NFL Hot Seat: Ron Rivera rising fast up the list
By Erik Lambert
The NFL hot seat is just a couple of weeks away from really revving into high gear as several jobs are set to become available.
Two weeks are left until Black Monday is set to arrive. Some coaches likely already know they’re out while others are desperately scrambling to see if they can rally in time to at least buy one more year. It’s going to be a fascinating finish with some names fading into the background while others are surging into the spotlight. Here are the ones that fans should keep a close eye on over the next 14 days.
Gone
Todd Bowles (New York Jets)
He’s not an overall terrible coach and certainly not the worst the Jets have ever had. Still, it’s hard to escape reality. Bowles hasn’t made the playoffs once in his tenure and now he’s shown that he might not be up to the task of developing Sam Darnold as a quarterback. The odds heavily favor New York going after an offensive guy for that job. Bowles will no doubt be scooped up in short order for coordinator work, but his time in New York is done.
Dirk Koetter (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Like Bowles, Koetter has the simple fact hovering over him that he’s never made the playoffs. It’s even worse for him though considering he’s had an easily a more talented roster. The best he’s managed is 9-7 and his inability to elevate Jameis Winston beyond his constant turnover issues is the nail in the coffin. The Buccaneers will have a tough decision. Do they bring in somebody who can try to salvage Winston or somebody who can simply move the team forward?