2025 NFL head coach hot seat rankings: These coaches must deliver successful seasons — or risk getting fired
Life is good for the Buccaneers of Tampa Bay these days. They are once again the favorites of the bets to win the NFC South and are a black horse to get out of the NFC this season. With the arrow pointing up it is, it is not a surprise to see The organization locks its leadersGiving the head coach Todd Bowles and the managing director Jason Licht extensions of the contract. While the Bucs have solidified their foundation, other clubs are not so lucky.
A collection of head coaches – for various reasons – could see their seats start to burn once the 2025 campaign will start. Unlike Bowles, their long -term safety is not guaranteed, and these coaches will not only have to walk on the water but turn the trend this season in order to stay in their posts. If they cannot do it, they will be sent to the packaging.
Here are the top five coaches with the hottest seats that entered this season.
5. Sean McDermott
Sean McDermott’s mandate in Buffalo was largely successful. Regarding the regular season and the playoffs, he is tied for the second most important victories (93) by a head coach during his first eight seasons in the history of the NFL. The Bills won division five and devoted titles and left a campaign in 2024 where they reached the AFC championship (the second appearance at the time of McDermott).
However, this is where success has stopped. Under McDermott, Buffalo was unable to overcome the bump, win the conference and qualify for the Super Bowl with the chance to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. As they were with most other NFL teams, the Kansas City chiefs were the main Buffalo roadblock, which has lost for them in four of its last five playoffs.
With a list in charge of the NFL MVP, Josh Allen, McDermott was examined for not being able to bring his team to this higher level. If he cannot unravel this ceiling in 2025, it can force the brass buffalo to seriously consider finding a new leader who may have a better chance of taking the franchise of a notch.
Prediction: Not licensed
4. Shane Steichen
Steichen entered his third season as a colt chief coach and went 17-17 in his first two years at the helm. They finished second in AFC South for two years, but were outside looking at the playoffs during each of these seasons.
Steichen was hired the same Indy off -season written Florida Anthony Richardson’s prospect at No. 4 in total. Which was once considered the fundamental room under center A – to this point – exploded in the colt’s face. Richardson has not yet shown to worry about the organization and was even put in the bench halfway last season. Now he is entering a summer quarter-tree battle with the signing of the Vétéran Daniel Jones free agent.
Just or unfair, Steichen’s fate could be linked to its quarter production in 2025, and turning to Jones for Salvation is not exactly the most encouraging situation to be. If Indy has another year of decline, it would not be surprising to see the organization entertain a complete reset.
Prediction: Licensee
3. ZAC Taylor
The Bengals of Cincinnati should test their Super Bowl window, but wonder if they will take their drought of two years of qualifying series. Part of the difficulties of the team was due to injuries, especially around the quarter-Arrière Star Joe Burrow.
However, the poor starts of the season were also a key factor because they have a record of 2-6 in their first four games of the season in the last two combined years. This falls directly on the shoulders of Zac Taylor. Bengal head coach enters his seventh season at work and is 46-52-1 during his mandate. He came out of the consecutive seasons from 9 to 8 years old, but these were considered disappointing campaigns despite the more than 0,500 due to the high-flying offense.
Taylor will have to bring Bengals back to the playoffs to keep his job, and it is not sure that he can do it. In addition to playing in a division with the Ravens of Baltimore and the new Pittsburgh Steelers with Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the defense of Cincinnati has major questions. The team is currently involved in contractual spots with the Rushers of Trey Hendrickson passes and the recruit Shemar Stewart. Hendrickson’s situation could ultimately lead to a business, which would make a defense that allowed 25.5 points per match (tied for the highest fifth of the NFL) even worse.
And the offense may not bail out them either. Last season, the Bengals lost six games despite the offensive marking 25 points. They also lost two games despite a 38 -point outing from the offensive. All this does not increase really well for Taylor in what looks like a season of makeup or breakup.
Prediction: Licensee
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Cody Benjamin
2. Mike McDaniel
McDaniel begins its fourth season with the Dolphins, and it seems that the organization is at an inflection point. Miami went 28-23 on the mandate of the regular season of McDaniel, but simply endured his first season under .500 (8-9) and missed the playoffs.
Overall, the alignment has the impression of having reached a tray, and the impact parts could still be deleted before week 1 takes place, with the corner half Jalen Ramsey and the tight winger Jonnu Smith being both in the rumors of the trade. McDaniel has produced high-level shutter offenses, but the incoherent availability of the Tua Tagovailoa quarter-rear has spoken of the franchise to reach its full potential.
While the arrow seems to point down the dolphins, the rest of the division becomes more competitive. Buffalo remains the best dog, while New England and New York have hired new head coaches this offseason and have made solid movements to improve their lists. This makes the road even more difficult for dolphins in 2025, and it would not be surprising that they finish in the last place. If this is materialized, it could lead to the start of Miami at all levels.
Prediction: Licensee
1. Brian Daboll
No coach has a warmer seat in 2025 than Brian Daboll in New York. During the three years he was under work, the Giants are 18-32-1, and they come out of a 3-14 season last year. At the end of the 2024 campaign, it seemed that Daboll could be on the verge of obtaining the ax, but the property decided to give it as well as the director general Joe Schoen another blow in 2025.
The bad quarter of a quarter of the Achille heel for the Giants during the mandate of Daboll, and the organization made efforts this offseason to rectify it. He signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in a free agency and exchanged in the back of the first round of the NFL 2025 draft to select the quarter-arre of Miss Jaxson Dart.
Wilson is currently positioned to be the starter of the week 1, but the fate of Daboll can rest on Dart, who Impressed during the intersane program. If Dart takes over at some point in the season and shows flashes, it might be enough to save Daboll.
However, he will have to survive an early glove to reach this point. Before week 14 Bye, seven of their first 12 opponents all triggered appearances in the playoffs last year – and unleashed teams are the cowboys (road), Saints (Road), 49ers (Home), Bears (Road) and Patriots (Road). It is difficult to imagine that New York brings together anything near a file of .500, which would expose Daboll to a serious risk of dismissal in season.
Prediction: Licensee
