| Invariably, by Week Three or Four
of the regular season, the rumors will begin to swirl about head coaches in the NFL. The
handicapping on which one will be fired first will start. The "Who’s on the hot
seat?" features will begin to appear in publications. While it may not be nice,
it’s always interesting to speculate about someone else’s job. So, why wait
until we are several weeks into the season. Let’s take a look at where each NFL head
coach currently stands, and how it may impact his long-term future with his team.
AFC East
Dave Wannstedt/Miami Dolphins
In three seasons in Miami, Wanny has led the Dolphins into the playoffs three times.
After adding RB Ricky Williams to the mix, he could have his most potent offense since
being hired. He’ll be back in 2003.
Herman Edwards/New York Jets
In his first year on the job, Edwards led the Jets to a 10-win season. Now that
he’s had a chance to overhaul his defense, this team should be on pace to make
another run at the postseason. Edwards has nice job security.
Bill Belichick/New England Patriots
Belichick could probably call his boss nasty names and still have a job, what with
leading the Patriots to a Super Bowl win last season. Even if the Patriots fall back to
earth in 2002, Belichick has little to worry about.
Gregg Williams/Buffalo Bills
Williams coached the Bills to just three wins in his first season on the job. But he
inherited a very tough situation. The Bills should be ready to show big improvement this
season, especially with the addition of QB Drew Bledsoe. Even if the Bills struggle to
reach mediocrity this year, Williams will be on the job for a third season.
AFC North
Bill Cowher/Pittsburgh Steelers
There is a theory among some coaches that 10 years in one spot is long enough. Well,
Cowher is entering his 11th season as head coach of the Steelers, who are among
the favorites to reach the Super Bowl. What if the Steelers wind up as massive
underachievers? Or if they blow it in the postseason, as they’ve been known to do? It
would be surprising, but not out of the realm of possibility, for a new man to be in
charge in 2003.
Butch Davis/Cleveland Browns
He instantly re-energized this franchise when he was hired last offseason. Davis has
this team on the upswing, so there’s no reason to believe he won’t be in
Cleveland for a long time to come.
Brian Billick/Baltimore Ravens
He guided the Ravens to a Super Bowl two years ago and then again led the team to the
playoffs last season. Now, after an offseason of overcoming salary-cap challenges, the
Ravens are a completely different team. Billick is safe during the rebuilding process.
Dick LeBeau/Cincinnati Bengals
Things could go either way for LeBeau. In 2000, he coached the Bengals to a 4-9 record
after taking over early in the season for Bruce Coslet. Last year, the Bengals finished
6-10. Unless this team reaches the .500 mark this year, it would be hard to envision the
Bengals keeping LeBeau around, as that would be three consecutive losing records for him.
AFC South
Tony Dungy/Indianapolis Colts
Here is another fairly safe coach. He’s in his first season in Indy, and his
largest task is to overhaul the defense. If he can do that, and the Colts’
high-powered offense keeps attacking, this team should be pretty good. If Dungy completely
fails to upgrade the defense, and the team takes a step back instead of forward, it is
conceivable that Dungy could be in trouble. But owners never like to fire a coach who has
several years remaining on his contract.
Jeff Fisher/Tennessee Titans
Fisher is entering his ninth season with the Oilers/Titans. Tennessee is coming off a
disappointing 7-9 season. But that record can be blamed in part on a secondary that was
decimated by injuries and an out-of-sorts Eddie George. The Titans are expected to bounce
back in 2002. But if they don’t, then Fisher could be in trouble. Odds are he’s
back next season, unless the team completely falls apart.
Tom Coughlin/Jacksonville Jaguars
There were rumors that Coughlin was on the hot seat last year. But owner Wayne Weaver
denied such talk and even gave Coughlin a contract extension. Considering the team had to
be torn down and built back up because of a tough salary-cap situation, Coughlin might be
safe no matter how hard a season it is in Jacksonville.
Dom Capers/Houston Texans
Despite the fact that the Texans have yet to play a game, Capers is in his second
season on the job. He was hired before the 2001 season so that he could begin working on
building the franchise. Simply put, Capers’ job is safe.
AFC West
Bill Callahan/Oakland Raiders
Callahan takes over for Jon Gruden, who was basically traded to the Buccaneers. The
team has added a lot of veteran blood, in what appears to be a last push for a Super Bowl
title before beginning a rebuilding process. Callahan could be one-year stopgap coach for
Al Davis. Unless the team reaches its ultimate goal, Davis could wind up dumping Callahan
and getting some new blood. This is hardly a settled situation.
Mike Shanahan/Denver Broncos
Shanahan is entering his eighth season as head coach of the Broncos and has a pair of
Super Bowl rings to show for it. He’s widely considered one of the best coaches in
the NFL. Even though the Broncos were a mediocre 8-8 last year, this team could challenge
for it all in 2002. Unless this team completely falls apart, Shanahan should be safe.
Marty Schottenheimer/San Diego Chargers
He was fired after one season in Washington. But the Spanos family isn’t as
impatient as Daniel Snyder is. He is safe beyond this season.
Dick Vermeil/Kansas City Chiefs
Vermeil is entering his second season with the Chiefs and hopes this go-around is an
improvement over last year, when the Chiefs finished with just six wins. Unless he
retires, Vermeil will be back in 2003.
NFC East
Andy Reid/Philadelphia Eagles
Team owner Jeffrey Lurie has supreme confidence in Reid, so much so that he handed the
head coach power over all personnel decisions. Reid has built a team that should contend
for the Super Bowl for several seasons to come. And he’ll be around to oversee it.
Dave Campo/Dallas Cowboys
Jerry Jones has never been afraid to make a change in coaches. He got rid of Jimmy
Johnson and hired Barry Switzer. He got rid of Switzer and hired Chan Gailey. He got rid
of Gailey and hired Dave Campo. In two seasons at the helm, Campo has guided the Cowboys
to a pair of 5-11 records. Surprised he’s still around? You shouldn’t be. Jones
recognizes that Campo had to deal with an injured Troy Aikman in 2000 and a salary-cap
mess in 2001. Now, though, Campo will begin to be judged. If the Cowboys don’t show
improvement this season, Campo could be in trouble.
Steve Spurrier/Washington Redskins
Owner Daniel Snyder has gone through three head coaches in the past two years. Now,
though, Snyder has the guy he has long coveted. What if Spurrier’s offense
doesn’t work in the NFL? Would Snyder dump him and pay off the final $20 million owed
over the final four years of the contract? Who knows? But the odds are good that Spurrier
won’t get the one-year-and-you’re-gone treatment that Marty Schottenheimer
received.
Jim Fassel/New York Giants
Not a lot is expected of the Giants this season. What that means for Fassel, who is
entering his sixth season in New York, is unknown. Fassel has been on shaky ground before,
and it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he finds himself there again.
NFC North
Mike Sherman/Green Bay Packers
Sherman has quickly established himself as a head coach in the NFL. As far as being a
talent evaluator/general manager, the jury is still out. Nevertheless, Sherman has to be
considered as safe as they come.
Dick Jauron/Chicago Bears
He was supposed to be fired after last season. At least, that was the plan. But then
the Bears screwed everything up by having a surprisingly successful season, which led to a
contract extension for Jauron. If the Bears were to plummet to the cellar of the NFC
North, then Jauron could be ousted. But that’s a real long shot. For the moment, at
least, Jauron is safe.
Mike Tice/Minnesota Vikings
He took over last year when Dennis Green resigned before Week 17, and he retained the
head-coaching job by default. There is a line of thinking that Tice has one year to prove
himself. If he does well, he will keep the job. If he doesn’t, then he’ll be
out. There’s also been speculation that owner Red McCombs will sell the team, and
since Tice doesn’t have a very costly contract, it would be easy for the new owner to
make a change in coaches.
Marty Mornhinweg/Detroit Lions
2001 was a colossal disaster under Mornhinweg. If the Lions don’t show
considerable improvement this year, he could be in trouble. Matt Millen won’t
tolerate another two-win season, no matter how young the quarterbacks are.
NFC South
Jon Gruden/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Considering what the Bucs gave up to get Gruden (two first-rounders, two
second-rounders and $8 million in cash), there is no chance that Gruden isn’t around
Tampa for the long haul.
Jim Haslett/New Orleans Saints
He doesn’t even have a contract beyond this season. While there are apparently
discussions about an extension, if he doesn’t sign one, then he can become a coaching
free agent next spring. That would be good for Haslett if the Saints have a successful
season, but it would be bad for him if the Saints struggle this year.
Dan Reeves/Atlanta Falcons
One of these days, Reeves is going to hang up the clipboard and retire. When you have a
prospect as exciting as Michael Vick, it’s hard to do. But there are changes being
made in the Falcons’ organization, now that Arthur Blank heads into his first full
season as owner. That alone has to make you wonder if Reeves is entering his final season
in charge of the Falcons.
John Fox/Carolina Panthers
He takes over a team that won just one game last year. The Panthers have to be patient,
as it will take some time to turn this thing around in Carolina. Fox has good job security
for a few years.
NFC West
Mike Martz/St. Louis Rams
The Rams just signed Martz to a contract extension that included a big raise.
Considering this is the hottest team in the NFL, there is little reason to believe that
Martz won’t be around for several more years.
Steve Mariucci/San Francisco 49ers
Considering he flirted with the Bucs this offseason — along with the fact that the
49ers allowed him to do so — makes this a hard situation to figure out. If the 49ers
were to stumble this year and fail to live up to expectations, the front office could make
a move.
Mike Holmgren/Seattle Seahawks
In three seasons with the Seahawks, Holmgren has compiled a 24-24 record. Hardly the
results that Paul Allen was expecting when he hired Holmgren away from the Packers. There
have been rumors coming out of Seattle for a year now that Holmgren is on the hot seat. If
the Seahawks fail to move forward and qualify for the playoffs this year, it wouldn’t
be surprising if there were some major changes in the Seahawks’ organization.
Dave McGinnis/Arizona Cardinals
McGinnis guided the Cardinals to seven wins last year, his first full season on the
job. He has this team pointed in the right direction. While they may not be ready to
challenge for the playoffs this year — especially now that they are in the highly
competitive NFC West — they might be in the near future. McGinnis will be around
beyond this season. |
