One NFL head coach has already faced the wrath of the hot seat and others will follow before long. That's the price you pay for losing games.
It may take several more weeks. It could come on any Monday, but each of these NFL coaches put himself closer to the fire in Week 10.
3. Brandon Staley
Brandon Staley got his shot as a head coach with the Los Angeles Chargers because of the excellent work he'd done as a defensive coordinator with the Rams during their Super Bowl run. So the fact that his defense keeps getting blown up is a major point of concern. A 4-5 record doesn't help either.
The Chargers rank 31st in yards per game allowed and 24th in scoring defense. They're dead last in pass defense. So it's no surprise Jared Goff ripped them to shreds with 333 yards and two touchdowns
But LA had at least put up a fight in rush defense this season until Sunday when David Montgomery and the Lions rolled for 200 yards on the ground.
The 41-38 loss was a complete defensive letdown as the Lions scored on each of their final three possessions. Detroit had just two real possessions that didn't end in a score.
Staley can't keep losing games, but he especially can't keep losing games because of his defense.
2. Mike Vrabel
The 2022 season was a disappointment for the Tennessee Titans at 7-10 and out of the playoffs, but Mike Vrabel and company didn't necessarily feel the heat because of the two seasons prior. Two AFC South crowns in a row does wonders for your job security.
The problem now is that Tennesee is now heading for a second-straight season without a division crown and without the playoffs. That'll do wonders for your hot seat.
The Titans lost 20-6 to the Buccaneers on Sunday, marking their second-straight defeat and fourth in five games. Even more concerning, it was their 13th defeat in their last 16 games.
Vrabel is quickly losing his grip on his team and it's tough to see how he turns it around this year. He is dealing with injuries this year. His offensive line is hanging out to dry Will Levis and whatever quarterback the Titans trot out there each week. Some of these things are outside the coach's control but the way his team plays and responds to adversity is. They're not competing at the level you'd expect.
One down year happens. Two down years hints at a downward trajectory. Vrabel needs more fight out of his team to take the pressure off.
1. Joe Barry
Matt Canada has been on the hot seat with the Steelers for what feels like years now. But on Sunday he ran into the best possible antidote: Playing Joe Barry's Green Bay Packers defense.
Barry's defense let the Steelers rush for 205 yards. That's the third time this season that an opponent has gained more than 200 yards on the ground. All three resulted in losses for the Packers.
How did that happen, you might ask? Things like this:
Barry's defense isn't statistically horrific like others around the league, but it's unnecessarily vulnerable because of the defensive coordinator. Green Bay has more talent than their current output defensively.
Matt LaFleur's team is 3-6. There are obvious issues on offense. After all, they've scored less than 20 points in each of the last five games. But that's also why Barry's seat has to be warming. La Fleur needs to find a fall guy for this season and his defensive coordinator is an obvious pick.
Something has to change in Green Bay. It'll be Barry before it's LaFleur.
