The National Football League is a brutal business. If you don’t perform every year, there is a better-than-average chance that the door is about to close behind you. This season will also provide us with a change of address for many coaches, men who haven’t been able to get the job done with the cards they were dealt.
Below are the five most likely firings at the end of the season:
5. Marc Trestman
Trestman came to the Chicago Bears from the Canadian Football League two years ago after accruing a litany of experience as an NFL assistant with the San Francisco 49ers and Oakland Raiders among others. Trestman was billed an offensive wizard who would build a juggernaut with the Bears, who are loaded with talent at the skill positions.
Despite having Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, Jay Cutler and Matt Forte, Trestman has watched his team fail miserably. After an 8-8 rookie campaign and being 5-7 this season, Chicago has tired of this team and its underachieving ways. With Cutler locked up long-term, Trestman’s ousting will be the easiest way to shake up this once-proud franchise.
4. Tom Coughlin
Coughlin is a great head coach and one day will find himself in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. With the New York Giants, Coughlin has won a pair of Super Bowls. Unfortunately, Coughlin won’t be coming back to Big Blue after a third-straight disappointing season. Since winning the Super Bowl in 2011, New York has not been back to the playoffs.
At 3-8, the luster has worn off the pair of Lombardi Trophies sitting in the glass case. Coughlin is 68 years old and ownership is realizing this team need a sizable overhaul. For the Giants, it will take a younger head coach who can oversee that change and be there when the team is ready to win again.
3. Rex Ryan
Staying in the Big Apple, Ryan will be on his way out. Ryan started with a very promising tenure with the New York Jets, going to the AFC Championship Game in his first two seasons (2009-10). In the last four seasons, Ryan has not been back to the postseason and watched as general manager Mike Tannenbaum was fired and replaced by John Idzik two years ago.
In fairness to Ryan, Idzik has been a complete mess and will also be fired shortly after the season concludes. Still, Ryan has not been able to coach up some of the younger talent and forge New York into a winner. Fans are tired of his bombastic act and will get a new coach in short order.
2. Jim Harbaugh
Harbaugh is clearly one of the best coaches in the NFL. After being hired by the San Francisco 49ers before the 2011 season, Harbaugh drove the team to three consecutive conference title games and a Super Bowl appearance. Unfortunately for Harbaugh, it appears both general manager Trent Baalke and some of the players have grown tired of his ultra-intense ways.
Even with a mountain of success, Harbaugh is likely to be out with his 49ers appearing on the outside of the NFC playoff picture. Harbaugh will be hired immediately by another NFL team, and San Francisco will be moving on to find a better fit for its organization. It’s a risky move that could result in disaster.
1. Mike Smith
Smith has been the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons since the 2008. While Atlanta has reached the postseason four times, it has never made it to the Super Bowl. Last year, the Falcons suffered through an injury-plagued, 3-13 campaign. Smith had enough equity to survive that season, but won’t make it through another disaster.
Smith is one of the worst time-management coaches in recent memory and compounds that issue with asinine play-calling. It’s been a solid run for Smith, but the time to move on has arrived for both him and the Falcons.
