The New York Jets shocked NFL followers by firing head coach Robert Saleh on Tuesday, two days after his workforce fell to 2-3 in a 23-17 loss in London to the Minnesota Vikings.
Saleh, a well-respected defensive thoughts, was in his fourth season with the Jets. He had a 20-36 file, going 4-13 in 2021 adopted by two 7-10 campaigns. Hope was not but misplaced for the Jets this yr, although, particularly after they performed all however 4 snaps final season with out quarterback Aaron Rodgers. However workforce proprietor Woody Johnson believed a change in Week 6 was required to avoid wasting the season and named defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich the interim coach.
Saleh is unlikely to be the one coach fired sooner or later this season. So who is perhaps subsequent? Right here’s a have a look at six coaches who additionally might be on the new seat.
Pederson, who in February 2018 guided the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Tremendous Bowl win in franchise historical past, was alleged to carry related success to Jacksonville. And he was supposed to assist quarterback Trevor Lawrence obtain his full potential as a game-changing quarterback. However Lawrence, like the remainder of the Jaguars, has sorely underachieved because the midpoint of final season. Pederson’s squad isn’t any nearer to rivalry than when he took over in 2022.
Jacksonville wanted a win within the worst approach Sunday and acquired it, snapping a four-game dropping streak by beating the Indianapolis Colts 37-34. Now the Jags head to their dwelling away from dwelling, London, to face the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots in consecutive weeks. The reprieve from the win over the Colts is not going to final lengthy. Jacksonville wants a victorious journey overseas. If the Jaguars have an embarrassing pair of video games in London, Pederson isn’t any lock to stay on the helm after they return to Florida.
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Jets’ Saleh third NFL coach fired after London loss
It’s definitely not Stefanski’s fault that Cleveland’s brass offered their souls for a can’t-get-right Deshaun Watson. And it’s not his fault that accidents have decimated the Browns’ offensive line whereas additionally hitting some key defensive gamers exhausting. However sooner or later, one thing has to offer for this 1-4 workforce.
Stefanski continues to stay with Watson, though it’s unclear if that’s due to an edict from above or as a result of he actually believes the quarterback has some magic from his Houston Texans days left in him. So, for now, Stefanski should determine tips on how to make this work. He displayed flexibility and creativity whereas positioning Joe Flacco for achievement throughout final yr’s playoff push. Now he should do the identical to ease on-field strain on Watson for elevated productiveness. A more healthy run-pass stability might assist, even when which means utilizing Watson on some designed runs. Rushing up Watson’s tempo with extra brief passes additionally might assist.
But when Stefanski can’t acknowledge the necessity for change and provide you with the required changes, his bosses might look elsewhere for solutions.
Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)
After final yr’s slide from a 10-1 begin to 11-6 end, the Eagles regarded to rebound authoritatively this season. As an alternative, Sirianni has but to determine tips on how to get issues again on observe. Accidents to prime large receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and proper deal with Lane Johnson have definitely hampered the Eagles’ efforts. However quarterback Jalen Hurts hasn’t managed to rediscover the consistency and dominance he displayed throughout his workforce’s march to the Tremendous Bowl throughout the 2022 season.
Sirianni modified offensive and defensive coordinators this offseason, however to this point, the Eagles have upset on either side of the ball. Following an embarrassing loss to Tampa Bay two weeks in the past, Sirianni blamed himself for failing to adequately put together his workforce. The Eagles hope the as soon as extremely regarded Sirianni, who’s 43, can determine tips on how to promptly flip issues round. He can’t afford a second straight disappointing season.
If GM Howie Roseman and proprietor Jeffrey Lurie fired Pederson simply three seasons after his Tremendous Bowl victory, how a lot leeway is there for Sirianni, whose workforce blew a third-quarter lead and misplaced 38-35 to the Chiefs in its Tremendous Bowl look?
Brian Daboll may have extra wins like Sunday’s over the Seahawks to maintain his job. (Luke Johnson / Imagn Photographs)
The Giants used the sixth decide of the 2019 draft on quarterback Daniel Jones, solely to observe him flounder. Three years later, they employed Daboll, hoping he might work the identical magic with Jones that he carried out with Josh Allen because the Buffalo Payments’ offensive coordinator.
Nonetheless, three seasons in, Jones stays considerably restricted and the Giants rank among the many lowliest groups within the league. Daboll’s workforce exceeded expectations in Yr 1, going 9-7-1 and sneaking into the playoffs. However the Giants then regressed, going 6-11 final season, and people struggles have carried over into this season. Expertise deficiencies are partly accountable. However the lack of progress from Jones, and a scarcity of enchancment alongside an offensive line the entrance workplace has labored to improve, are among the many damning strikes in opposition to Daboll.
New York upset the Seattle Seahawks final week, however the prospects for a dramatic turnaround seem unlikely, and that would show pricey for the coach.
Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears (3-2)
For now, Eberflus’ Bears are displaying some life. They’ve received back-to-back video games (in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams and Carolina Panthers) and now head to London to face the Jaguars. It seems that Caleb Williams’ coaches lastly are determining tips on how to higher help him through the use of extra stability to lighten his load and maintain defenses off stability.
Nonetheless, after going 10-24 in his first two seasons, Eberflus stays on shaky floor.
Due to a frightening stretch from Weeks 11 to 16 that features 5 divisional video games, Chicago must maintain constructing momentum whereas banking some wins in opposition to Jacksonville, Washington, Arizona and New England. If indicators of enchancment don’t proceed, Bears officers might go for a change this offseason.
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The 20-17 scratch-and-claw victory Sunday night time over the Pittsburgh Steelers was much-needed for the Cowboys and coach Mike McCarthy. Jerry Jones thinks he has a Tremendous Bowl contender on his fingers, but he doesn’t seem practically as assured in his head coach, who doesn’t have a contract past this season.
At 3-2, the Cowboys stay within the thick of issues. But when the offense continues to sputter, and if Dallas can’t survive this robust upcoming stretch in opposition to Detroit, San Francisco, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Houston and Washington, the temperature of McCarthy’s seat definitely will rise. Jones might not pull the plug midseason, as a result of that’s not his fashion. A poor displaying throughout this stretch, although, would possibly nix McCarthy’s possibilities of touchdown an extension this offseason.
(Prime pictures of Kevin Stefanski and Nick Sirianni: Patrick Smith and Richard Rodriguez / Getty Photographs)
