Image Credit: (RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
Written by: Nicholas Mullick Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholas-mullick-354076184/
Twitter: @nicholasmullick
What a crazy season it has been for the league and as always it has gone by so fast. However there is going to be a point where it is finally time to look at which coaches are on the hot seat. With the NFL almost halfway complete, I thought I would give an update on the Top 5 Head Coaches who I believe are on the hot seat and could be out of a job at the end of the 2022 NFL Season.
5. Kliff Kingsbury
I really want to like the Arizona Cardinals as the players on the team are likable. Including QB Kyler Murray who is carrying this offense and the defense is getting better. However coaching is really holding this team back and I still don’t think the players are big fans of him either. The only reason why he is number 5 is because the Cardinals signed Kingsbury to an extension for some reason. I still am a bit lost as to why they did extend him and GM Steve Keim. Owners may not want to fire coaches recently extended depending how there buyouts are.
4. Frank Reich - Indianapolis Colts
I have to put Frank Reich on this list as it is clear that if the Colts don’t make the playoffs this year, then he will likely be out of a job. Maybe along with GM Chris Ballard if things roll in the wrong direction as well. You never know because it is clear that Jim Irsay is not a happy guy with forcing the Colts to bench Matt Ryan. That and the whole Dan Snyder stuff is a gigantic mess that Irsay has been vocal in wanting him out. Remind me why Dan Snyder still owns the Washington Commanders again? Indianapolis needs to get to the playoffs as jobs are at stake and Reich did not come across well being vocal in wanting Carson Wentz and we know how that turned out.
3. Ron Rivera - Washington Commanders
Look, Ron Rivera is a great coach and person, but it is time to start talking about his job security as it is not as safe as many believe it is. What made me really think he is on the hot seat is the statement he made in the press conference after their loss against the Tennessee Titans.
He may be right as it is clear Carson Wentz is terrible as the QB, but when you straight up throw the QB under the bus and say that is why the team is struggling. That is going to rub people the wrong way with that comment.
Also Rivera has been the head coach of this team for 3 years and while Washington did make the playoffs during the pandemic, the Commanders have been trending downwards since.
2. Brandon Staley - Los Angeles Chargers
I said in the AFC West Podcast for Blitzalytics that I had a concern about the Chargers and one of those reasons is of course poor coaching. After 7 weeks passing I can safely say that I was right. Brandon Staley is a terrible head coach and he has to go. The horrendous play calling, poor schemes, and terrible time management have not helped things at all. I may be bold saying this, but I think Anthony Lynn was a better coach than Staley currently is. With the Chargers going nowhere and it is time for the Chargers to yet again start over by getting rid of Staley. I can safely say as well to Chargers fan that Joe Lombardi, the offensive coordinator, is out of a job at the end of the season. He is the worst offensive coordinator not named Matt Canada in the AFC and he is only here due to being college buddies with Staley.
1. Nathanial Hackett - Denver Broncos
You know I really thought that Josh McDaniels was the worst coach in the AFC West coming into this season. Boy, was I completely wrong in that. Now I still think McDaniels is a terrible coach and I still give it 2 years before he gets fired, but he is definitely a better coach than Hackett is. I don’t care that it has now been eight weeks of Hackett as the head coach, but watching the Broncos one of the big issues they have is coaching. The breaking point for me was that disgraceful Thursday Night Football performance against the Indianapolis Colts. There were many horrendous play calls throughout this game and the Broncos had multiple opportunities to be uo by three touchdowns in this game and they failed to do so. The Time Management in games is terrible and it is clear he along with Russell Wilson don’t get along with each other. In fact there are reports that if they don’t beat the Jacksonville Jaguars he could be out of a job at the end of the week.
I might be bold saying this, but I believe Vic Fangio and Vance Joseph are better head coaches than Nathanial Hackett. I believe Hackett will be a one and done coach if the Broncos don’t improve. What a disastrous season for the Denver Broncos.