The coaching cycle in the NFL isn’t quietening down a bit. Already, the league has seen one significant move regarding head coaches: the Tennessee Titans fired Brian Callahan from the role. But with how the 2025 season is developing, it doesn’t look like he’ll be the only one without a job.
With a head coaching job in the NFL among the hardest and least secure roles in all sports, the demand for results is instantaneous. As a result, here is the list of head coaches who will be feeling the heat after a tough eight weeks.
NFL Coaches Hot Seat
Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
It’s been a somewhat confusing year for the Atlanta Falcons so far. While the team has held its own against some quality opponents, it’s also had some truly poor performances throughout the year.
Despite the obvious talent on the roster, their week-to-week play remains a complete question mark. In Week 8, they may have had the excuse of Michael Penix Jr. being out of the lineup, but getting blown out by the abysmal Miami Dolphins is a bitter pill.
After the game, fans started calling for a change-up at the top, with head coach Raheem Morris the unfortunate victim of their vitriol. After the game, he acknowledged their anger and clarified that he believed their frustrations were justified.
“I understand it. Everybody has those growing pains. You’ve got to go through it and find ways to be better and bring (the fans) back. It’s not their job to like us. It’s our job to make them like us. We’ve got to go out and perform and get that back.”
But the team’s problems aren’t going away. Although they have taken strides defensively, ranking 17th on PFSN’s Defense Impact, the offense remains suspect at best.
And on nights like the one against the Dolphins, it was downright terrible. They had just 11 first downs in that game, their lowest total since 2008. They did not complete a third-down conversion until 12:38 remained in the game, finishing just 2-for-11 (18%).
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
It feels unimaginable that a two-time Coach of the Year would be on this list. But the Cleveland Browns aren’t getting any results, and they have one of the worst records in the league, at 2-6.
The frustrations are permeating from top to bottom, with superstar and franchise centerpiece Myles Garrett the most vocal about his displeasure. The fan base is following in his footsteps, with Kevin Stefanski’s management, particularly on the offensive end, serving as the biggest source of their vitriol.
Add in a large section of the fans wanting Shedeur Sanders to take over the starting job from Dillon Gabriel, after the latter has failed to impress since being named the starter. The perception that the coach is against the idea, and the anger at Stefanski, continues to amplify.
The veteran head coach has admitted that change is necessary for a team that ranks dead last on PFSN’s Offense Impact and is considering handing over play-calling duties to Tommy Reese.
“I need to spend time on all those things, and I think it’s by position we have to be better and we have to put our players in better spots, if you will,” Stefanski said. “So, we’ll look at all of it this week and make a decision coming out of the bye.”
After doing the same with Ken Dorsey last year, perhaps a similar change could be the jumpstart this offense needs. Either way, the Browns need a change, or a season that has gotten out of hand, could end disastrously for the organization.
Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
This would feel like an impossible scenario given the Cincinnati Bengals’ success under head coach Zac Taylor, including a Super Bowl appearance, but such is life in the wake of Joe Burrow’s injury in the organization.
After their franchise quarterback went down, the team only managed one win over the next six weeks. However, that may also have been a direct result of Ja’Marr Chase having the game of his life.
Neither Jake Browning nor the recently acquired Joe Flacco has been able to institutionally change the team, as they have had some truly horrifying performances this year. But Week 8 might have been their worst showing yet.
A final score of 39-38 might not sound like one of the worst losses of the year. But that score is bereft of context. The Bengals entered the fourth quarter with a 31-16 lead before historically blowing the game.
And, oh, it came against the previously winless 0-7 New York Jets team, whose owner was publicly calling out his quarterback. The defeat was catastrophically bad, as all the goodwill from their victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers was shattered in a split second.
After the game, he claimed, “I think someone needs to step up and lead the group. That’s what I’m waiting to see — someone to step up and lead the group and take some accountability over there and get this thing going the right way.”
But with their quarterback and assumed leader out with an injury for an extended period, that onus should have fallen on the coach himself. Burrow’s injury is an easy excuse, but if things don’t improve in Cincinnati, Taylor’s leash might get woefully short quickly.
Leeway for Common Participants
Seemingly every week, Mike McDaniel and Aaron Glenn have made regular appearances on this list. However, after both squads registered victories in Week 8, they are getting a pass from the usual scrutiny, at least for now.
