5 NFL coaches most likely to be fired first in 2020

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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – FEBRUARY 25: Head coach Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions speaks to the media at the Indiana Convention Center on February 25, 2020 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) *** Local Capture *** Matt Patricia /

1. Matt Patricia

Patricia should consider himself fortunate to still be employed by the Lions. Going 9-22-1 in two seasons is usually enough to get a head coach fired. The extinuating circumstance of Matthew Stafford’s injury absence in 2019 was apparently just enough to earn Patricia one more chance.

That doesn’t mean Patricia has a lot of rope to work with. Losing a couple of games right out of the gate could easily earn him the first pink slip of the season. If Detroit doesn’t look like a playoff contender earlier it could lead to a complete regime change in the Motor City.

Patricia and his staff are banking on the return of Stafford to cover up a lot of the team’s ills. He has the arm talent to put up serious points. It’s unclear whether or not the defense can hold up their end of the bargain.

Losing Darius Slay is going to be a big blow to the secondary. The best possible season from Jeff Okudah would be to play up to Slay’s level from 2019. That doesn’t seem like a recipe for improvement.

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Add it all up and Patricia is the coach who enters the regular season under the most pressure. Anything other than massive, immediate improvement will end up with him getting the axe. He needs a huge season from Stafford and some of his younger players to earn him more time in Detroit.

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