We're not even through the first month of the 2026 NFL season, but is it possible there are already multiple coaches on the proverbial hot seat?
It's very possible.
In fact, it would be shocking if it weren't the case. Historically speaking, nearly 90 percent of teams that start 0-2 miss the playoffs. There are already a number of teams in make-or-break seasons (from the outside perception, anyway) that have dug themselves quite a hole.
Which teams have head coaches on the hot seat already this season? Let's take a look at the top 3 names that could be on the chopping block.
3 NFL head coaches on the hot seat already in Week 3
1. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles came in 3rd on last week's Head Coach Hot Seat Power Rankings, but his seat is getting hotter and hotter.
It doesn't get much worse than losing to the Cleveland Browns...at home.
There was a lot of talk even near the end of last season that the Bucs could be on the cusp of moving on from Bowles, but they obviously decided not to. Bowles has apparently built up a lot of goodwill in that front office, but his team missed the playoffs last season, he's now 35-35 as the Bucs' head coach since 2022, and his team is getting outplayed at home by the Browns.
This is one of those situations we're going to be monitoring in-season, not just after.
2. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
Colts owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon has made it pretty clear that this is a make-or-break year for head coach Shane Steichen. She is expecting this team to get back to the postseason, or changes will be made.
With GM Chris Ballard entering the final year of his contract with the team, everyone knows the expectations this season, and what will happen if those expectations aren't met.
With winning obviously mandatory, the fact that the Colts are entering Week 3 of this season already 0-2 with the Houston Texans coming to town is not exactly great news. They just took the Chiefs to overtime, but there are no moral victories in the NFL.
They have to get back on track and go for a run...fast.
3. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
After signing a contract extension earlier this year, who would have thought that there might be questions about Matt LaFleur's job security just a few weeks into the season?
That's precisely where we find ourselves after the Packers' ugly Thursday Night Football loss against the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons came to Lambeau Field and played well enough that Packers fans were literally checking their pulse and booing the team off the field.
Not only is LaFleur going to be held accountable if the Packers keep losing, but he and GM Brian Gutekunst are both going to be in trouble if something bad happens to Jordan Love. Love has been running for his life and getting annihilated all season so far, and at some point, those hits are going to become a major problem.
The Packers have just one win since they beat the Bears on December 7 last season.
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