Being a head coach in the NFL is not for the weak. Scrutiny is aplenty. Pressure is high. And as is reality, firings are a part of the job. Though we’re just two weeks into the 2025 NFL season, several head coaches are beginning to feel the warmth under their seat — and some have felt the heat all offseason and still got off to slow starts.
Our weekly NFL hot seat head coaches continue in Week 2, with four names who could reasonably lose their jobs this season.
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
At the very least, the Miami Dolphins played with effort on Sunday as they hosted the New England Patriots. It was a far cry from their humiliating season-opening 33-8 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, which inspired a rare post-Week 1 players-only meeting.
And while they played good football at times in Week 2, it wasn’t enough. The Dolphins fell, 33-27.
McDaniel summed up the loss in his postgame press conference with several curious lines.
“That’s kind of where the frustration lies for me is it wasn’t deciding that cost us, or a late play call; that happens at times,” he said. “But this was not one of those times. I got the play call in, but I need to do a better job supervising the orchestration within our multiple personnel groups.
“To win games, you have to win the game and not lose the game, honestly. And that is how you lose the game. You’re moving the ball down the field, you’re 1st-and-10, and then you find yourself at 2nd-and-20. That was critical.”
“To win games, you have to win the game, not lose the game”
Mike McDaniel with an all time quote after losing to the Pats 😅
(via @MiamiDolphins) pic.twitter.com/QTxJbXxcKQ
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 15, 2025
The main takeaway from those comments is that the unraveling has begun in Miami. McDaniel is questioning his assistant coaches and noting that he needs to manage them better.
He’s right, but it may be too late to drastically change things for Miami, who is now 0-2 and in the basement of the AFC East after giving up 33 points in consecutive weeks.
A road matchup against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night awaits. A third consecutive disappointment could spell doom for McDaniel.
Brian Daboll, New York Giants
The New York Giants suffered a heartbreaking overtime loss to the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys on the road. For most of the game, it looked as if New York would come away with the victory and even its record at 1-1.
That was until quarterback Russell Wilson, amid arguably the best statistical game of his career, threw an inexcusable interception on the Giants’ second possession of overtime. Falling off his back foot, Wilson reared back and floated a pass in the general direction of wide receiver Malik Nabers.
It was easily intercepted by Cowboys safety Donovan Wilson, who showcased his center fielding skills.
Another concern was the gross display of penalties: 14 for 160 yards. High-penalty teams are ultimately a reflection of coaching, and that finger is pointed squarely at Daboll.
An argument could be made that Wilson’s career day is a negative for Daboll’s job security, as it buys Wilson another week as the starter while 2025 first-round pick Jaxson Dart waits as the backup.
Presumably, Dart will get his turn at some point this season. A slow enough start could mean an interim coach makes that call.
Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers’ start to the 2025 season is beginning to look a lot like the start to their 2024 season. Once again, they lost the first two games with little hope of winning either contest.
Carolina fought back from a 27-9 deficit in the fourth quarter. The Panthers had the ball at midfield in the final minute, but that was only because of a suddenly anemic Arizona Cardinals offense and a recovered onside kick. Ultimately, the hole was too big for Canales’ squad to crawl out of.
#Panthers QB Bryce Young’s first-half stats against the Cardinals.
64.7 percent completion
111 passing yards (6.5 average)
0 touchdowns
1 interception
1 sack against
3 rushing yards (1 carry)
1 fumble lost
58.7 passer rating (ESPN) pic.twitter.com/a5q4ZY6e7f— Cat Crave (@CatCraveBlog) September 14, 2025
Quarterback Bryce Young, Canales’ reclamation project, looked good on the stat sheet, tossing three touchdowns and generating 328 yards. However, needing 55 attempts to do so (while committing two turnovers) can’t be forgotten.
It’s hard to watch this Panthers team and believe that the future is bright, with calls for Canales’ job increasing by the week.
Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans
Though it may have been an expected outcome against two opponents who made the playoffs a season ago, Brian Callahan finds his Tennessee Titans in an 0-2 hole to kick off his second year on the job.
Contrary to other coaches and their respective teams on this list, effort doesn’t appear to be an issue for the Titans. And for that, the seat under Callahan is far from scorching hot — instead, it’s just lukewarm.
Rookie Cam Ward, whom Callahan must develop into a franchise quarterback, has played well through two weeks. He made a number of exceptional throws in Week 1 against the Denver Broncos, followed by several more against the Los Angeles Rams.
And though he lost a fumble, he didn’t throw an interception for a second consecutive week.
READ MORE:Â Week 3 NFL Power Rankings: Is It Time for Chicago Bears Fans to Panic?
He’ll need to continue to take steps forward, but early on, Ward looks the part of the No. 1 pick. If that trend continues, I could see Tennessee giving Callahan another year to coax the best play out of him.
If it goes sideways, Callahan’s seat will get warmer and warmer until a change becomes necessary.
