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NFL power rankings: Head coaches from 32-1

By Brad Berreman

HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots speaks to the media after Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - FEBRUARY 05: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots speaks to the media after Super Bowl 51 at NRG Stadium on February 5, 2017 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Larry Busacca/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Thearon W. Henderson-Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Thearon W. Henderson-Getty Images /

No. 15: Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers

After a 15-1 regular season, and a Super Bowl appearance, the Panthers fell off a cliff to 6-10 last year. In Rivera’s six seasons as head coach, the team has never posted back-to-back winning seasons. While that pattern bodes well for 2017, Rivera’s .557 regular season win percentage is skewed upward significantly by a 12-4 in 2013 and 2015’s 15-1.

The health of Cam Newton’s throwing shoulder will go a long way toward determining where Carolina goes this year. A priority was put on diversifying the offense with the drafting of Christian McCaffrey and Curtis Samuel, and by connection easing Newton’s load as a runner. Whether that comes to fruition or not rests on offensive coordinator Mike Shula, and also on Newton rearranging his instincts to take off and run at times.

There’s usually a surprise head coach firing in the NFL each year, and Rivera is my pick to be it after the coming season. The NFC South is a very tough division, and a second straight double-digit loss season is a real possibility for the Panthers. It’s a rare (if unprecedented) head coach that would survive back-to-back seasons like that, and Rivera is hardly a unique, high-level head coach in that way. A simple non-playoff season should be enough to heat up his seat, and owner Jerry Richardson could very well decide it’s time for a change.

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