The 2024 NFL season is sort of upon us, and it’s shaping as much as be an thrilling one. Whereas we’re all waiting for how our groups will look and hopefully enhance this yr, it’s essential to recollect one of many constants of the NFL: Whereas some groups will get higher, others will regress. Not everybody will probably be taking the anticipated step ahead, and a few will probably be taking a step again.
On that be aware, it’s a superb alternative to test in on a number of the most risky teaching conditions within the NFL. I delved by the 32 head coaches to provide you with my top-five hottest seats within the league heading into 2024. Many of those names gained’t be terribly shocking, as a number of have been thought of candidates to be let go this offseason, however a pair have been somewhat tougher than others.
Mike McCarthy
I believe I communicate for many NFL followers once I say that we have been shocked when Mike McCarthy wasn’t fired after the Dallas Cowboys’ most up-to-date playoff defeat. He’s again for 2024, coming off the lack of one other key coordinator in Dan Quinn and a totally disappointing offseason marred by a failure to take motion on quarterback Dak Prescott’s contract. To place it merely, the Cowboys have been suspiciously lax in addressing veteran departures and the a number of holes on the roster.
Whereas I believe the draft class has the potential to be good, it’s a tricky project for any rookie offensive lineman to come back in and play straight away. Tyler Guyton and Cooper Beebe could possibly be thrust into the highlight instantly to plug holes, and I’m undecided that may produce nice outcomes — at the least, not straight away. The receiving corps is extremely skinny after CeeDee Lamb, and the shortage of urgency to handle operating again led to an uninspiring reunion with late-career Ezekiel Elliott.
I’m undecided any of this stuff are explicitly McCarthy’s fault, however everyone knows who will get the blame if Dallas regresses in 2024.
Matt Eberflus
Matt Eberflus is in an odd scenario with the Chicago Bears. In some ways, it might’ve made sense for the Bears to make a clear break and begin contemporary with a brand new head coach in 2024. The staff could be very a lot within the midst of what looks like a perpetually ongoing rebuild, and Eberflus’ abysmal 10-24 document by two seasons doesn’t precisely encourage confidence. On the similar time, the roster has been removed from aggressive and Eberflus can argue that he didn’t get any say within the earlier quarterback resolution. Certain, honest sufficient.
All that being mentioned, expectations will probably be by the roof for Chicago in 2024 due to an aggressive offseason headlined by the addition of No. 1 general decide Caleb Williams at quarterback. If issues don’t take off fairly as quick as hoped and the Bears are as soon as once more choosing close to the highest of the NFL Draft, the pitchforks will come out — and Eberflus would be the one on the sharp finish.
Dennis Allen
Have you ever observed a theme thus far? The primary three coaches on this record, Dennis Allen included, are all guys who have been in peril of being fired on the finish of the 2023 season. Allen has been a largely uninspiring coach for the New Orleans Saints, clawing his approach to an under-.500 document over two seasons regardless of possessing one of many oldest and costliest rosters within the NFL and enjoying in a division that has been just about large open for the taking.
The costly acquisition of Derek Carr was presupposed to be the mandatory transfer to get the Saints again on prime within the NFC South, however the staff in the end fell quick as soon as once more. Allen probably has a Week 18 Falcons collapse to thank for holding his job heading into 2024, however issues are trying significantly extra dire for the Saints this season. The roster has continued to age and skinny out due to years of cap shenanigans. New Orleans has a fair more durable path to the playoffs this season, and three straight misses would nearly definitely imply the top for Allen.
Robert Saleh
It looks as if the signing of Aaron Rodgers, and his subsequent harm, most likely saved Robert Saleh’s job in 2023. Maybe Rodgers actually would have lifted the New York Jets to playoff competition and renewed religion in Saleh’s management, however his harm basically gave Saleh a free cross. Whereas it’s clear Saleh is a good defensive thoughts and he’s put collectively a prime unit in New York over the previous two seasons, the offense has constantly held the staff again.
Saleh is an abysmal 18-33 over his three seasons, and also you’d anticipate just about another coach to be proven the door in that scenario. That signifies that 2024 might be “playoffs or bust” time for each Saleh and the whole regime in New York. The Jets will clearly be higher with a wholesome Aaron Rodgers, however can they actually compete with the highest contenders within the AFC? Are they a greater staff than the Chiefs, Ravens, Payments, or Texans? Can Aaron Rodgers truly keep wholesome? Will he retire mid-season to do ayahuasca and go on darkness retreats? A playoff berth alone might not be sufficient to save lots of Saleh’s job given the expectations across the staff.
Brian Daboll
It’s fairly uncommon to see a coach coming off an AP Coach of Yr award simply two seasons prior coming into the season on the recent seat, however the New York Giants are an uncommon staff. Brian Daboll labored magic in New York to get the staff to a 9-7-1 document, playoff berth, and upset victory over the Vikings in 2022, however issues fully fell aside in 2023. The Giants have been among the many league’s worst offenses and have been close to the underside defensively as nicely, with Daniel Jones performing poorly coming off his extension earlier than spending nearly all of the season on IR.
New York is in a tough spot heading into 2024, because the staff selected to cross on a quarterback improve for one more enormous want, a large receiver improve. Which may have been the only option for the staff, however it most likely wasn’t the only option for Daboll’s job safety. I nonetheless consider Daboll is an efficient coach and wouldn’t be shocked if he bounces again this season, however he’ll have to drag out some extra of that 2022 magic to overhaul the Eagles or Cowboys within the playoff race.
