If the decision by the Baltimore Ravens to fire head coach John Harbaugh taught us anything, it's that nothing is off the table when it comes to the NFL. You always have to be ready for the unthinkable and unexpected.
The decision by the Ravens to fire Harbaugh has led to even more questions about teams whose head coaches might be in somewhat similar situations. Where do franchises draw the proverbial line in the sand with long-tenured coaches with a lack of playoff success, whether lately or up to this point?
That's going to be fascinating to watch throughout Wild Card weekend. Not only could some more big-name head coaches be let go, but on the other side of that coin, some coveted jobs could soon become available.
NFL Wild Card Predictions: Sean McDermott and other coaches on the hot seat
1. Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
I don't think there's any question about which NFL head coach is entering Wild Card weekend on the hottest of hot seats. It's got to be Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott.
McDermott and the Bills have been in a championship window for quite some time now, and with Josh Allen in his prime, the excuses for McDermott are at an all-time low. There is no Patrick Mahomes. There is no Lamar Jackson. There is no Joe Burrow.
That's not to say there are no good quarterbacks in the path of the Buffalo Bills during this playoff run, but imagine the Jacksonville Jaguars bounce the Bills in the Wild Card round. For some reason, it doesn't feel like very many people believe that can happen. But if it does, nobody should be shocked if the Bills' head coaching job becomes available. This might be a make-or-break year, Super Bowl or bust for Sean McDermott.
2. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
This meme really says it all:
Dang… it was literally this on that kick pic.twitter.com/EE8ImUM76g
— NFL Memes (@NFLMemes) January 6, 2026
As funny as that might be, it feels like that's exactly what was at stake in that winner-take-all AFC North matchup in Week 18. The Baltimore Ravens ended up making the big splash and firing Tomlin, but does another playoff appearance absolve Tomlin if the Steelers get beat by the Texans in the Wild Card round?
I'm not sold that'll be enough.
It would feel a little bit like lightning striking in the same place twice to have two of the longest-tenured coaches in modern NFL history fired in the same offseason, but it also wouldn't be without justification. Tomlin and the Steelers have a long track record of having a record of .500 or better, but the luster of that Super Bowl win might have worn completely off.
3. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
Out of all the possibilities that have been thrown out there, I really feel like this one is the least likely to happen. The idea that the Packers would move on from Matt LaFleur with Jordan Love playing MVP-caliber football is ridiculous. Especially because this team's season was really derailed by a devastating knee injury to Micah Parsons.
That's not on LaFleur.
And even without Parsons, the Packers haven't been getting the brakes beat off of them. They've also played exceptionally well when they've had to call upon Malik Willis.
LaFleur is entering the final year of his contract in 2026, but there have already been reports of he and the Packers looking forward to talking about an extension after the season is done. And the Packers certainly hope that won't be after their game against Chicago.
Whether or not that ends up being the case, the future of LaFleur is up in the air, at least slightly. If I were to make a guess, I would say it's more likely that he's extended or even traded to a team like the Dolphins than fired by the Packers.