Should he stay or should he go?
That's the clash some teams are considering as the NFL season winds down. Here are the pros and cons for keeping seven coaches in their jobs; it would have been nine except that Rex Ryan (Bills) and Gus Bradley (Jaguars) have already been fired.
Todd Bowles (Jets)
CONS: Things were looking up one year ago when Jets were 10-6 and missed the playoffs by one game. Things have gone way south since, with questions whether he has full respect of players and his in-game strategy raising the heat on Bowles. Some late-season blowouts and half-empty home games also haven't been good looks for a frustrated franchise missing the postseason for sixth straight year.
John Fox (Bears)
PROS: Track record. Fox has proven his turnaround skills with Carolina and Denver, getting both to Super Bowls. Bears played hard despite so much losing and lack of talent. Pass defense ranked sixth and young D came up with 37 sacks in Fox's second season in charge.
CONS: Chicago took big step backward this season, and Fox is not QB expert, something Bears could use. Tough NFC North competition makes rebuilding project more challenging. Franchise has recent history of impatience with coaches, firing Lovie Smith and Marc Trestman since end of 2012 season.
Hue Jackson (Browns)
Pros: Jackson appears safe despite difficult first season with Cleveland. Browns went 0-14 before beating San Diego last week, ending 17-game losing streak stretching to Dec. 13, 2015. Owners Dee and Jimmy Haslam have preached continuity, and Jackson was saddled with young, inexperienced roster after team's front office decided not to sign any of club's free agents to build for future. Still, Jackson kept Browns together as losses — and injuries — mounted, and team continued to play hard as it chased its first win. Emotional scene in Cleveland's locker room following Sunday's win showed how much players care for Jackson.
Cons: Jackson's forte is offense, but Browns are averaging just 16 points per game and have scored 20 points once in past seven games. There were some questionable in-game decisions throughout season — Cleveland won toss in overtime, but gave ball to Miami — and Jackson may have taken on too much by also handling play calling.
Chip Kelly (49ers)
Pros: After firing Jim Tomsula after only one year, do 49ers want to go one-and-done again with Chip Kelly? San Francisco is only franchise since the merger to fire coaches after just one season in consecutive years, having axed Monte Clark in 1976 and Ken Meyer following season. Kelly had little talent to work with and might deserve another chance with an upgraded roster.
Cons: Niners took step back after winning just five games under Tomsula. They could match franchise record for losses if they lose season finale to Seattle, and have set franchise worsts in points allowed and yards rushing allowed. If team cuts ties with general manager Trent Baalke, it might make more sense to let new GM pick his coach instead of being saddled with Kelly.
Marvin Lewis (Bengals)
PROS: Loyalty. Owner Mike Brown is fond of Lewis, who is under contract through 2017. Lewis has indicated he wants to be back. At some point, Lewis will retire — he talked about a succession plan that would have kept Hue Jackson from going to Cleveland one year ago — but apparently wants at least one more season before that occurs. Brown always seems to oblige.
CONS: Any place else, Lewis would have been fired after going NFL-record 0-7 in playoff games, including five straight first-round losses through 2015 season. He wraps up his 14th season in Cincinnati with still no playoff win and a team that underperformed this season. After yet another home loss to Pittsburgh eliminated Bengals, Lewis acknowledged that "I've not found the right buttons to push to get us to where we need to be. It's my job to figure out why we don't get it to where it needs to be." Any other team would be looking for replacement at this point, someone who can take the team to that next level.
#bengals tell me there is "nothing to confirm. Marvin is under contract for 2017. Nothing has changed". Fits talk of last 3 weeks @WCPO https://t.co/SSyPCoxQfY
— Ken Broo (@kenbroo) December 29, 2016
Mike McCoy (Chargers)
PROS: McCoy's under contract for 2017, and chairman Dean Spanos doesn't like eating contracts. If he's retained, it's a good sign Chargers are staying in San Diego. If he's fired, it could be nod that Chargers know they need stronger personality as coach if they move to Los Angeles. He was given a one-year extension through 2017 after last year's 4-12 nightmare, although most of his offensive staff was fired.
CONS: McCoy is solidly on hot seat after last week's loss to previously winless Cleveland. Chargers have secured second straight last-place finish in AFC West and will miss playoffs for third straight time under McCoy. He is 27-36 in four seasons. McCoy has been criticized for being conservative and for poor clock management; Chargers have blown several fourth-quarter leads this year. Chargers went to playoffs his first season, 2013, and knocked out the Bengals in the wild-card game at PBS. They were 8-4 going into December 2014, but they've gone 10-25 since.
Chuck Pagano (Colts)
Pros: Pagano took what was supposed to be worst team in football to the playoffs in 2012, delivering one of biggest turnarounds in league history in his first season as head coach. He reached the AFC championship game following the 2014 season and managed to pretty much break even despite a series of debilitating injuries. Indianapolis players continue to fight for a coach they revere. And a coaching change would likely give QB Andrew Luck his fourth offensive coordinator in six seasons.
Cons: Colts have missed playoffs in back-to-back seasons for first time since 1997 and 1998 and have done it under same coach for first time since Ted Marchibroda in 1993 and 1994. Luck has been sacked 37 times in 2016, and defense Pagano was supposed to fix is ranked No. 24. Pagano has been dogged by questionable play calls, poor execution and continual mistakes.
