NFL Coaching Carousel: Four Head Coaches on the Hot Seat
As the NFL regular season winds down, the harsh reality of professional football settles in for many teams. While playoff-bound franchises prepare for championship runs, others face difficult decisions about their leadership. For some head coaches, the end of the season brings uncertainty about their future with the organization.
According to NFL insiders Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport, most teams have already made their decisions. The Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs, and Minnesota Vikings all plan to maintain continuity, keeping their current head coaches in place for the 2025 season. This stability suggests these organizations believe in their long-term vision despite any disappointing results this year. However, not all coaches are so fortunate. Four head coaches find themselves in particularly precarious positions as the season concludes, with their professional futures hanging in the balance as team owners and general managers evaluate their performance.
In Cleveland, Kevin Stefanski’s tenure appears increasingly tenuous despite previously bringing stability to a historically troubled franchise. While the Browns boast an exceptional defense led by Myles Garrett, who’s on pace to challenge the all-time sack record, the team’s offensive struggles have been persistent throughout Stefanski’s leadership. The Browns entered the season with playoff aspirations but failed to develop consistent offensive production, leading to mounting frustration among fans and, reportedly, within the organization. This disappointment, particularly given the team’s defensive talent, may prove enough for ownership to seek a fresh approach for 2025.
Miami’s Mike McDaniel presents perhaps the most interesting case study in coaching volatility this season. The offensive innovator began the year with high expectations but watched his team spiral into a midseason collapse that had many analysts predicting his imminent dismissal. To his credit, McDaniel managed to rally the Dolphins to a brief winning streak, showcasing his resilience and ability to maintain the locker room through adversity. However, a recent blowout loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers has reignited questions about his long-term viability. Sources indicate Dolphins ownership has yet to make a final determination on McDaniel’s future, suggesting the final games could prove decisive in their evaluation.
The Las Vegas Raiders’ situation represents one of the most surprising developments of the coaching landscape. Pete Carroll, the legendary former Seattle Seahawks coach who led them to a Super Bowl victory, may see his Raiders tenure end after just a single disappointing season. At 74 years old, Carroll was brought in to provide veteran leadership and establish a winning culture, but the results have fallen dramatically short of expectations. The Raiders have struggled on both sides of the ball, with an anemic offense and an underperforming defense despite some individual standouts. For a franchise that entered 2024 with playoff aspirations, the comprehensive nature of their failure suggests ownership might prefer to restart with a younger coach who can implement a longer-term vision.
In Atlanta, Raheem Morris faces a particularly difficult situation after less than two complete seasons at the helm. The Falcons made an aggressive move during the last NFL Draft, trading away their 2025 first-round selection to Morris’s former team, the Los Angeles Rams, in a win-now attempt to capture the NFC South title. This high-stakes gamble has failed spectacularly, leaving Atlanta in the uncomfortable position of missing both the playoffs and a premium draft pick to begin rebuilding. Morris, who initially brought optimism to the organization, now faces the consequences of the team’s all-in approach that didn’t pay dividends. The Falcons’ leadership must now decide whether Morris deserves an opportunity to navigate the challenging road ahead without the benefit of a first-round selection, or if a new voice might better guide the franchise through what promises to be a difficult transition period.
