NFL Coaching Cycle: Examining League Hot Seats, Current Openings with Two Weeks Left in 2024 Regular Season
With just two weeks remaining in the 2024 NFL regular season, the coaching carousel is starting to heat up. Several teams are already looking for new head coaches, while others could be making a change if they fail to make the playoffs.
Hot Seats
Several head coaches are currently on the hot seat, including:
- Matt Rhule, Carolina Panthers: Rhule has a 11-26 record in two seasons with the Panthers, and the team is currently 5-9 this year. He has been criticized for his handling of the quarterback position and his team’s poor performance.
- Nathaniel Hackett, Denver Broncos: Hackett is in his first season with the Broncos, but he has already come under fire for his team’s poor play. The Broncos are 4-10 this year, and they have been outscored by an average of 10 points per game.
- Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona Cardinals: Kingsbury has a 28-34-1 record in three seasons with the Cardinals, but the team has regressed this year. The Cardinals are 4-10 this year, and they have lost six of their last seven games.
- Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers: Tomlin has been the Steelers’ head coach since 2007, but the team has struggled in recent years. The Steelers are 6-8 this year, and they have missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons.
Current Openings
There are currently two head coaching openings in the NFL:
- Indianapolis Colts: The Colts fired Frank Reich in November after a 3-5-1 start to the season. Jeff Saturday is currently the interim head coach, but he is not expected to be retained.
- Houston Texans: The Texans fired David Culley after just one season. Lovie Smith is currently the interim head coach, but he is not expected to be retained.
Potential Candidates
Several potential candidates are available for the open head coaching positions, including:
- Sean Payton: Payton is a former Super Bowl-winning head coach who is currently working as an analyst for Fox Sports. He is expected to be a top candidate for several openings.
- Eric Bieniemy: Bieniemy is the offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. He has been a key part of the Chiefs’ success in recent years, and he is considered one of the top offensive minds in the NFL.
- Dan Quinn: Quinn is the defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys. He has a history of success as a head coach, and he is considered one of the top defensive minds in the NFL.
- Mike Kafka: Kafka is the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants. He is a rising star in the coaching ranks, and he is considered one of the top offensive minds in the NFL.
Conclusion
The NFL coaching carousel is starting to heat up, and there could be several changes in the coming weeks. Several head coaches are currently on the hot seat, and there are two head coaching openings already available. Several potential candidates are available, and it will be interesting to see who ends up landing the open jobs.