Heading into the 2023-24 campaign, there are coaches who remain with their teams but are on the hot seat. These coaches either struggled in previous seasons or potentially lost the respect of their team. As a result, they will need bounce-back years in the new season.
Some coaches on this list could be fired following a tough start to the 2023-24 season, while others will receive more grace. Regardless, these coaches all need to turn things around sooner rather than later.
Without further ado, here are five coaches on the hot seat.
Dennis Allen, New Orleans Saints
Dennis Allen, who previously coached for the Oakland (now Las Vegas) Raiders, took over heading coaching duties in New Orleans this past season. He had previously worked as the Saints’ defensive coordinator before getting the head coaching nod in 2022.
New Orleans finished with a losing record, and Allen didn’t exactly impress in his first go-around with the team.
It should be noted that Allen was fired from his first and only head coaching job just three years into his tenure with the Raiders. After a pair of 4-12 seasons to begin his time with the team, he was let go in 2014 following an 0-4 start.
If the Saints don’t display improvement in 2023-24, Allen may find himself out of a job once again. New Orleans features young talent, but they are still looking to put everything together.
Dennis Allen’s job may be safer than some other names on this list, but he doesn’t exactly have Bill Belichick-level job security heading into the season.
Brandon Staley, Los Angeles Chargers
There were many fans who expected Brandon Staley to be fired after the Chargers’ heartbreaking playoff loss. In all fairness to Staley, the Chargers had holes on their roster this past season, and he still guided them to the playoffs. However, star QB Justin Herbert helped in that regard.
Staley, who wasn’t fired, is on the hot seat. He’s entering his third year with Los Angeles, and the 2023-24 campaign will be a make-or-break year for him.
The Chargers already showed that they could make the postseason with Staley leading the way. Finding postseason success is an entirely different issue. Another first-round exit could lead to the end of Staley’s tenure with the team.
If the Chargers fail to make the postseason at all, his firing would seem like a foregone conclusion. Is there a reason for optimism?
Staley took over head coaching duties in L.A. in 2021. The Chargers have steadily improved during his two years making the calls, as they finished with a 9-8 record last year before posting a 10-7 record this past season.
There is hope, but there’s also no shortage of pressure on Staley.
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Kevin Stefanski is known as one of the better play-callers in the NFL. The Browns love his knowledge of the game, but the results haven’t been ideal under his reign.
Stefanski led Cleveland to a quality 11-5 record in 2020, but they’ve finished with a sub-.500 records in each of the past two years.
The Browns’ expectations were lessened in 2022, as newly-acquired QB Deshaun Watson faced a suspension. If Stefanski can’t lead the Browns back to the playoffs with a full season of Deshaun Watson at quarterback, his job will be called into question.
Cleveland’s respectable defense and talented offensive pieces should put them in a position to win. Additionally, the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson uncertainty and Steelers’ all-around shortcomings make the AFC North a far more feasible division to compete in, with the Bengals posing the only real threat.
All of these facts will only add to the pressure on Stefanski heading into his fourth year as head coach of the Browns. Cleveland is hungry for another postseason berth and Stefanski will do everything he can to get them back in the playoffs.
Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas Raiders
In a similar fashion to Staley, many people around the NFL world thought McDaniels could be fired following the Raiders’ underwhelming 2022-23 season.
McDaniels formerly coached the Denver Broncos in 2009 and 2010. After working as an offensive coordinator after losing his Broncos’ head coaching gig, McDaniels became the Raiders’ head coach in 2022.
Las Vegas clearly doesn’t want to give up on him after just one season. However, a 6-11 record will not cut it once again this next year. McDaniels needs to show he can lead this team.
The Raiders are undergoing change as they are moving on from QB Derek Carr. As talented as Carr is, Las Vegas will benefit from a change at the position. Although, they may be in line for another long season if they fail to replace him with a proven quarterback.
Josh McDaniels is certainly hopeful the team will find a talented replacement because his job will be in serious question with another losing season.
Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys
Mike McCarthy has one of the more impressive resumes on this list. He was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers from 2006-2018, leading them to a Super Bowl victory in 2010. McCarthy then became the Cowboys’ head coach in 2020.
Dallas struggled in his initial season, but they’ve recorded 12-5 campaigns in both 2021 and 2022. For McCarthy and the Cowboys, the primary issue has been the postseason. However, QB Dak Prescott has faced criticism for the team’s postseason shortcomings as well.
If Dallas fails to make a deep playoff run during the upcoming year, one has to imagine that some form of change is coming, whether it’s a head coach or quarterback change.
McCarthy’s reputation will give him the benefit of the doubt, but Dallas is also an organization that prioritizes winning and receives plenty of media attention.
Mike McCarthy is on the hot seat. He will need to do all he can to help Dallas make a deep run during the 2023-24 season.
