The 2011 NFL regular season may be less than four weeks old at the time of this writing, but several head coaches are already on the proverbial ‘hot seat’.
Some could save their jobs with a fast and furious finish while others are simply lame duck leaders just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Either way, I’m going to point out the top seven head coaches in the NFL that should be in the beginning stages of preparing a new résumé.
As usual, I’m going to offer up my one-of-a-kind, no-holds-barred, insight on just which coaches should get the boot either during or after the 2011 regular season and which ones may deserve at least one more shot in 2012.
Okay, with another exciting week of NFL action just days away, let me get down to business.
Tony Sparano – Miami Dolphins
Now in his fourth season with the Dolphins, Sparano has not accomplished much at all since his inaugural season when he led the Fins to an impressive 11-5 record and first place in the AFC East.
Following consecutive 7-9 seasons that resulted in non-playoff appearances, Miami owner Stephen Ross flew across the country to offer the job to now-49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, though he had yet to fire Sparano.
After getting turned down by Harbaugh, Ross compounded his errors by offering Sparano a two-year contract, although he was clearly ready to move on from Bill Parcells’ former right-hand man. Were I in charge of the Dolphins, I would have offered Bill Cowher a blank check for him to fill in, but hey, that’s just me.
Anyway, Sparano’s Dolphins are now 0-3 and looking as mediocre as ever in what must assuredly be his final season with the once-storied franchise. Thankfully, Miami will still have a shot at landing Cowher, but I’m going on record right now to say that, somehow, some way, Miami will blow it!
Steve Spagnuolo – St. Louis Rams
I really had high hopes for Spagnuolo after the former Giants’ defensive coordinator took over in St. Louis in 2009, but I’m not seeing much progress out of the Rams under his watch and I believe the franchise will be better served by turning to a more offensive-minded head coach that can help bring out the best in gifted quarterback Sam Bradford. I think Spagnuolo may get one more season in 2012, but that mostly depends on how the Rams finish out this current campaign.
Jack Del Rio – Jacksonville Jaguars
Now in his ninth – and most likely his final – season coaching the Jacksonville Jaguars, Jack del Rio has managed just three winning seasons during his tenure and none since going 11-5 in 2007. The Jags are just 15 and 17 over the last two seasons and are clearly in need of a new direction. The only question I have is why did it take so long? Del Rio’s departure should have already taken place following the conclusion of either of the last two seasons.
Jim Caldwell – Indianapolis Colts
Maybe it’s me, but I’m suddenly thinking Indianapolis Colts head coach Jim Caldwell is more clueless than clued in. After inheriting a Super Bowl-winning team from former head coach Tony Dungy, Caldwell led Indy to an impressive 14-2 record in his very first season in 2009. However, the Colts fell to New Orleans in the Super Bowl that season before going 10-6 last season. Now, Indy’s 0-3 start has me believing that Caldwell isn’t a very good head coach at all. I know it’s hard to win in the NFL without your starting quarterback, but the way the Colts have been totally unprepared to play this season tells me a lot about Caldwell’s coaching ability. The bottom line is that it’s clearer than ever that Peyton Manning is really Indy’s head coach, even if Caldwell has the official title.
Ken Whisenhunt – Arizona Cardinals
Now in his fifth season as the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals, Whisenhunt experienced some respectable success in going 27-21 with two NFC West titles and one Super Bowl appearance in 2008. Unfortunately, that was when the Cardinals had Hall of Fame-bound quarterback Kurt Warner. Now, the Cardinals look mostly lost and confused and I believe that is directly linked to Whisenhunt’s underwhelming performance as a head coach. A 32-32 record in four seasons prior to this one tells me the longtime former Steelers assistant is nothing more than mediocre as a head coach.
Todd Haley – Kansas City Chiefs
I want to give Haley a bit of slack, seeing as how this is just his third season at the helm of the Kansas City Chiefs, but I’m really suspicious about his coaching skills right now, seeing as how the Chiefs went 10-6 to make the playoffs just last season. Now, the Chiefs look like a totally different ballclub in the early going of the 2011 season – and I can see that Haley doesn’t inspire a lot of confidence in his young team. I’m giving him one more season after this year (maybe) depending on how many games Kansas City wins. Six or more wins and I bring Haley back, but anything less than a half-dozen wins and it’s time to hit the road Jack … or in this case, Todd!
Andy Reid – Philadelphia Eagles
Now in his 13th season leading the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s been clear to me for quite some time that Andy Reid is a coach that just cannot finish. Sure, the all-time franchise leader in wins, Reid has led Philly to a double-digit win total eight times while making five NFC championship game appearances. Unfortunately, the Eagles have generally underachieved in a big way the bigger the game is – and that is directly linked to Reid’s inability to get his players to run through a brick wall for him. If you don’t believe me, then just look at Reid’s uninspiring 10-9 career playoff record. I keep telling people the Birds should have bounced Reid the same time they decided to part ways with Donovan McNabb, but again, that’s just me.
No matter how you look at it football fans, all of these head coaches that make up this list are on the proverbial hot seat – and the temperature is rising quickly for some.