Aaron Glenn, head coach of the New York Jets, is staring down one of the hottest seats in the entire NFL right now, a brutal reality that kicks off a new season after a record-tying 10 head coaching changes last offseason. The league has become notoriously impatient, yanking coaches faster than ever. We’re talking about a profession so tough that even a guy like Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur, with a 65.4% win rate and only one losing season in seven, might be feeling the pressure if things don’t go perfectly. That’s just wild.
The Jets’ Massive Bet on Glenn
Glenn himself was almost a one-and-done guy after a truly disheartening 3-14 season. He survived, but don’t think for a second that means he’s safe. The man replaced 12 of his 22 assistants from last year’s staff, and if that’s not a screaming red flag for “show improvement or else,” I don’t know what is. The Jets were uncompetitive in his first season, and with roster holes still present, another season like that means a change is practically guaranteed. Every single game from here on out is an audition.
Bowles and Taylor: Division Woes and Prime Time Pressure
Across the league, Todd Bowles with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers is feeling the heat big time. His Buccaneers started 6-2 only to completely collapse, losing seven of eight games and blowing the NFC South title. That’s a division that didn’t even have a single team over .500! When you’ve got arguably the most talented roster in your division and can’t seal the deal, folks start asking hard questions. His 35-33 record over four seasons is fine, but it won’t buy him much more time if they don’t dominate the South this year.
Then there’s Zac Taylor in Cincinnati. The Bengals have missed the playoffs three straight seasons, and that’s smack dab in the middle of Joe Burrow’s prime, people! Yeah, Burrow’s injuries contributed to two of those disappointing years, but at some point, excuses run out and urgency needs to take over. Taylor’s 52-63-1 record in seven seasons is rough, especially with a 24-27 mark over the last three. While patience did pay off with a Super Bowl trip at the end of the 2021 season, missing the playoffs again would force the Bengals to take a “long look at everything.” And I mean everything.
Steichen and Quinn: The One-Year Wonders and Injury Excuses
Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen is also under the microscope. It’s rare in this era for a coach to miss the playoffs four times to start his tenure and keep his job. Steichen is 0-for-3 getting Indianapolis to the postseason. Quarterback issues, including Daniel Jones’ torn Achilles last season, were a valid excuse, with the Colts playing very well before Jones went down. Still, he’s one game under .500 as head coach and needs to make the playoffs to silence the whispers.
And talk about a reversal, Dan Quinn of the Washington Commanders is now on this list! A year ago, after a “magical season” leading to the NFC Championship game, this would have been shocking. But last season was a massive step back. Quinn even admitted to a mistake playing Jayden Daniels in a blowout, leading to Daniels dislocating his elbow. Then Quinn changed both coordinators in the offseason. History tells you there’s usually only one more move after that if the team doesn’t improve. This isn’t just pressure, it’s a full-blown emergency for these guys, and every snap of this season is going to define their futures.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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