Which NFL head coaches are on the hot seat entering Week 6?
The Panthers fired head coach Matt Rhule after they fell to 1-4. Which other NFL head coaches need to worry about their jobs this week?
This season started with a lot of talk about Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy being in the hot seat. The first coach to get canned this season though, was Panthers head coach Matt Rhule after their loss to the 49ers brought them to 1-4. McCarthy on the other hand, is sitting pretty at 4-1 with a backup quarterback in for all four of those wins. There are some other coaches who should be careful how they make their next moves though. Let’s take a look at which coaches are in trouble heading into Week 6.
Nathaniel Hackett, Denver Broncos
It has been a crap show all season for Nathaniel Hackett and his bizarre decision-making and it just got even worse in Week 5 when the Broncos lost 12-9 to the Colts in overtime. For a team that has quarterback Russell Wilson and talented young players like Courtland Sutton, Jerry Jeudy, and Javonte Williams, you have to wonder what is going wrong for the Broncos, especially considering their schedule so far has been relatively easy. Hackett is looking like a one-and-done coach for the Broncos
Ron Rivera, Washington Commanders
The Commanders are currently at the bottom of the NFC East at 1-4. The lack of a steady quarterback for such a long time has been a big problem for Washington. Rivera decided to go with veteran Carson Wentz this season and that has not gone so well for the Commanders. Just last week, he threw an interception with nine seconds left in the game that otherwise could have given the Commanders a late victory over the Titans. It’s been too long now that the Commanders have done anything good. Rivera should be sweating.
Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona Cardinals
It’s been four years and it’s still unclear whether Kingsbury or quarterback Kyler Murray is the reason the Cardinals can’t get past 5-9. The duo got off to a hot start their first year, but have been average ever since, missing the post season for the next three seasons, and are now sitting at 2-3. So it’s looking like more of the same in 2022. In their Week 5 game against the undefeated Eagles, Kingsbury made a strange call to have Murray spike the ball on third down.
Kingsbury said he thought they had gotten the first down on the run before, but even once he realized it was third down, he still decided to spike the ball. That forced a field goal attempt, which would have tied the game, but Matt Ammendola missed it and they lost 20-17. Despite the contract extension he was given this offseason, Kingsbury is in the hot seat, too.