Cleveland has come out victorious just six times. The offense, which is supposed to be Stefanski’s specialty, has been consistently underperforming and failing a great defense. When it comes to the losses, it feels like Stefanski finds new ways to lose games, such as taking his QB out of the match during a crucial two-point try. You could do a lot worse than Stefanski, but you can do a lot better as well, which is what the Browns should be looking for.

Jonathan Gannon

The Gannon era started off strong despite unfortunate records. Now, the Cardinals seem to always be a play or two away from winning games, and yet they never do. Even though he is touted as a defensive expert, Gannon’s unit has struggled to finish games this season. Additionally, they’ve struggled to even show up at times. In the last six weeks, Arizona’s defense has allowed 40 points a whopping four times. One thing that could keep Gannon’s job secure is the culture he’s built in the building. According to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss, “Players like and listen to him, and they’ve bought into what he’s said. He hasn’t lost the locker room in what’s become a lost season.” One must ask how far culture can take you, but there is a reality where Gannon turns it around.

Todd Bowles

Another defensive guru who’s defense hasn’t been up to scratch. Bowles has brought some memorable moments for Tampa Bay, but the team’s recent collapse is an ugly look. After starting 5-1, the Bucs are currently sitting at 7-7. Granted, the injuries sustained at key positions are a big reason why they’re struggling. Regardless, Bowles shoulders some blame, whether he likes it or not. The mistakes made by the players and the lack of discipline are both the responsibility of the coach to fix. That is particularly evident in the loss against the Falcons on TNF. With all that being said, Bowles is a decent coach, but Tampa Bay’s ceiling feels capped with him. If he wins the division, he’ll still be with the Bucs next year, which doesn’t inspire much hope.

Aaron Glenn

After being a top four defense in yardage from 2022 to 2024, the Jets are now coming off a match where they allowed 48 points. The firing of defensive coordinator Steve Wilks shows promise, as it proves the front office does value accountability. Nevertheless, one wonders whether the head of head coach Aaron Glenn comes off next. The expectation was that with him inheriting the elite Jets defense of the past few years, Glenn would make magic happen in Metlife. So far that’s not been the case, and the offensive attack has faltered all year. The culture that Glenn has built appears to be a positive one, so New York probably won’t let him go after year one. Still, it’s fair to question his job security given how disastrous this season has been for the Jets.

Pete Carrol

It’s sad to see a legend like Pete Carrol go out on a whimper, but it’s obvious his time has come. Las Vegas is a disaster of epic proportions. After last year’s campaign showed that there were pieces to be built upon, the Raiders are now the NFL’s laughing stock. Carrol’s personnel decisions in particular have been egregious. Whether it be his undying loyalty to Geno Smith, the assets put into the turnstile offensive-line, or the familial hires within the coaching staff, Carrol’s foundation is unstable. Furthermore, his coaching style is outdated, and he has failed to adapt to the modern NFL. The biggest determining factor in Carrol’s firing will be a change of mindset for the front office. A long rebuild is coming up for Vegas, and 74 year old is not the right coach to man the ship during that rebuild.