Even as we're still in the middle of one of the more unprecedented head-coach hiring cycles in years, it's never too early to look ahead. There are more than a couple of NFL head coaches who somehow held onto their jobs this season and will head into 2024 with absolutely zero benefit of the doubt. Once you're on the hot seat, you never really leave the hot seat – these are the guys that'll spend all next year answering 5 questions a day about whether they feel like the organization still has faith in them.
1. Nick Sirianni -- Eagles
He barely survived this year, and they won 11 games. And maybe, all things considered, what happened in those 11 games doesn't really matter at all, but still – he's won 66% of his games over three years in Philly. But when it went south, it went south. Add in the fact that apparently things aren't super comfortable over there right now, and it starts to feel like Sirianni's time in Philly may not last as long as it seemed after Super Bowl LII. To his credit, getting Vic Fangio to come be defensive coordinator would be a good start to any coach-for-your-job season.
2. Matt Eberflus -- Bears
The Bears did get better in Eberflus' second year, so he's got that going for him; he found a way to win more than three games. But if the Bears anything worse than mediocre next season, the calls for his job are going to get louder than they already are. Getting Seahawks OC Shane Waldron to take a lateral promotion to coach in Chicago is a nice hire, but the Bears aren't going to waste more Caleb Williams years than they absolutely have to. Plus, firing the coach one year after drafting the QB would be Very Bears.
3. Mike McCarthy -- Cowboys
Right? Like, we can't all be crazy. McCarthy managed to stay in Dallas after yet another embarrassing home playoff performance, in a year where half of the available head-coach candidates would have been splashy Cowboys-y hires. But they're just going to run it back next year apparently, something that typically works. For whatever it's worth, it sounds like there aren't contract extensions happening in Dallas, so maybe Jerry's just got his eyes on 2024 anyway.
4. Robert Saleh -- Jets
If you thought this year was annoying, just wait until people are asking Aaron Rodgers about Saleh's job security every game next season. The Jets' approached the Rogers-less QB situation last season was embarrassing for everyone involved, and you know you're kinda already on the hot seat when the team owner has to make a public announcement that you'll get to keep your job for another year. Maybe Rodgers comes back, plays well, and no one cares about '23 anymore, but at this point, Saleh's put all his eggs in that basket.
5. Doug Pederson -- Jaguars
Anytime the franchise QB takes a step back, alarms go off. Trevor Lawrence didn't quite capital-A arrive the way people expected him to after a stellar second year in 2022, and a QB panic always turns into a coaching panic eventually. Now imagine if Lawrence doesn't improve next year and they miss the playoffs? For the second straight season? In the last truly cheap year of his rookie deal? The Jaguars don't have time for that, especially with the AFC South not looking as winnable as it's been the last several years.