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NFL: 5 head coaches on the hot seat going into Week 6

By Glenn Moore

Oct 5, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan slams a cup of water down during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 5, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan slams a cup of water down during the second quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports /
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Which NFL head coaches are on the hot seat heading into Week 6?

We have passed the quarter-mark of the 2014 NFL season and it’s that time of the year where a handful of head coaches land on the hot seat.

Struggling teams. New ownership. Rifts between coaches and the front office. These are just some of the reasons why some head coaches find themselves fighting for their jobs every Sunday. And just because we are only six weeks into the season does not mean coaches are safe.

We have already seen one causality as Dennis Allen was fired by the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 30 after opening the season 0-4.

Allen won only eight games in two-plus seasons in Oakland. After signing numerous veteran free agents, the expectations were set at returning the franchise back to respectability. After four games, the Raiders saw enough to fire Allen.

Whether the following coaches will be fired in-season or on “Black Monday” remains to be seen, but you can be sure these five coaches are on the hot seat.

1. Rex Ryan, New York Jets

For the third time in his tenure in New York with the Jets, Ryan finds himself controversy at the quarterback position. The uncertainly and 1-4 record could get him fired.

2013 second-round pick Geno Smith has been ineffective this season and Michael Vick has performed just as poorly. The defense has been torched all season, mainly because of injuries to the secondary. And the only win of the season came against the Raiders, who fired their head coach after four games.

It doesn’t look good for Ryan. Neither Vick nor Smith seem to have what it takes to be productive quarterbacks and the signing of Chris Johnson has backfired. Eric Decker is their primary weapon on offense, but without a quarterback to get him the ball, he’s useless.

The seat is hot for Ryan and it will be tough for the Jets to compete in the AFC East at 1-4. General manager John Idzik will have to make a decision before the offseason.

Aug 8, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher during the game against the New Orleans Saints at Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2014; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher during the game against the New Orleans Saints at Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams

I would set the temperature on Fisher’s seat at warm. The Rams are competitive and with Austin Davis producing, Fisher might be safe into next season.

But after not spending their first-round pick in May on a quarterback, they are relying on the young Davis to keep the Rams competitive. The offense has a ton of question marks, yet the defense seems to be the staple of the team.

The Rams only have one win to this point, but in the competitive NFC West, even reaching .500 seems to be out of reach. That being said, will the Rams keep Fisher or look in another direction?

If the Rams do pick in the top 16 yet again, they have to spend it on a quarterback.

3. Doug Marrone, Buffalo Bills

This might be a head-scratcher for many of you, considering the Bills are 3-2 and tied for first-place in the AFC East.

But with a new ownership group coming in, barring a postseason appearance, they might be looking to bring in their own man as head coach. Same thing can be said for general manager Doug Whaley. Both could be auditioning for their jobs.

Already, EJ Manuel has been benched in favor of veteran Kyle Orton. With benching a young quarterback, it could backfire and destroy his confidence.

The Bills do have a superstar in the making with Sammy Watkins, but without a stable quarterback to get him the ball, Buffalo will suffer as the season goes on.

Mixing together a new ownership group and benching first-round draft pick in Manuel could be the recipe for a departure for Marrone.

Aug 28, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt stands on the sidelines against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 28, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Tennessee Titans head coach Ken Whisenhunt stands on the sidelines against the Minnesota Vikings during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Ken Whisenhunt, Tennessee Titans

The Titans are 1-4 to open the season and the future seems to be growing dimmer and dimmer after each game. After giving up a NFL-record 25 point lead to the Cleveland Browns last week and losing at home, Whisenhunt will need to win some games to get off the hot seat.

Whisenhunt is in his first year with the Titans, but that does not mean he is safe from being on the hot seat or getting fired. Just ask Rob Chudzinski, who was canned after one year in Cleveland.

The Jake Locker era could be coming to an end, and that means Whisenhunt will have to rely on veteran Charlie Whitehurst or rookie Zach Mettenberger at quarterback. The playoffs are out of reach and the rash of injuries continue to grow.

If the losses continue to pile up, Whisenhunt could be out after one-year in Tennessee.

5. Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers

This one is not surprising. It’s been reported, according to FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, that even if the 49ers win the Super Bowl, Harbaugh won’t be back as head coach in 2015.

No seat in the NFL is hotter than Harbaugh’s.

The relationship between Harbaugh and owner Jed York is strained, which will end with one of the best head coaches will be on the market, either for a job in the NFL or roaming the sidelines at the college level (University of Michigan).

The 49ers are 3-2 and in the thick of a tight race in the NFC West. They will be there when it comes to meaningful games at the end of the season. Do the players rally around Harbaugh and make one last run? Or will Harbaugh end his tenure on a sour note?

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