A total of seven head coaches had to take their hats after last season. But the remaining coaches are not all firmly in the saddle either. We give an overview of who will be on the hot seat in the upcoming season.
NFL: The chair will wobble with these head coaches in 2021
Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals)
6. 25. 1. Three numbers are enough to show why Taylor’s seat as head coach of the Bengals is likely to be the hottest in the NFL ahead of the 2021 season. Taylor won just six games in his first two seasons, he lost 25 games, and once there was a draw. Only six head coaches in NFL history were worse.
Of course, the Bengals’ disappointing performance over the past two years is not just down to Taylor. Without a doubt, his role was one of the most ungrateful in the NFL during this period. In 2019, the Bengals squad probably had the least talent in the league, in 2020 the team suffered from enormous bad luck with injuries, especially due to the serious injury of quarterback Joe Burrow.
But even with these factors in mind, Taylor’s performance in Cincinnati has been disappointing so far. Even before Burrow’s injury, the Bengals had won just two of nine games of the season. Real Taylor handwriting was far too seldom seen in both the Bengals’ play designs and game plan.
In the coming season, a significant increase is needed. With Burrow returning, a highly talented receiving corps and an improved offensive line, Taylor, who was promised a similar development when he signed on with Sean McVay in Los Angeles, now has no more excuses. It is doubtful that the Bengals will be able to play for the playoffs in the hard-fought AFC North, but the team should at least come close to a balanced record in 2021 – otherwise Taylor could be kicked out during the season.
Matt Nagy (Chicago Bears)
Nagy has the best personal record of any coach on this list. The 43-year-old has won 28 of his 48 regular season games since becoming head coach of the Chicago Bears. The problem: the team is not developing in the right direction. After a convincing debut season with twelve wins and the division win in the NFC North, the Bears ended the last two seasons with a balanced record in the league average.
Accordingly, Nagy is now being viewed critically in Chicago. Already during the previous season there was speculation about a dismissal, the narrow playoff participation saved Nagy in the end. But the Bears are now clearly in the middle of the league – not a desirable situation.
There are probably only two scenarios that can ensure Nagy’s whereabouts in the Windy City. Scenario one: The Bears are clearly improved as a team and at least return to the circle of the extended contenders. Scenario two: Justin Fields makes the step into the NFL brilliantly and blossoms in Nagy’s offensive system.
The first of the two scenarios in particular seems unlikely, however. In his only season with a positive record, Nagy benefited greatly from the excellent defense of Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio. It remains to be seen whether Nagy can live up to his former reputation as an offensive genius and lead Fields to success. For the time being, Andy Dalton will remain the starter in Chicago anyway.
Mike McCarthy (Dallas Cowboys)
McCarthy is already well into his second year. The 57-year-old succeeded Jason Garrett, who hadn’t finished a single one with a negative record in his last four seasons, and won just six games in 2020.
Of course, the Cowboys had to contend with a lot of bad luck with injuries last season, especially the season off of quarterback Dak Prescott hit the team hard. Nevertheless, most of the team’s appearances are unlikely to have corresponded to the cowboys’ self-image. McCarthy certainly cannot afford another season without a positive record.
The demands of “America’s Team” are clear: Dallas should be one of the best teams in the NFC, and ideally even play for the Super Bowl. There are many prerequisites for this, especially in the offense with Prescott as the top 10 quarterback and a strong receiving corps.
Whether McCarthy can meet these demands in Dallas is questionable. Even in Green Bay, it was always speculated what part quarterback Aaron Rodgers had in the success of the Packers – and what part McCarthy. In particular, the defense of the cowboys will have to increase significantly in 2021, otherwise the McCarthy chapter would probably be over after less than two years.
Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona Cardinals)
Kingsbury’s bare track record in his first two seasons as head coach doesn’t actually come across as that of a coach worried for his job. The 41-year-old took over the Cardinals as the worst team in the league, improved the team record in his first year – Kyler Murray was also voted Offensive Rookie of the Year – and just missed the playoffs in his second season with eight wins.
So far so good. On a closer look, however, Kingsbury’s balance sheet doesn’t look that rosy anymore. For one thing, some observers had hoped for an even bigger jump from the Cardinals in 2020. After the trade for DeAndre Hopkins and a start of the season with five wins from the first seven games, the 8-8 record at the end of the season was rather disappointing.
On the other hand, the development of the offense under Kingsbury, whose spread offense had been eagerly awaited in the NFL, is disappointing. According to the DVOA, Arizona only had the 19th best offense in the NFL in the preseason, Kyler Murray’s yards per pass attempt ranked 22nd in the league. The Cardinals were only rarely able to convince offensively.
Before the 2021 season, the expectations in Glendale have increased again. The signings of players like JJ Watt, Rodney Hudson and AJ Green have underscored that the Cardinals see themselves in win-now mode. Reaching the playoffs is probably the minimum goal in the coming season. Should this be missed, Kingsbury’s time with the Cardinals will come to an end.
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