It's important not to knock any teeth out of your own mouth after Week 1 of the NFL season. Every year, knee-jerk reactions cause fans and franchises alike to overreact, but a 17-game season is a very long season.
With that said, you can still maybe discern which NFL head coaches are or aren't on the hot seat around the league, even after just one game. Part of the reason for that is due to the fact that it feels like there are some coaches on the hot seat entering the season, but a dismal performance in Week 1 could accelerate the timeline for certain franchises.
Which NFL head coaches could be on the hot seat as the regular season gets underway?
NFL Predictions: Head coaches on the hot seat if Week 1 is a disaster
Brian Daboll, New York Giants
The New York Giants have a tough start to the season, going on the road against their division rival Washington Commanders. It's going to be a huge year for head coach Brian Daboll, who already feels like he might be on borrowed time.
Ownership might have been willing to fall on the sword after last season because the Daniel Jones debacle was partly out of control of both Brian Daboll as well as GM Joe Schoen. It's going to be a pressure-packed year for everyone in New York this year, and Daboll (along with Schoen, quite frankly) is under the microscope.
If the Russell Wilson era gets off to a disastrous start, Daboll will be on the hot seat and fans will be clamoring for Jaxson Dart. Daboll has to pull all the right strings this season.
Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals missed the playoffs last year, and we already have our first sign that Zac Taylor is probably entering this season on the hot seat. Taylor and the Bengals fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo after the disastrous 2024 campaign and replaced him with Al Golden, and that change needs to work out.
The Bengals are not the most well-run operation in the NFL these days. Even though they were able to pay and make both Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins happy (along with other players), they seem to have mismanaged multiple other situations, notably with Trey Hendrickson and first-round pick Shemar Stewart.
They limped to the starting line this season and Taylor is going to be under a lot of pressure to manage a difficult situation. If the Bengals get off to a slow start, especially if they get upset by a team like the Browns, Taylor is going to be in the proverbial crosshairs.
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
The MIami Dolphins might be one of the more slept-on teams in the NFL heading into this season. We've seen just how explosive and downright dominant this team is capable of being when they're at full strength offensively, but is this team even going to be recognizable in 2025, even if it is full strength?
The Dolphins have lost a lot this offseason, including left tackle Terron Armstead (retirement) and cornerback Jalen Ramsey (trade). There has been drama with wide receiver Tyreek Hill. A lot has gone down, and this team now just has to shift focus and hope they can start scoring points in bunches again. The Dolphins are going on the road against the Colts in Week 1.
A loss against an AFC opponent with a major quarterback problem right now would put Mike McDaniel squarely on the hot seat.
Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts might find themselves making wholesale changes after the 2025 season at GM, head coach, and quarterback. It seems like the organization has admitted defeat on former 4th overall pick Anthony Richardson, who couldn't even reach a 48 percent completion rate in his time on the field last season.
Richardson was demoted for Daniel Jones, who spent time on the Minnesota Vikings' practice squad last year. Jones has been a turnover machine in the NFL and would need an NFL Comeback Player of the Year type of season to justify the move.
Shane Steichen is putting his reputation as a QB whisperer to the test once again, and he could pay the price for it if the team starts slow.