The NFL head coaching carousel is a surprising, exciting, and sometimes disappointing ride. Coaches are fired every year, and some are more predictable than others. Which coaches are on the hot seat going into 2026, and why?
The least likely candidate on this list, though still a possibility, is Nick Sirianni. The Eagles’ head coach has an impressive 59-26 record and a Super Bowl title in his five-year tenure. Why would he be on the hot seat?
Philly’s offense was a shell of itself in 2025. Offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo lacked creativity despite the Super Bowl LIX roster staying largely intact.
Patullo is out and has been replaced by former Green Bay Packers quarterbacks coach Sean Mannion. If he doesn’t restore the offense’s glory, Sirianni could feel some heat.
Sirianni has dodged the hot seat a few times already. After losing Super Bowl LVII, Philly suffered a free fall in the 2023 season. They started 10-1, then lost six of their last seven games.
In 2024, the Eagles started with a 2-2 record ahead of the Week 5 bye. They went on to win all but one game en route to a Super Bowl LIX victory. Once again, Sirianni shut down the chatter.
The 2025 season was the third time Sirianni’s job was called into question. If Philly has an underwhelming 2026, he might start to feel the fire once again.
Todd Bowles has a 35-33 record in his tenure as the Buccaneers head coach. He’s led the team to three division titles in the last four years, but 2025 wasn’t kind to him.
The Bucs dealt with a plethora of injuries last season and won just two of their last seven games. Their legendary linebacker Lavonte David retired, and longtime wide receiver Mike Evans departed in free agency.
To make matters worse, star defensive tackle and Super Bowl LV champion Vita Vea has requested a trade. Quarterback Baker Mayfield is also negotiating a contract and feels “disrespected” by the Bucs’ most recent offer.
Tampa Bay has a talented roster, but the sky seems to be falling around Bowles. 2025 was the team’s first time missing the playoffs in the 2020s, and the NFC South is heating up.
Bowles may be coaching for his job in 2026. He’s a talented coach and has proven he can be an effective leader. He’ll have to turn that up this year to cool off his seat.
The Bengals’ offense is one of the NFL’s deadliest. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins make up a destructive trio, but they’ve been held back in recent years.
Cincy’s Super Bowl LVI hangover seems to be never-ending. They made it to the playoffs in 2022, then missed them entirely in each of the last three years. Defense has been a problem, the offensive line has been a problem, and the head coach may be a problem.
Zac Taylor has been the coach of the Bengals since 2019. He has a record of 52-63-1 over seven seasons. When Burrow is on the field, Taylor has a record of 45-32-1. Without the star QB, his record is 9-28.
Despite Burrow being a top QB in the league, Cincy has struggled to succeed. They beefed up the defense with star DT Dexter Lawrence, and drafted defensive end Cashius Howell 41st overall.
Taylor’s job security was heavily in question after the 2025 season. If he misses the playoffs for a fourth straight year, it may be his last run.
The Colts surprised many people when they decided to keep general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen. They started 2025 with an 8-2 record, then lost every remaining game.
Indy’s quarterback Daniel Jones suffered a torn Achilles in Week 14. He was playing through a fibula fracture in the weeks leading up to that injury, and the production reflected that.
After Jones’ injury, the Colts’ backup plan was sixth-round rookie Riley Leonard. He finished the Week 14 matchup, then was replaced by Philip Rivers. Yes, that Philip Rivers.
Rivers played in three games before heading back into retirement. Steichen’s leadership was called into question. The 8-2 start is seemingly what kept his job alive.
The Colts have a strong roster in 2026. Jones, Alec Pierce, Jonathan Taylor, and Sauce Gardner are some of their biggest playmakers. If Steichen doesn’t start the year strong, he may be out before it even ends. In this case, Ballard may find himself out the door as well.
Aaron Glenn’s tenure with the Jets has been extremely disappointing. In his defense, he took over a team that hasn’t had a winning season since 2015, and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2010. The former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator was an exciting hire, but he’s not off to a great start.
The expectation for Glenn in 2025 was to bring some kind of improvement to the Jets, even a small one. Their 3-14 record was the franchise’s worst since 2020, and that’s the tip of the iceberg.
New York’s offense ranked dead last in pass yards per game (140.3) and 29th in points per game (17.6). The defense failed to log a single interception, the only team in history to do so.
The Jets replaced most of the coaching staff, save for Glenn. They added edge rusher David Bailey, tight end Kenyon Sadiq, and wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. in the 2026 NFL Draft.
With a returning Geno Smith playing quarterback, it’s hard to imagine the Jets will turn things around right now. They’ll look to the 2027 Draft for their franchise QB. The bar is low, but if Glenn can show any signs of improvement, his job might be safe.
I’ll never advocate for anyone losing their job, but the NFL can be a difficult business. We’ve seen coaches fired too soon, and some held onto for too long. Some carry higher expectations, and others just need to win a handful of games. The 2026 season is fast approaching, and the hot seat is only going to get hotter.
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