Jacksonville Jaguars

2016 NFL Coaching Hot Seat: The Lambs Are Lining Up

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

Dec 11, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan leaves the field after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers at New Era Field. Steelers beat the Bills 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL coaching hot seat has more members than at any other point in 2016. Above all the question becomes who is in the most danger?

There are always degrees to such matters. Some coaches are near certainties to get the boot. Others might be 50/50 while still a few at least deserve some consideration for the future. Most of the time, as always it revolves around which teams lost the most games. Owners are competitive just like everybody else. The more a team loses, the more likely that coach gets fired. So who is up for the ax this year?

About to be fired

Gus Bradley (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Another week, another disappointing loss against an opponent they probably could’ve beaten. That is the legacy of the Gus Bradley era with the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s clearer than ever he lacks the capacity to make this team play hard or well enough to win games. It would be an absolute stunner if he’s not fired at the end of the season simply because no other coach in the league deserves it more just based on losing too many games.

Rex Ryan (Buffalo Bills)

Word leaked before the game that there was a possibility the Bills could fire Rex Ryan by Monday if his team lost its seventh game of the season. They then proceed to fall against Pittsburgh 27-20. Nothing is going right for him. His defense isn’t shutting anybody down and his offense can never score enough points to win. Ownership is anxious to begin making some changes and it starts with a full evaluation of the coaching staff and depth chart. Ryan had his chance. He failed.

Dec 11, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher reacts during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Should start to worry

Todd Bowles (New York Jets)

Word filtered out that Todd Bowles was not in good standing with Jets owner Woody Johnson due to the major regression of a team that was 10-6 last year. The lack of effort is what really sticks out with the Jets of late. Their 41-10 pounding by the Colts followed by losing to the one-win 49ers doesn’t reflect well. Leadership is the word being thrown around a lot with that team. There isn’t enough of it, which isn’t a good look for the second-year coach.

Jeff Fisher ( Los Angeles Rams)

Yes he just signed an extension but that is no excuse for the way the Rams are playing. This team looks utterly lost and dispirited. Being demolished at home by the Atlanta Falcons certainly didn’t help matters. Fisher has had five seasons to make this team a winner and instead they’ve hovered between mediocrity and downright bad. Maybe ownership trusts him to get things straightened out, but not with the way this ugly losses are piling up.

Dec 11, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy on the sidelines in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Likely safe but in danger

John Fox (Chicago Bears)

It’s never easy watching so many games get decided by untimely penalties and dropped passes. Even as the Bears slip to 3-10, it’s been evident that John Fox hasn’t lost control of his football team. They continue to fight and play hard every week. Unfortunately it’s a young group still trying to find its way and can’t do that with a litany of injuries to deal with. Team ownership may want a change but logic says Fox gets one more year to fix the problem.