Early 2025 NFL Head Coaches Hot Seat Rankings

Dave Ventresca dives into which head coaches could find themselves on the hot seat entering the 2025 NFL season. Some may be facing playoff-or-bust expectations.

This year’s coaching cycle is just about finished. The New Orleans Saints are the lone team that has yet to hire a new head coach. All told, there were seven head coach openings this year.

The NFL is as cutthroat of a business that’s out there. There’s turnover every year with head coaches. Expectations are high, fans get impatient, and ownership is forced to act. While 25 head coaches survived the 2024 season, some find themselves fighting for their jobs in 2025.

So, which head coaches are on the hot seat entering the 2025 season? Let’s take a look and discuss seven names who could be looking for a new job this time next year.

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7.) Brian Callahan - Tennessee Titans

It might seem unfair to put Callahan on this list. Many coaches would struggle to win games with a Will Levis/Mason Rudolph quarterback duo. Callahan’s biggest problem may not be his coaching ability, but the fact Tennessee fired the general manager (Ran Carthon) who hired him last offseason. Mike Borgonzi was hired as Tennessee’s new general manager a few weeks ago.

It’s a bit unusual for an organization to keep a head coach but fire the GM who hired him. Arranged marriages usually don’t last long in the NFL, so Borgonzi might prefer to hand-pick his guy after the 2025 season.

The Titans also own the top pick in the NFL Draft and might use it to select a quarterback. This could be a good thing for Callahan given his background. However, Borgonzi made it clear the team won’t pass on a generational talent with the top pick. None of the signal-callers in this draft profile as such, so Callahan might be stuck working with a subpar quarterback once again.

That might mean another terrible season for the Titans. If that’s the case, Borgonzi might have all the ammo he needs to make a coaching change.

6.) Jonathan Gannon - Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals have played hard for Gannon during his two years as head coach. The team improved from a 4-13 record in his first year to finish 8-9 this past season. Gannon appears to have Arizona heading in the right direction.

However, few coaches keep their jobs after three straight losing seasons. Gannon must finish with a winning record in 2025 to prove the team is on the right path. A playoff berth could be what’s needed to justify a fourth season in Arizona.

5.) Kevin Stefanski - Cleveland Browns

Stefanski is a two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year winner, but Cleveland is coming off a disappointing 3-14 season. Some of that can be blamed on the struggles of quarterback Deshaun Watson.

🚨 INTERCEPTION 🚨

Levi Wallace picks off Deshaun Watson!pic.twitter.com/r6r5XL8zXf

— Steelers Nation (@SteelerNationCP) January 8, 2023

Watson tore his Achilles tendon during the season and ruptured it again this offseason. He likely will not play in 2025. Armed with the second overall pick, Cleveland will likely select a quarterback in the NFL Draft as Watson’s time with the Browns seems to be coming to an end.

Stefanski should be safe as long as the Browns don’t implode. However, another 3-14 season might be enough for ownership to consider a coaching change.

4.) Shane Steichen - Indianapolis Colts

Steichen has gone 17-17 in his two seasons as Colts head coach. He nearly led the team to a playoff berth in 2023 following a season-ending injury to quarterback Anthony Richardson. 2024, however, was very much a mixed bag.

Richardson struggled mightily and was eventually benched only to be reinstated as starting quarterback a few weeks later. Steichen was criticized for his handling of the situation. He also did not fully utilize Richardson’s abilities as a rusher and seemed to actively avoid calling designed runs for portions of the season.

Through all the turmoil, Steichen had positioned the team for another shot at the playoffs, but an embarrassing 45-33 Week 17 loss to the hapless New York Giants crushed their playoff hopes. One could argue that general manager Chris Ballard should be canned before Steichen, but the reality is many general managers and head coaches are seen as a duo. When one goes, the other often follows him out the door as well.

However, owner Jim Irsay is a big wild card. He might choose to keep Steichen even if things go haywire in 2025. Either way, it would be best for Steichen’s long-term prospects if he can find a way to lead Indianapolis to the playoffs for the first time since 2020.

3.) Mike McDaniel - Miami Dolphins

McDaniel was hired by Miami mainly to help quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. While Tagovailoa has thrived under McDaniel’s coaching, the team results have been a bit underwhelming. 2024 was Miami’s first losing season since McDaniel took over in 2022. But it has gone 0-2 in the playoffs under his watch and has struggled against good teams.

Calen Bullock with a huge INT before the half! Returned inside the 5.

📺: #MIAvsHOU on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/Y1ogpBUAQR

— NFL (@NFL) December 15, 2024

The Dolphins also have a reputation for being a “soft” team. Perhaps it’s due to McDaniel’s more laid-back style of coaching. Either way, Miami may want to see some improvement in terms of postseason wins to justify keeping McDaniel for another season.

2.) Sean McDermott - Buffalo Bills

McDermott has been very successful since taking over as Buffalo’s head coach in 2017. He’s gone 86-45 in eight seasons as head coach. However, the Bills have been unable to get past the Kansas City Chiefs in the postseason.

Buffalo has lost to Kansas City in the playoffs in four of the last five years. A Divisional Round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022 also highlights McDermott’s shortcomings in the postseason.

McDermott is a good coach, but Buffalo hasn’t been able to get over the hump under his watch. Time is ticking and Bills Mafia is getting impatient for their first Lombardi Trophy. 2025 might be the last chance for McDermott to win a title before Buffalo decides to look elsewhere.

1.) Brian Daboll - New York Giants

To the surprise of many around the league, New York decided to keep Daboll for another season after a disastrous 2024. It was an interesting decision considering how badly New York played during its 3-14 season. The offseason decision to let Saquon Barkley sign with the division-rival Philadelphia Eagles (and subsequent 2,000-yard season) also left many wondering how Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen kept their jobs, but here we are.

This roster has many holes, but New York has to address the quarterback position if it wants to turn things around. It may be forced to reach for a signal-caller with the third overall pick in the NFL Draft. Perhaps the Giants break the bank for Sam Darnold in free agency.

Either way, co-owner John Mara has made it very clear he expects to see improvement from the team in 2025. Daboll probably needs a postseason appearance to keep his job.

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