5 NFL head coaching jobs Marvin Lewis could land for 2020

1. Carolina Panthers

With Cam Newton’s future with the franchise up in the air, and a relatively new owner in David Tepper, the job security of Panthers’ head coach Ron Rivera has started to be a conversation. After Sunday’s 29-3 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, the team has now been outscored 124-62 over their last four games (three losses) to drop to 5-5 on the season.

Then there’s this from Rivera, as he explained why he chose to kick a field goal down 26-0 to the Falcons on Sunday.

The Panthers weren’t going to win on Sunday, barring a miracle comeback in the fourth quarter, but taking the points just to avoid being shut out at home is a high level of old school thinking. Cosmetically, yes, three points is better than zero. But on a day when your team was thoroughly outplayed by a team that had two wins (albeit a division rival, which may have also been a factor in taking the field goal), it’s a distinction without a difference.

I’ve had Rivera somewhere in the neighborhood of the hot seat for a couple years, with a disappointing season almost sure to bring his dismissal. This season is headed toward being that season, as his tie to Newton seems sure to go away and the owner who didn’t hire him has an opening to shape things the way he’d like to if a losing season comes.

Lewis is of the same grain as Rivera, with a defensive background and a lot of experience. But that should not be held against him on the surface, and if the Panthers do search for a new head coach Lewis is a pretty easy candidate for the job.