5 NFL head coaches that could be fired by 2023

NFL Head Coaches get fired every season, here are five coaches that have a high chance of termination before the 2023 NFL season begins.

The National Football League is a business. Plain and simple. Every year we watch NFL coaches lose their jobs, some of which surprise us when they fail to meet the expectations of their owners.

More often than not the general managers are fired with them. Here are five NFL coaches that are already on the hot seat within their respective franchises and will likely be looking for new jobs in 2023 if their 2022 seasons do not go according to plan.

NFL coach no. 5: John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens

Coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens has been a legend within the organization and is adored by fans and players alike, considering his record of 137-88 and Super Bowl win during that time frame.

While it would come as a surprise it wouldn’t be completely out of left field if Harbaugh was relieved of his duties before 2023 kicks off.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson was the Most Valuable Player in 2019, and in the same year, Harbaugh was named Coach of the Year.

In 2020 he led the Ravens to an 11-5 record, second in the AFC North, and lost in the second round of the playoffs.

However, in 2021 they finished last in the division with a record of 8-9 and missed the playoffs; and it wasn’t close. While Jackson sustained a myriad of health-related issues, as did basically all of the starting running backs, the team needs to have a big season in 2022 to bounce back.

The Ravens had an excellent defensive draft in 2022 however many are wondering who Jackson will be throwing to with a decrepit receiving corps and the running back situation isn’t stellar either.

Luckily for Harbaugh Jackson can do a lot with a little but if they miss the playoffs again Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti may take drastic action.

Defensive coordinator Don Martindale was already sent packing before the 2022 season started and if Harbaugh can’t properly arm the former MVP of the NFL he may be joining him.

NFL coach no. 4: Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks

Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll has been in his current position for twelve years and won a Super Bowl in 2014.

While his more famous Super Bowl moment came in 2015 when the decision was made to throw the ball on the one-yard line as opposed to handing it off to running back Marshawn Lynch, Carroll is still the most successful Head Coach in Seahawks history.

After Malcolm Butler ruined their chance at a second Super Bowl win the Seahawks maintained their position in the top two of the NFC West and won the division as recently as 2020.

In 2021 however, the team (almost an identical decline as the Ravens) fell from the top spot and finished the season with a 7-10 record and last in the NFC West.

It wasn’t just a bad season after a long trend of strong seasons but it was the offseason leading up to the 2022 season that is going to lead to trouble for Carroll.

Carroll really only spent three seasons in Seattle without quarterback Russell Wilson and now he finds himself having to start over after Wilson was traded to the Denver Broncos.

Carroll’s squad, which had a list of issues last season both offensively and defensively, finds themselves in a pseudo-rebuild with either QB Drew Lock or Geno Smith starting. Neither will lead the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl, or even the playoffs for that matter.

The NFC West is only getting more competitive and if the Seahawks don’t push the accelerate button on the rebuild there won’t be many left on the coaching staff to see it to completion.

Carroll is going to have several more down seasons before seeing enough improvement to make the Seahawks competitive again in this division again.

It might be time for Seahawks ownership may decide it’s time for the Pete Carroll era to end as the Russell Wilson era has also closed. There is no way Carroll goes before 2022 concludes but I would expect a new coaching regime to take over for 2023.

NFL coach no. 3: Frank Reich, Indianapolis Colts

Frank Reich seems to work well with General Manager Chris Ballard in putting all the right pieces on the field, an assortment of Pro Bowlers, an MVP Candidate in running back Jonathan Taylor, and a defense that displays more speed than most offenses in the league.

However, since he took over in 2018 the Colts have failed to make the playoffs since his inaugural season.

Reich’s record of 37-28 isn’t terrible with a 1-1 postseason record but it isn’t ideal either. Reich’s issue with quarterbacks reminds me of the Broncos; everything on the field seems to fit except for the quarterback.

After Andrew Luck abruptly retired Reich gave it a shot with Jacoby Brissett, Phillip Rivers, and then Carson Wentz which ended in a disastrous fashion in 2021.

That mishap ended with Wentz being shipped off to Washington and now Ballard was able to maneuver QB Matt Ryan out of Atlanta and into the Colts facility.

Matt Ryan may be the key to Reich keeping his job in 2023. While all of the blame cannot be put on Reich for not finding their next franchise quarterback (cough Ballard cough) there were some coaching errors last season that contributed to the late season collapse.

If Matty “Ice” Ryan can secure the Colts’ position into the postseason in 2022 Reich will likely stay put but if they are again absent that may be enough for owner Jim Irsay to move Reich’s parking spot to another team’s lot.

NFL coach no. 2: Matt Rhule, Carolina Panthers

Carolina Panthers Head Coach Matt Rhule is probably the most common name thrown about the media when it comes to coaches on the “hot seat.”

Reports that circulated that Panthers owner David Tepper is anxious to have the Panthers be a winning team once again and he has been unsuccessful since he bought the team in 2018.

Part of Tepper’s anxiety has been linked to his feelings of being “unhappy and embarrassed” due to the massive contract he signed Rhule to; seven years for $62 million.

This is understandable considering Rhules’ 10-23 record with zero playoffs appearances. This is especially daunting considering the Panthers were fighting for a Super Bowl only six seasons ago.

While Rhule can’t help improve the situation himself running back Christian McCaffrey, on his massive contract, is consistently off the field due to injury and his presence is clearly felt on the offense.

Tepper was also sold on bringing in former Jets QB Sam Darnold (with his fifth-year option) who has accomplished little for the franchise with a 4-8 record throwing for 9 touchdowns with 13 interceptions.

Lately, Tepper has voiced some support for Rhule.

"I believe in Matt. He has my full support… I am a fan. I don’t like to lose. Who likes to lose? I want to win. But it takes time and it takes a foundation, and it takes time to create the foundation to win. I do believe Coach Rhule and [general manager] Scott [Fitterer] have done a great job of creating that foundation.’ Panthers Owner David Tepper"

While this could be true Tepper ultimately wants to win and his acceptance of losing will only last for so long. Tepper has acknowledged that it takes time to build up a franchise to win but if he wants the Panthers to win a Super Bowl (finally) he may pay top dollar (again) to find another head coach that can get it done for him quicker.

Let’s see if Tepper’s patience holds out if he has to watch another losing season from the owner’s box at Bank of America Stadium.

NFL coach no. 1: Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants another Super Bowl. Badly. All of the NFL owners do but the Jones’ ownership committee has made it clear in the media that they will truly do anything and everything to add a 6th Lombardi Trophy to their display case.

McCarthy had a rough start in 2020 with a 6-10 record and then made a jump in 2021 with a 12-5 record and a playoff appearance. The issue was several of the team losses, especially in their singular playoff appearance, could be blamed on some of the coaching decisions.

The Cowboys’ Wild Card playoff appearance was marred by the team’s 14 penalties and Quarterback Dak Prescott scrambling to unsuccessfully stop at the clock as the time ran out.

Former Cowboys Head Coach Jason Garrett proved that playoff appearances and winning records do not matter to Jerry Jones unless they end in a Super Bowl trophy. Garrett had an 85-67 record during his tenure with five playoff appearances going 2-3 in the postseason.

Since New Orleans Saints Head Coach Sean Payton retired abruptly he has been linked to the Cowboys Jones has not been shy about his feelings regarding Payton.

Jerry Jones was likely partially sold on Mike McCarthy due to his Super Bowl win and consistent success with quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay but that win came in 2011, and with one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.

It is possible the scenario in Dallas, specifically in terms of the roster’s current status, will not be enough for McCarthy to keep his job.

The departure of DE Randy Gregory and WR Amari Cooper followed by a mediocre draft class will likely not bode well for the 2022 Dallas Cowboys as their NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles had arguably one of their best offseasons in a decade.

The Cowboys 79 year old owner wants another Super Bowl and he wants it now.

The media trail shows that Jones is even hungrier for another trophy than Panthers owner David Tepper is for his first and is possibly less forgiving with his coaches.

If the Cowboys fail to hit their mark this season Mike McCarthy will undoubtedly be hitting the unemployment line before the 2023 season begins.