Which NFL coach will be fired first?

Tue Aug 17, 2010 6:33 PM EDT

In the NFL, the five-year plan died once free agency and the salary cap introduced owners to the concept of the dramatic turnaround. (Thanks for nothing, Greatest Show on Turf.) The three-year plan fell victim to the 2001 Patriots and a string of worst-to-first turnarounds that, while not delivering a Super Bowl title, proved that a new coach and a new attitude can take a team from turmoil to the tournament. Along the way, four franchises (the Packers in 1999, the Redskins in 2001, the Dolphins in 2007, and the Falcons in 2009) have seen fit to operate on a one-year plan, firing a head coach after only 16 regular-season games. It has created a sense that, in any given year, no coach enjoys true safety from termination.

Results with 22 short comments
Total of 4,518 votes - click on the "Display Comments" bar below to sort comments

Tom Cable, Raiders
 
19.2%
(869 votes)
Lovie Smith, Bears
 
14.8%
(669 votes)
Eric Mangini, Browns
 
12.1%
(547 votes)
Jack Del Rio, Jaguars
 
7.4%
(334 votes)
Raheem Morris, Bucs
 
6.5%
(292 votes)
Wade Phillips, Cowboys
 
6.1%
(275 votes)
John Fox, Panthers
 
5.4%
(245 votes)
Brad Childress, Vikings
 
4.1%
(187 votes)
Tom Coughlin, Giants
 
2.9%
(131 votes)
Bill Belichick, Patriots
 
2.6%
(116 votes)
Steve Spagnuolo, Rams
 
1.9%
(85 votes)
Chan Gailey, Bills
 
1.8%
(82 votes)
Josh McDaniels, Broncos
 
1.8%
(81 votes)
Norv Turner, Chargers
 
1.7%
(76 votes)
Todd Haley, Chiefs
 
1.3%
(57 votes)
Jeff Fisher, Titans
 
1.1%
(48 votes)
Mike Tomlin, Steelers
 
1.1%
(48 votes)
Jim Schwartz, Lions
 
1%
(43 votes)
Gary Kubiak, Texans
 
0.9%
(41 votes)
Andy Reid, Eagles
 
0.9%
(39 votes)
Marvin Lewis, Bengals
 
0.8%
(38 votes)
Rex Ryan, Jets
 
0.8%
(36 votes)
Pete Carroll, Seahawks
 
0.6%
(27 votes)
Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals
 
0.6%
(26 votes)
Mike Singletary, 49ers
 
0.5%
(23 votes)
Tony Sparano, Dolphins
 
0.5%
(23 votes)
Mike McCarthy, Packers
 
0.4%
(19 votes)
Sean Payton, Saints
 
0.4%
(19 votes)
John Harbaugh, Ravens
 
0.3%
(13 votes)
Mike Shanhan, Redskins
 
0.3%
(12 votes)
Mike Smith, Falcons
 
0.2%
(9 votes)
Jim Caldwell, Colts
 
0.2%
(8 votes)
Display Comments:
Tom Coughlin, Giants

it's time for him to go

    #1
     - tim alexander-2226883
     - 10:52 am EDT on Wed Aug 18, 2010
    Jack Del Rio, Jaguars

    The Jags could easily be 2-6 when they get a bye week. With the financial implications facing the Jags I think Del Rio is the first to go.

    • 2 votes
    #2
     - Omega-2237193
     - 6:17 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
    Jack Del Rio, Jaguars

    Jags need new fire

    • 1 vote
    #3
     - Steve Graves
     - 7:47 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
    Wade Phillips, Cowboys

    Phillips will be the latest in a long line of coaches in Dallas, under Jerry Jones, who will be fired if the "Boys aren't 3 games up by Dec

      #4
       - Devil's Advocate-784471
       - 8:29 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
      Rex Ryan, Jets

      New stadium means good public image required. Ryan mean the exact opposite

        #5
         - Sashhenka
         - 8:55 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
        Raheem Morris, Bucs

        Andy Ried should have been fired a long time ago

        • 1 vote
        #6
         - Maurice Muhammad
         - 9:16 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
        Chan Gailey, Bills

        No QB, No OL, banged up RBs.

          #7
           - TarponKJ
           - 10:01 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
          Brad Childress, Vikings

          Brett Favre; 2011 head coach for the Vikings!

            #8
             - Fran the Man
             - 10:08 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
            Mike Tomlin, Steelers

            Tomlin will be exposed as having no control over the team and let go.

              #9
               - rockinron
               - 10:25 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
              Wade Phillips, Cowboys

              If the 'Boys get off to a slow start, Wade will be staring down the barrel of Jerry Jones' six shooter.

                #10
                 - WSClark
                 - 10:31 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                Lovie Smith, Bears

                No fire in his belly, his Dusty Baker coaching approach inspires no one fan, or player!

                • 1 vote
                #11
                 - William Root
                 - 10:51 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                Brad Childress, Vikings

                Vikings tank.Florio,you need to check facts. Falcons have not fired coach after 16 games.Petrino quit midseason in 07 not 09.

                  #12
                   - David-2232481
                   - 11:13 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                  Lovie Smith, Bears

                  An aging defense, and a petulant child at QB, spells doom in the windy city.

                    #13
                     - Azbolts
                     - 11:23 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                    Eric Mangini, Browns

                    Mangini's early success with the Jets has hurt him. He got the title of Mangenius and then it was too much for him to live up to.

                      #14
                       - John-1914316
                       - 11:56 am EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                      Eric Mangini, Browns

                      If the Browns don't start out well, I could see Holmgren just putting a puppet in there while he calls the shots.

                        #15
                         - dman4444444
                         - 12:03 pm EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                        Rex Ryan, Jets

                        Because he's gonna get hungry and eat Tom Coughlin.

                          #16
                           - Phil Commander
                           - 1:17 pm EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                          Raheem Morris, Bucs

                          Florida's biggest failure will not chnage for this year, and probably not for years to come.

                            #17
                             - Jay S.J.
                             - 1:20 pm EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                            Wade Phillips, Cowboys

                            Cable could be first since he's a jerk but no one else wants that job. Childress would be ideal (with Favre, too) but I'll opt for Phillips

                              #18
                               - Bailey Quarters
                               - 2:59 pm EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                              Lovie Smith, Bears

                              The one guy who can't count on a full season to prove his worth. As soon as they lose 3 in a row he's gone.

                                #19
                                 - seebray
                                 - 3:48 pm EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                                Wade Phillips, Cowboys

                                Dallas will continue to underachieve.

                                  #20
                                   - walrawc
                                   - 4:07 pm EDT on Fri Aug 20, 2010
                                  Jack Del Rio, Jaguars

                                  "Of the River" has the curse of the Saints on him. He'll be sold down the river because the curse follows all those of the "Aint's-Caint's

                                    #21
                                     - OTCopper
                                     - 9:36 am EDT on Sat Aug 21, 2010

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