NFL Coach Hot Seat Rankings: Matt Eberflus may not be the last coach to go

Ralph Vaciano

NFL reporter

The minute Matt Eberflus failed to convert his final time against Detroit Lions On Thanksgiving Day, it was clear that time was running out for him.

To no one’s surprise, it happened on Black Friday morning in Chicago when the 54-year-old was fired from his position as the team’s coach. Bears. He became the third coach to be dismissed during this season, joining the previous one New York Jets Coach Robert Saleh and former New Orleans Saints Coach Dennis Allen is on the unemployment line.

Eberflus likely won’t be the last to face the firing squad during the season, either. “This is the season when owners start to lose patience with ugly losses, sarcastic headlines and, most notably, empty seats in their stands. There is not much good that usually comes from a coaching change during the season.

But sometimes owners feel the need to put an end to bad things.

Who’s next? There are many strong candidates. Here are Fox Sports’ updated rankings of the coaches in the hottest seats heading into Week 13:

1. Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars (last ranking: first)

It is truly astonishing that the 56-year-old survived the bye week given the deteriorating circumstances with his team. The Jaguars (2-9) had lost four in a row, losing 52-6 to the Lions just before halftime, and had scored just 13 points in their last two games.

So what’s in store for owner Shahid Khan? Why stick with a coach who has won only three of his last 16 games? Of course, no one in the NFL thinks it’s because Pederson is safe. It’s still a certainty that he’ll be fired the day after the season ends, if not sooner. One theory circulating is that Khan wants to ride out this whirlwind season in hopes of his beleaguered team ending up with the No. 1 overall pick for the third time in the past five years.

The theory goes that this will make the job more attractive to the coach who really wants to hire him: former Patriots coach Bill Belichick.

2. Antonio Pierce, las vegas raiders (Last ranking: third place)

The big change the coaching staff made during the bye week didn’t work. They have lost twice since then and have now lost six games in a row. They’ve also now lost starting quarterback Gardner Minshew for the season, so things aren’t likely to improve anytime soon.

Pierce was hired in large part because of the way he motivated his players and had them rally around him when he was the interim coach. But heading into the Black Friday vs Kansas City Chiefs – A game that Pearce called “the best team in football against the worst team in football” – His Raiders (2-9) look lifeless now and it will be difficult for him to rally them at all through the final six weeks of a miserable season.

Owner Mark Davis will almost certainly clean house and start over with a new coach for the new quarterback they have to pick in the first round. The only question is: when?

3. Brian Daboll, New York Giants (Last ranking: 5th)

He’s already received a “vote of confidence” for the rest of the season and has all but promised that he won’t be fired in the offseason. But anyone who saw the look on owner John Mara’s face Thursday as the Giants (2-10) embarrassed themselves with a 27-20 loss in Dallas knows that “vote” is subject to a recount.

Mara has proven to be a very reactionary owner over the past decade and the Giants are stacking up disastrous losses at the moment. What’s worse is that Daboll – who was hired largely for his offensive prowess – has now failed to generate any offense at all with three different players. They have lost seven straight games now and have reached the 20-point mark just twice.

Daboll is also struggling with the way his players reacted after their 30-7 loss at home to the Bucs last Sunday. Star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence described the team as “soft.” Rising star receiver Malik Nabars He went further, calling them “soft as f—k.” He also questioned Daboll’s game plan, which included not throwing any passes his way in the first half.

Almost every player who spoke looked defeated, deflated and completely devoid of hope. And the few fans who bothered to attend certainly felt the same way. Mara, according to multiple sources in the organization, doesn’t really want to fire Daboll after cycling through five coaches in the past nine years. But it may be difficult to talk him out of it if this continues.

4. Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys (Last ranking: 4th)

Don’t look now, but the Cowboys have won two in a row – albeit on a skid Leaders And the reeling giants. Players seem to think they can run, even with a quarterback Dak Prescott Out for the season. Even Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said it was “not crazy” to think he would extend McCarthy’s contract after the season.

It should be noted that McCarthy’s contract expires in a few months and that Jones will not extend it even after three consecutive 12-win seasons. But don’t underestimate the power of good feelings. The Cowboys are 5-7 and have the Bengals Panthers Next, getting to .500 with all their injuries would be a major coup.

Would that really be enough to save McCarthy? Jones can be stubborn with his coaches. Multiple league sources still believe that not extending the contract is a big deal and that a parting is inevitable. But the door to a comeback might be a little open if they can achieve more wins.

5. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals (last ranking: 6th)

What an absolute waste of talent this team was this year. Both quarterbacks Joe Burrow and receiver Ja’Marr Chase both had great seasons and were good enough to take some of the NFL’s best teams down the stretch.

However, they continue to consistently outperform, as they did against Chargers Right before saying goodbye, and Crows Just before that (for the second time this season). Even worse for Taylor, after they blew the game’s end against the Chargers, Chase was asked why the Bengals couldn’t close out games. His answer: “I don’t call plays for us.”

This does not reflect confidence in his coach.

Their only hope now is to win at least five of their last six matches, something that seems unreasonable to expect at this stage. When they fall short, Malik Mike Brown He has to take a hard look at Taylor and ask himself if he wants to waste another year of Burrow’s career.

6. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns (last ranking: 7th)

Their victory over Steelers Having snow Thursday night was a big help for the fifth-year coach. Faith in him was wavering after they got blown out in New Orleans four days ago when they came out of the bye, so he really needed this.

But his biggest problem is that the Browns’ schedule for the rest of the season is absolutely brutal. They play four of their last six games on the road — in Denver, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Baltimore. The two matches are at home against Dolphins And the presidents.

There is no weakness anywhere. And an 0-6 finish, which would give them a 3-14 record, is not only possible — it actually seems likely.

It also doesn’t help Stefanski Deshaun Watsonthe midfielder and the albatross, have yet to find any success together. And with the franchise attached to Watson for two more seasons, thanks to his bizarre contract, the Browns may have to consider bringing in someone who can get more out of their (fully guaranteed) $230 million man.

Ralph Vaciano is the NFL correspondent for FOX Sports. He spent the past six years covering the Giants and… Airplanes for SNY TV in New York, and before that, 16 years covering the Giants and the NFL for the New York Daily News. Follow him on Twitter at @Ralph Vaciano.