Four NFL head coaches on the hot seat who are at risk to continue one of the league’s most unbelievable trends
The NFL has seen a head coaching change in October for eight straight seasons. Will one of these four NFL head coaches on the hot seat in 2026 make it nine?
It’s been eight straight seasons for NFL head coaches on the hot seat. At least one hasn’t seen November every year since 2017.
Think about that for a minute. It’s actually a pretty surreal statistic. Every NFL season since 2018 has seen at least one coach out before November 1st. That includes names like Hue Jackson, Josh McDaniels, Brian Callahan, Matt Rhule, Robert Saleh, Jay Gruden, and Bill O’Brien. It also includes Jon Gruden, who resigned amid an e-mail scandal in 2021. Will the 2026 season make it nine straight years? Here are a few NFL head coaching hot seats to know — and tough their first two months are this season.
Four NFL head coaches on the hot seat with the best chance to extend the league’s streak of dismissals before November
Todd Bowles – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
There are two separate layers to this conversation: the caliber of the team and the difficulty of the schedule. Tampa Bay’s been on a bit of a talent downturn since their peak with Tom Brady — but this is still a competitive roster. There’s a good offensive line, promising young talent on defense, and a quarterback hoping for a contract extension in Baker Mayfield. There should be some level of expectations for this group, as they have enough to compete. The schedule?
| 1. | September 13 | 1:00 p.m. | at Cincinnati Bengals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | September 20 | 1:00 p.m. | Cleveland Browns |
| 3. | September 27 | 4:05 p.m. | Minnesota Vikings |
| 4. | October 4 | 1:00 p.m. | Green Bay Packers |
| 5. | October 8 | 8:15 p.m. | at Dallas Cowboys |
| 6. | October 18 | 1:00 p.m. | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 7. | October 25 | 1:00 p.m. | at Carolina Panthers |
Week 1 will be an interesting matchup because Zac Taylor also makes this list. But is this schedule so daunting that it could put Todd Bowles in a fatal hole? Home games against Cleveland, Minnesota, Green Bay, and Pittsburgh should give Tampa Bay some friendly home-field advantages as a Florida team. That Panthers game will be a big one as the first divisional game of the year, too.
I don’t see a devastating schedule here, which should allow Bowles to gain enough early-season security to avoid having the axe fall.
Zac Taylor – Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals changed their stripes this offseason — they went out and got hyper-aggressive. Joe Burrow has made his dissatisfaction known and the team missed the playoffs for the third straight year in 2025. And the Bengals acted like they knew things needed to change in a hurry. This roster kept their biggest stars and attempted to overhaul the defense with some high-priced moves.
| 1. | September 13 | 1:00 p.m. | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | September 20 | 1:00 p.m. | at Houston Texans |
| 3. | September 27 | 1:00 p.m. | at Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 4. | October 4 | 1:00 p.m. | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 5. | October 11 | 1:00 p.m. | at Miami Dolphins |
| 6. (BYE WEEK) | October 18 | ||
| 7. | October 25 | 1:00 p.m. | at Baltimore Ravens |
That makes this schedule one to watch. Amid all the expectations, it does beg what will happen if the Bengals get off to another slow start. Perhaps the best news for Zac Taylor is that Cincinnati usually does. But road games in Houston and Pittsburgh are tough draws — plus Jacksonville won 13 games last season. If a slow Cincinnati start includes what would be a devastating loss to Miami in Week 5 ahead of their bye week? Things could get interesting. Joe Burrow’s prime is only going to be so long. And the clock is ticking.
Dan Quinn – Washington Commanders
Quinn’s Commanders endured a tough regression in 2025 after a delightful breakout with rookie-season Jayden Daniels. From the NFC Championship Game to 5-12. It was a Murphy’s Law year for the Commanders last year. That is something that Quinn has working for him in this conversation versus his peers — he’s only in Year 3. Bowles is in Year 5 and Taylor is in Year 8.
| 1. | September 13 | 4:25 p.m. | at Philadelphia Eagles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | September 20 | 4:25 p.m. | at Dallas Cowboys |
| 3. | September 27 | 1:00 p.m. | Seattle Seahawks |
| 4. | October 4 | 9:30 a.m. | Indianapolis Colts |
| 5. | October 11 | 1:00 p.m. | New York Giants |
| 6. | October 19 | 8:15 p.m. | at San Francisco 49ers |
The schedule doesn’t do Washington any favors, though. Divisional games in Philly and Dallas, followed by the defending Super Bowl champions coming to town. After that? An international trip with no bye week afterwards and then a West Coast trip to San Francisco. This schedule is brutal. The Washington skill group is looking undermanned this season — so Jayden Daniels is going to have to do some heavy lifting here to help keep the pressure off.
Aaron Glenn – New York Jets
Quinn is in Year 3. Aaron Glenn is entering Year 2. Objectively, the hot seat conversation should not be applied here — especially as the Jets tore their roster to shreds at the 2025 NFL trade deadline. But this is New York. And the media market (and the fan base) were generally unforgiving for Glenn’s effort down the stretch.
New York spent this offseason to help boost the floor of the roster — but they’re still facing a tough opening salvo of games.
| 1. | September 13 | 1:00 p.m. | at Tennessee Titans |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2. | September 20 | 1:00 p.m. | Green Bay Packers |
| 3. | September 27 | 1:00 p.m. | at Detroit Lions |
| 4. | October 4 | 1:00 p.m. | at Chicago Bears |
| 5. | October 11 | 1:00 p.m. | Cleveland Browns |
| 6. | October 18 | 1:00 p.m. | at New England Patriots |
| 7. | October 25 | 1:00 p.m. | Miami Dolphins |
Road games in Detroit, Chicago, and New England to go with a home date against the Packers in the first six weeks? Ouch. If that group of games is paired with home losses to the Browns and/or the Dolphins in October? It could push the narrative on Glenn past the point of no return.
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Washington Commanders News