Eight NFL Coaches Feeling Heat After Firing of Giants’ Brian Daboll

Some coaches have lousy records this season, including longtime winner Pete Carroll. Others are winning but have lacked postseason success.

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur checks his play sheet against the Philadelphia Eagles during a game at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., on Nov. 10, 2025. Patrick McDermott/Getty Images

In the aftermath of the New York Giants’ firing of head coach Brian Daboll, multiple NFL teams could follow suit in the coming weeks or months.

Daboll once won the NFL Coach of the Year award, so even accomplished head coaches aren’t immune to an owner’s willingness to change direction. Here’s a look at eight head coaches who are also on the hot seat despite prior success.​

Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins

​McDaniel has a career record of 31–30, and this season hasn’t been pretty at 3–7.

While the Dolphins made the playoffs two consecutive years under McDaniel, last season’s 8–9 mark and this year’s slow start have his job on thin ice. Last Sunday’s 30–13 win over the Buffalo Bills helps, but the Dolphins have a long way to climb with no room for error at this point.

It also doesn’t help that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, with 13 interceptions, has regressed from a promising young franchise quarterback. In addition, Tagovailoa dealt with his concussion issues primarily under McDaniel’s watch.

Miami’s offense has scored 21 points per game this season, 26th in the league, and the defense can’t stop teams consistently, allowing 25.6 points per game.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross fired general manager Chris Grier in October. It’s possible that a new general manager will want a new coach to come with him, which means McDaniel will need a big finish to keep his job.

Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns

​Stefanski has a 42–51 career record, and this season is as dismal as ever with a 2–7 mark for the Browns.

While Stefanski has won Coach of the Year twice, he hasn’t been able to turn around a struggling Browns organization. The exception was 2023, when the Browns made the playoffs with quarterback Joe Flacco.

Cleveland lost to the 2–7 New York Jets in Week 10, which became another low point for this season. The Browns have been inconsistent at quarterback, and the defense hasn’t been able to make up for it.

Stefanski’s tenure has been marked by a quarterback room mess, which began when the team traded away former No. 1 pick Baker Mayfield and brought in Deshaun Watson via another trade. Mayfield has gone on to be an MVP candidate with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while Watson struggled with off-field issues and injuries.

The quarterback carousel continued this year with the drafting of Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. That hasn’t reaped any answers yet for an offense that has sputtered all season with 16.2 points per game.​

Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals

​Taylor has a 39–49–1 record for a franchise that has enjoyed quarterback Joe Burrow as the main signal caller since 2020.

When Burrow is out with an injury, however, the Bengals have faltered under Taylor—this season they’re 3–6 as Burrow has missed time due to turf toe.

Taylor once coached the Bengals to a Super Bowl appearance and another AFC Championship Game, but he could be out of a job if this year’s team can’t turn things around. In addition, Taylor’s firing of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and replacing him with Al Golden hasn’t panned out, and Taylor is running out of time to show a payoff for that call.

While Bengals ownership previously kept head coach Marvin Lewis despite no playoff wins over 16 seasons, things might look different after 2025 if Taylor doesn’t right the ship. The Bengals have a franchise quarterback in Burrow, who has led the team to the Super Bowl once, so ownership will have much to consider in the coming months.​

Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons

​Morris has a 32–53 career record, and he is sitting at 3–6 this season with the Falcons. Atlanta has been Jekyll and Hyde with a win over the Bills and a loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Morris also has a bevy of offensive stars in running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts. The additions of quarterbacks Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr. haven’t maximized that talent, regardless of who is throwing the ball.

While owner Arthur Blank kept a previous head coach, Arthur Smith, around for three consecutive losing seasons, it could be different with Morris. The Falcons have talent, and the playoff drought is on pace for eight years this season.​

Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers

​While LaFleur has a 72–36–1 career record and a 5–3–1 mark this season, the Packers have yet to get over the hump in the NFC.

Green Bay’s Week 10 loss to the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles doesn’t help, and back-to-back Divisional Round exits hurt as well. Injuries have also been an issue, and the Packers are looking to maximize quarterback Jordan Love’s prime.

Green Bay hasn’t been to an NFC Championship Game since 2020, when Aaron Rodgers was the quarterback, and the Packers have an 0–2 mark in the conference title game under LaFleur. If the Packers don’t take the next step this season, team president Ed Policy could be looking for a new head coach to change that.​

Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills

​Like LaFleur, McDermott has a strong résumé with a 92–48 career record and 6–3 mark this season.

That also includes two AFC Championship Game appearances and seven playoff appearances in eight years. McDermott could easily add to that, but the Bills may need to get over the hump on the AFC side and reach a Super Bowl for him to stay.

McDermott has a regular MVP candidate in quarterback Josh Allen, and there’s been solid offensive talent around him. Buffalo’s defense this season has struggled, and defensive coordinator Bobby Babich has taken heat for that.

Bills ownership might be ready for a change if McDermott can’t get his team to take the next step while Allen remains in his prime.​

Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders

​One of the game’s most accomplished coaches could be shown the door. Carroll, 74, has a 172–127–1 career record with a Super Bowl win, but his Raiders have a 2–7 mark this season.

Raiders quarterback Geno Smith hasn’t worked out, nor has offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. How patient minority owner and NFL great Tom Brady is with on-field struggles is also unknown.​

Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

​Tomlin has the Steelers in the mix every year, but Pittsburgh also hasn’t won a postseason game since 2016. He has a 181–109–2 career mark and 5–4 record this season.

With Rodgers’ struggles at age 41, things aren’t looking overly promising for the Steelers. Neither the offense nor the defense has inspired, and that AFC North lead could disappear if the Baltimore Ravens keep climbing.

If Pittsburgh can’t at least win a playoff game with Rodgers at quarterback, the Steelers’ drought under Tomlin might come to an end via a coaching change.