By Jack McNicholas

May 21, 2020

There are five main coaches in the hot seat going into the 2020 season. This does not mean that I believe these coaches will get fired after next season, as always there are unlimited possibilities to how the season could unwind. These are simply coaches who have had a hot seat during their current tenure with the teams and will be under the microscope heading into next season. This list is compiled of five coaches who must improve their team from last season. Each of these teams have work to do and high expectations from fan bases to succeed for all of their own reasons. 

Adam Gase: New York Jets 

Profile with Current Team: One Season, 7-9 Record:

Adam Gase came to New York last season and finished 7-9 in his first season. The Jets finished third in the AFC East division and no playoff berth. In the first half of last season the fans of Gang Green were calling for the firing of their head coach in week nine when the team stood at 1-7. They eventually finished the last eight games with a record of 6-2 in the remaining games. One main area that Gase can improve will be the offense. The New York Jets ranked second to last in total offense in the entire league, with only 273 yards per game and 17.2 points per game. The Jets need to imporve, especially if Gase wants to be in New York for the long haul. He must show in 2020 that he can turn the team into a contender. With Tom Brady out of the division, the Jets must take advantage of this window. The road division games will be crucial if the team wants to make any playoff run. The team posted a 2-6 Away record last season. An improved offense and winning those crucial games will be important. Sam Darnold showed flashes of his potential and can lead the Jets offense. The team and fan base are behind Sam but Adam Gase will have to prove he can be the coach that helps Darnold get to the next level. Especially if your an offensive ‘guru’.

Doug Marrone: Jacksonville Jaguars: 

Profile with Current Team: Four Seasons, 22-28 Record

Doug Marrone took over for Gus Bradley at the end of the 2016 season after Bradley had both successful and unsuccessful seasons with the team. Marrone took over in 2017 and went 10-6 his first year as head coach for full season with an AFC Championship apperance the same year. 5-11 in 2018, and 6-10 in 2019 is just flat out disappointing. For the last two years, his team has been at the bottom of the AFC South after once sitting on the top. The Jags are trying to get back to that defense-first mentality that helped them make a deep playoff run in 2017. After losing big names such as Marcell Dareus, A.J Boyue, Calais Campbell and Jalen Ramsey, it’s going to be hard to get to that level again. Whether they cut the players or traded them, the team was clearly cleaning house. Ramsey was traded mid-season to the Los Angeles Rams for two first round selections. The team went defense and drafted C.J Henderson out of the University of Florida, as well as edge rusher K’Lavon Chaisson out of LSU. The team does not look as competitive as it once was. This puts a lot of pressure on Marrone to help the team perform well. The team fired executive vice president of football operations, Tom Coughlin in December as well as offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. The only survivor of this rebuild has been Marrone, surprisingly. If the team has an unsuccessful season with no improvments, they will have to change the head coach and go into rebuild mode in 2020. 

Matt Patricia: Detroit Lions

Profile with Current Team: Two Seasons, 9-22-1 Record:

Matt Patricia has the Lions ownership behind him, but two seasons in Detroit have not been kind to him. His 9-22-1 record is concerning. The Lions have finished dead last in the competitive NFC North division both years under Patricia. In 2019 the Lions ranked 17^th in offensive yards and 19th in points, without Matthew Stafford for the last eight games of the season. The team has potential and Patricia has to make it work. The seat is gettin hot for Patricia even with the front office support in May. For that reason he must show in 2020 that the Lions can be competitive. Although, the defensive minded coach has not had a large share of fine defenses the past two years. Lions ranked 26^th in points allowed (26.2) and Patricia’s defensive scheme is in need of star power and an adjustment. Patricia brought in players that fit his scheme from his time in New England, such as Danny Shelton and Jamie Collins. Players more familiar with the defensive scheme will help this defense immensely and hopefully make them competitive in a tough NFC North divison. The Lions seem to have full confidence in the head coach and want him to help lead franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford to a successful 2020 season. The Lions fired the previous coach, Jim Caldwell, after four seasons after he had three seasons with 9+ wins and two trips to the playoffs. If Caldwell was let go for winning, Patricia has a reason to feel the heat in 2020.  It would not be shocking if Patricia could be coaching a new team if the Lions do not have an improved season. Maybe as a defensive coordinator somewhere?

Dan Quinn: Atlanta Falcons

Profile with Current Team: Five Seasons, 43-37 Record:

In 2019, the team started 1-7 in the first half of the season after finishing the season 7-9. Many thought midseason that Quinn would be fired following the end to the season but a huge winning surge at the end of the year kept him safe. Quinn has had two playoff appearances, and NFC Championship win and a Superbowl apperance in five years as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, posting a 43-37 record in that span. He Has won 7+ games in all five seasons at the helm in Atlanta. 2020 will be a year that Quinn will need to make a playoff push again. With Tom Brady and Drew Brees in the NFC South division this year, it will be a huge test for the Falcons. Quinn needs to prove that he can take this stacked Falcons team to the next level. After the addition of Todd Gurley, Atlanta’s offense is loaded with talent, featuring quarterback Matt Ryan and receiving weapons Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley. Quinn needs to have a season in which they can appear competitive in the division, and pick up where they left off in the second half of 2019. Quinn was originally brought to Atlanta to fix the defense and last season the Atlanta defense ranked 23^rd in points allowed (24.9). Dan Quinn hasn’t been to the playoffs since 2017 and will need to do his best to make it in 2020. Since being hired in 2015, his team only won their division once. In 2020, Quinn must have the Falcons compete, or he will be walking out the door.

Matt Nagy: Chicago Bears

Profile with Current Team: Two Seasons, 20-12 Record:

It has been a tale of two seasons for Coach Matt Nagy in the windy city. In 2018, the Bears won the division and were a missed field goal away from advancing to. the divisonal. In 2019, the team posted an 8-8 record and a playoff miss. While the defense has only improved on an already powerful unit, the offense could be the Achilles heel for this team once again in 2020. This will make Nagy’s coaching position on the hot seat all the hotter. The defensive unit was consistent, 9^th in total defense yards allowed a game (324.1), 9^th in passing yards allowed per game (222.1), 9^th in rushing yards allowed per game (102 ). However, the Bears offense ranked 29^th in total points scored which made all the defensive work count for nothing. With an offseason that included trading for veteran Nick Foles, Nagy is hoping that this quarterback competition will help open this offense up. Many of the Chicago players are hungry to repeat their successful run from two years ago and bring a championship to Chicago once again. The Bears want to get back to the playoffs and that is their goal this season. In a tough NFC North division it will be a playoff or bust season as Nagy enters his third year. Although he has a winning record, the team may have to make some changes if they don’t find success in 2020, and these changes could start with Nagy.