Ranking the best potential NFL head coaching openings

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 05: Head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys throws a ball during warmups prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on December 05, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Cowboys 31-24. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

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7. Jacksonville Jaguars

Wednesday night’s firing of Tom Coughlin as executive vice president of football operations, in lieu of an apparent retirement after the season, seems to automatically put head coach Doug Marrone and general manager David Caldwell on the hot seat with two games to go.

Since they went 10-6 in Marrone’s first full season as head coach, as they nearly reached the AFC Championship Game and nearly reached the Super Bowl, the Jaguars are 10-20 and headed for a second straight last place finish in the AFC South.

Coughlin’s time leading the front office will be defined two mistakes at quarterback–signing Blake Bortles to a contract extension and giving Nick Foles a bloated contract in free agency last offseason. As of right now, the Jaguars have almost no cap space for 2020 and will be faced with some difficult roster decisions this offseason. A rebuild, even if it’s not labeled as such in technical terms, may be looming.

For what it’s worth, and as expected, Marrone has said he’s focused on trying to win the final two games of the season and he’s not worried about his job security. Coughlin was clearly seen as the biggest problem in Jacksonville, and he probably was, but the final two games will have a big say about Marrone keeping his job or not.

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