It’s that time of year again. Christmas cheer, family gatherings, and NFL coaching rumors. As the NFL playoffs approach, fans of the teams on the outside looking in always wonder if the head coach of their favorite team will be back. This year we may see a lot of coaches getting their pink slips. These five coaches are definitely on the hot seat and may not make it to the first round of the NFL postseason before getting the ax.

Gone for sure?

1. Hue Jackson, Cleveland Browns: You have to feel bad in many ways for Jackson, but as many coaches will tell you, “you are what your record says you are.” Jackson is now 1-27 overall since taking over as the Browns head coach, and he is flirting with a 0-16 possibility this season.

In his defense, he has little talent, but Jackson knew what he was getting into when he took the job.

2 John Fox, Chicago Bears: Fox was brought in after being let go by the Broncos as the man who can take the Bears to the next level. He hasn’t. The Bears are 12-32 under Fox. His three-year tenure has produced the worst winning percentage in Bears history for a head coach in Chicago at .273.

3. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals: If the Bengals keep Lewis, they must just love basking in mediocrity. They always commit too many penalties, and they have a great knack of blowing leads to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cincinnati led 17-0 on MNF this past week, only to once again lose 23-20 at the very end.

They haven’t won a postseason game in Lewis’ 15-years as head coach. (0-7) He should be let go, however, don’t be surprised if he isn’t.

On the bubble

While Jackson, Fox, and Lewis are on the hot seat, several other coaches seats are getting very warm. How about Jim Caldwell in Detroit? Caldwell has taken the Lions to the postseason two times in his three seasons, but year four seems to be tanking fast.

The Lions have too many games where, like the Bengals, they look disinterested and make too many mental mistakes. That is a reflection on the coach. Ownership loves Caldwell in Detroit, so he most likely won’t be going anywhere.

Chuck Pagano of Indianapolis Colts and Vance Joseph of the Denver Broncos also are on the lukewarm seating program.

In defense of both coaches, especially Pagano, neither team had a quarterback in 2017. When you lose Andrew Luck for an entire season, how are you expected to compete for a division title and a playoff spot? Pagano deserves one more shot at the top.

Joseph is running the ship for the first time in Denver, and he has had more QB changes in his rookie season than some coaches have in a 10-year career. Excuses aside, the injury bug that hit Denver this season is a big reason they are 3-9 so far in 2017. GM John Elway has to make some major decisions heading into 2018, but one shouldn’t be looking for a coach.
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