2023 NFL hot seat rankings: Bill Belichick, Robert Saleh among five head coaches who could be fired

With Week 15 all wrapped up outside of “Monday Night Football” between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Seattle Seahawks, we’re more than three-quarters of the way though the 2023 NFL season. First-year head coaches DeMeco Ryans and Shane Steichen have the Texans and Colts out to 8-6 starts and very much in the mix for a wild card spot in the neck-and-neck AFC playoff field. However, there are also plenty of NFL head coaches on the other side of the performance spectrum. Those are the coaches who will be spotlighted here.

Below, we’ll rank the ones who are squarely on the hot seat and in jeopardy of losing their jobs come January. Three head coaches have already been fired this season: Josh McDaniels (Raiders), Frank Reich (Panthers) and Brandon Staley (Chargers). Here is a look at the top five coaches who fit this hot seat criteria and how they reached this point.  

5. Arthur Smith (20-28 with Falcons)

Record in 2023: 6-8    

Arthur Smith is the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive play-caller, but he has been resistant to going out of his way to feature the three offensive skill position players the team drafted in the top 10 in each of the last three drafts: tight end Kyle Pitts (fourth overall pick in 2021), wide receiver Drake London (eighth overall pick in 2022) and running back Bijan Robinson (eighth overall pick in 2023). 

In the past, Smith has said his job as an NFL head coach is about finding a way to win and not playing fantasy football. However, utilizing three of the team’s most talented playmakers sure could help an offense that averages 18.4 points per game in 2023, the seventh-worst scoring offense in the league. 

Atlanta’s season hit a new low in Week 15, as their 9-7 loss to the NFL’s worst team, the 2-12 Carolina Panthers, will likely put an end to their NFC South division title hopes, which appears to be their only route to the postseason. The trio of Robinson, London…

Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2023-nfl-hot-seat-rankings-bill-belichick-robert-saleh-among-five-head-coaches-who-could-be-fired/

Author : Garrett Podell

Publish date : 2023-12-18 17:30:58

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