Los Angeles Rams

NFL Week 10: 5 Coaches on Hot Seat

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

foxsports

Oct 2, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Jeff Fisher looks on against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Here’s a look at five more head coaches on the hot seat heading into NFL Week 10.

From Jeff Fisher to Chip Kelly, the list of head coaches on the hot seat heading into NFL Week 10 continues to be an interesting one as numerous teams are starting to hit the panic button for the 2016 season.

Prior to the start of the regular season, there were plenty of talks regarding Fisher and whether he was the right choice for the Los Angeles Rams at head coach, especially when it comes to the development of rookie Jared Goff in the future. With an already stellar defense, the Rams were expected to elevate their game to the next level this season with an improved offense, but that has been far from the case with the way this team has played over the last four games.

As for Kelly’s 49ers, let’s just say this team had low expectations at the beginning of the season, as they seemed to be heading towards a rebuilding year. With that being said, nobody could have predicted San Francisco would look this awful over their first eight games. Kelly’s team hasn’t seen a win since, coincidentally, opening weekend against the Rams.

So where do Fisher and Kelly rank on this week’s list? Here’s a look at the latest list of head coaches on the hot seat heading into Week 10.

Nov 6, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Chuck Pagano reacts in the fourth quarter during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

Honorable Mention: Chuck Pagano (Last Week No. 3)

The Indianapolis Colts have to be one of the most frustrating teams in the NFL to figure out when looking at how inconsistent they have been this season. One week after an embarrassing home loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, the Colts bounced back with a completely unexpected win on the road against the Green Bay Packers. This helped take some of the pressure off Chuck Pagano as head coach.

Despite being on the hot seat for most of last season, Indianapolis made the decision to bring Pagano back for the 2016 season after rewarding the coach with a four-year extension in January. It was no secret the Colts most likely would have won the AFC South last year with a healthier Andrew Luck, but there’s no excuse for how this team has underperformed this season.

After pulling off the impressive win at Lambeau Field, though, it’s time for Pagano to make sure his team fixes their inconsistency issues and carry the momentum into Week 10 against the Tennessee Titans. If the Colts can find a way to win two games in a row for the first time this season, there’s a good chance Pagano will avoid this list once next week rolls around.

Oct 2, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears head coach John Fox during the game against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

5. John Fox (Last Week No. 5)

More from NFL Spin Zone

It’s amazing to see just how much John Fox has seen his team struggle at home over the last two seasons. But the Chicago Bears received a boost of confidence after defeating the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field back in Week 8. Now, the question becomes whether Fox’s team can continue playing at this high level as they prepare for key road matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Injuries to key players has been one of the reasons behind Chicago’s struggles this season as it was clear how much of a difference having Jay Cutler in the lineup was against Minnesota. If there was anything to take away from the Bears during that victory, it would be that there are no issues when it comes to the relationship between Cutler and Fox.

In fact, Chicago should be doing everything in their power to make sure Alshon Jeffery is around for the long run, which would obviously make Cutler happy. As bad as it sounds, Fox deserves a little benefit of the doubt when looking at the team he inherited when taking over as head coach last season compared to the type of talent he had to work with as a member of the Denver Broncos.

Oct 16, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly watches play during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at New Era Field. Buffalo beat San Francisco 45-16. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

4. Chip Kelly (Newcomer)

When will the San Francisco 49ers realize that hiring Chip Kelly as their head coach was a terrible idea? Since shutting out the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1, the 49ers haven’t been able to win a single game as they enter Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals on a seven-game losing streak.

The sad thing is, it doesn’t look like San Francisco is going to see that losing streak come to an end anytime soon when looking at their upcoming schedule. As if facing the Cardinals on the road wasn’t already tough enough, the 49ers have to deal with an even tougher task the following weekend as they host the 7-1 New England Patriots.

Over the last couple of years, San Francisco has received plenty of criticism for the way their organization was run, and the hiring of Kelly is already turning out to be a bust. Sure, it sounds unfair to be frustrated with Kelly since he is in his first season with the 49ers, but watching this team over the last seven games has been absolutely painful to witness.

There was a reason why the Philadelphia Eagles were willing to give up on Kelly soon, and despite how unlikely it is to see a team fire a head coach after only one season, the head coach could easily be the exception in this scenario.

Oct 30, 2016; London, United Kingdom; Cincinnati Bengals coach Marvin Lewis reacts in the second quarter against the Washington Redskins during game 17 of the NFL International Series at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

3. Marvin Lewis (Last Week No. 4)

One of the most mind-boggling statistics in the NFL is that Marvin Lewis is still head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, despite an 0-7 record in the playoffs. To top it off, the Bengals have been one of the biggest disappointments of the 2016 season. And the sad thing is they’re not even out of the race for the AFC North title thanks to the recent struggles of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens.

For whatever reason, Lewis has always been the type of head coach that finds success during the regular season, but can’t come through when it matters the most once the playoffs roll around. When looking at some of their key losses from this year, such as the ones to the New England Patriots and Dallas Cowboys, it’s tough to imagine Lewis and the Bengals overcoming their playoff hump if they even make it there.

Time is running out when it comes to Lewis proving he deserves to be Cincinnati’s head coach as the team is coming off a frustrating tie to the Washington Redskins from their Week 8 game in London. With an important Monday night matchup against the New York Giants, let’s hope the Bengals can find a way to come through for Lewis instead of failing to prevail against another playoff caliber team.

Sep 11, 2016; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Gus Bradley looks on against the Green Bay Packers during the first half at EverBank Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

2. Gus Bradley (Last Week No. 1)

No head coach has seen his name more on this list over the last couple of week than Gus Bradley as the Jacksonville Jaguars continue to be nothing but a disappointment in 2016. At the beginning of the season, the Jaguars were considered a team to keep an eye on in the AFC when it comes to potentially making a run at a Wild Card spot in the AFC. But that obviously is no longer going to happen.

Even if Jacksonville almost did find a way to overcome the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 9, Bradley continues to dig himself a deeper hole each week as the head coach seems capable of losing his job at any moment. For a team loaded with talent on the offensive side of the ball, watching the Jaguars score 17 points or fewer in three of the last four games is the perfect example as to why Bradley’s job is anything but safe.

The fact that Bradley is in the middle of his fourth season as head coach with the team and he still hasn’t been able to record more than five wins in a single season shows he may not be the right man for the job. And with Jacksonville only recording two wins over their first eight games, it looks like that unfortunate streak is going to continue for Bradley, especially if he loses the job by the end of the season.

Nov 6, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher during a NFL football game against the Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

1. Jeff Fisher (Last Week No. 2)

Remember at the beginning of the 2016 season when the Los Angeles Rams were reportedly in discussion with Jeff Fisher to receive an extension? It’s amazing how quickly situations can change as Fisher’s fate could be determined over the next three games with the way the Rams have been playing as of late.

After Los Angeles was embarrassed by the New York Giants in London, reports surfaced about how Fisher’s future with the organization would be determined based off how well the team did over the next four games. So how did the first game of Fisher’s audition turn out?

Unfortunately, Los Angeles picked up right where they left off in their disappointments after suffering a 13-10 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 9 as the offense struggled once again. Fisher made a bold move to go with veteran Case Keenum at quarterback to start the season over rookie Jared Goff. And while that seemed like a wise move at the time, it’s clear this decision could cost the head coach his job.

Watching the Rams offense has been nothing but painful as they have scored just 10 points in each of their last two contests. If Los Angeles fans have it their way, Fisher will be out of a job before the four games is even up.

This article originally appeared on