By Samir Ajy
- Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans
It may seem unfair to put Brian Callahan on this list, given that he inherited a Titans roster entering rebuild mode. The former Bengals offensive coordinator oversaw an offense that averaged 18.3 points per game, thanks in large part to the immense struggles of second-year quarterback Will Levis. Consequently, the Titans finished 3-14, landing the number one overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which they used to select Miami QB Cam Ward. Unfortunately for Callahan, there is a good chance he won’t have the opportunity to oversee Ward’s development if the Titans end up with another top five pick this season. The 2025 season is expected to be another frustrating one for the Titans team, which is currently in the midst of a rebuild. Notably, first-year general manager Mike Borgonzi may want to bring in a head coach whom he had a say in hiring. - Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
After kicking off his return to Atlanta with a 6-3 start and a two-and-a-half game lead in the NFC South, Raheem Morris’ Falcons finished 8-9, missing the playoffs once again. Morris came under fire as a result of the collapse, due to his mishandling a shoulder injury to Kirk Cousins, Atlanta’s defense (Morris’ calling card) looking unprepared for divisional games against a 2-7 Saints team and again at home in a “must-win” game against the Carolina Panthers in Week 18, and infamously poor clock management the week before in another “must-win” game at Washington in Week 17. As a result, a large chunk of Atlanta’s fanbase called for owner Arthur Blank to move on from Morris, just one year into his second NFL head coaching stint. Blank retained Morris, but expressed his disappointment with how the season ended during internal conversations with him and fifth-year general manager Terry Fontenot. There is excitement surrounding the Falcons, thanks to second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and a draft class headlined by the first-round selections of Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr. Former defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake was held accountable for the team’s collapse. If the Falcons fall short again, it is safe to say that Morris and Fontenot will be the ones held accountable this time around. - Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Mike McDaniel is one of the league’s brighter offensive minds. With Tua Tagovailoa healthy for the entire 2023 season, the Dolphins led the NFL in yards per game (401.3) and finished second in points per game (29.2). Tagovailoa led the NFL in passing yards and was named to his first-career Pro Bowl, while Tyreek Hill registered one of the most prolific seasons for a wide receiver in recent NFL history. So why exactly would a head coach with an effective offensive scheme who’s 28-23 with two playoff appearances in three years be on the hot seat? The problem: The Dolphins under McDaniel are 3-17 against teams with a winning record, including a 0-5 record in 2024, with their offense averaging just under 20 points per game in those five games. Likewise, they are a combined 7-12 in games in December and January (including the playoffs). There is also a great deal of uncertainty surrounding the Dolphins’ culture, with former running back Raheem Mostert taking shots at the organization. Similarly, Asante Samuel Sr., former Pro Bowl cornerback and father of current free agent Asante Samuel Jr., took issue with McDaniel’s supposed inability to hold his players accountable. General manager Chris Grier has come under fire as well, as the Dolphins’ roster has not shown much notable improvement this offseason. If the Dolphins fail to make the playoffs again, it will be interesting to see if owner Stephen Ross decides to move in a different direction. - Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
In 2023, the Colts hired Shane Steichen as their next head coach and selected Anthony Richardson with the fourth overall pick. Richardson was considered a raw quarterback prospect with arguably the highest ceiling out of any quarterback in his draft class. Richardson has shown flashes in his first two years under center. However, struggles with accuracy and setbacks due to injuries (including a season-ending shoulder injury during his rookie year in 2023) have hindered his development. Richardson was also benched last season in favor of veteran Joe Flacco, after taking himself out of a game in the third quarter due to fatigue. Steichen is 17-17 in his first two years as Colts head coach. Nonetheless, his and general manager Chris Ballard’s job security depends heavily on whether Richardson continues to develop as a passer. Most notably, following the recent death of owner Jim Irsay, the Colts’ new ownership group, comprising Irsay’s daughters, may decide to move in a different direction if the team does not improve. - Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
After a 6-26 start to his head coaching tenure, Zac Taylor oversaw a surprise Super Bowl run in 2021 and a return to the AFC Championship game in 2022. After Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending injury in 2023, it was reasonable to exonerate Taylor of responsibility for the Bengals failing to make the playoffs. In 2024, Burrow, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, and defensive end Trey Hendrickson each led the league respectively in passing yards, receiving yards, and sacks. Chase notably won the NFL’s “triple crown,” leading the league in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. The Bengals still missed the playoffs, finishing with a 9-8 record. Their disappointing season was due in large part to a defense that, outside of Hendrickson, was unable to support the team’s potent offense. It is difficult to blame Taylor for the front office letting players such as Jessie Bates and Germaine Pratt leave and is now playing hardball with Hendrickson and this year’s first-round pick, Shemar Stewart. However, it is hard to imagine a scenario in which Taylor survives another year without a playoff berth, given the high-end talent this team has offensively. - Brian Daboll, New York Giants
Brian Daboll is the head coach with the hottest seat entering this season. After winning a playoff game in year one (2022), the Giants have since gone 9-25 under the current regime of Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen. This regime’s missteps include overseeing a 10-game losing streak in 2024 (the longest in franchise history), drafting both Evan Neal and Kavon Thibodeaux in the top 10 in 2022, both of whom have fallen short of meeting expectations, and most notably, allowing star running back Saquon Barkley to walk to their arch rival in Philadelphia after giving quarterback Daniel Jones $40 million a year, just to release him midseason just a year and a half later. After an abysmal 3-14 campaign in 2024, the Giants overhauled their roster this offseason, adding Paulsen Adebo and Javon Holland to their secondary and signing Russell Wilson to provide short-term stability under center. Their promising draft class includes the addition of Abdul Carter to a defensive line that includes Dexter Lawrence and Brian Burns, Ole Miss quarterback Jackson Dart, and Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo. Unfortunately for Daboll, six of New York’s first eight games come against teams that qualified for the playoffs in 2024, including four against teams that appeared in last year’s conference championship games. If the Giants get off to a slow start, the current regime will not reap the benefits of their roster overhaul.
