2017 NFL Hot Seat: Which Head Coaches Are Fading Fast?

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – SEPTEMBER 17: Head coach Chuck Pagano of the Indianapolis Colts looks on prior to the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

The 2017 NFL hot seat already has some early occupants. Men who know their jobs were already in jeopardy before the season began.

Things have only gotten worse for them since the games kicked off. This year really could be one that sees a changing of the old guard. One-time stapled of the head coaching scene who are put out to pasture by a youth movement spearheaded by names like Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan. At the end of the day though it always comes back to winning. Do any of the names on the following list have a chance to save their skins one more time?

John Fox (Chicago Bears)

Traditionally this franchise doesn’t like to change head coaches but the reality is John Fox isn’t doing the job. He’s getting older and his team is playing a lot of undisciplined football. Going into this Sunday Fox is just 9-25 is his Bears tenure thus far. Given the state of his wide receiver position, the injury problems, his stubborn support of the ineffective Mike Glennon and a brutal schedule and that’s likely to get a lot worse before it gets better.

Temperature: Blazing

Sean Payton (New Orleans Saints)

Three-straight seasons of 7-9 finishes has finally begun to dull the luster of Sean Payton among New Orleans Saints fans. His Super Bowl win seems like such a long time ago. Though the offense continues to put up video game numbers, Payton’s inability to fix a chronically bad defense threatens to undue what appeared to be a Hall of Fame legacy in the making. This 2017 season has already started 0-2. His defense is still bad and worse still the offense isn’t scoring.

Temperature: Hot

Chuck Pagano (Indianapolis Colts)

One should really not be so hard on Chuck Pagano. He got the Colts to the playoffs three-straight years and to an 8-8 record last season despite what is obviously one of the worst rosters in the league. Having Andrew Luck was a big help sure, but Pagano has coached this team up. Unfortunately the Ryan Grigson debacle is rearing its ugly head in 2017. Now with a new GM Chris Ballard in charge, it’s difficult to envision Pagano surviving another year unless they turn things around.

Seat: Hot

Todd Bowles (New York Jets)

One really has to feel for Todd Bowles. When he had a proper roster in 2015, he came one game away from making the playoffs with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Then the New York Jets systematically blew up the roster, leaving him with almost nothing to work with. It’s hard to say where he stands at this point. Almost everybody expects the Jets to finish with the worst record in the league. If that’s the case, will the team give Bowles time to rebuild the roster?

Temperature: Warm

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