NFL Rumors: 3 Head Coaches on the Hot Seat

The Indianapolis Colts dropped a bombshell Monday morning by firing head coach Frank Reich, proving the precariousness of life at the top of NFL. Here are three more coaches who should be sweating after poor starts to the 2022 regular season.

Nathaniel Hackett, Denver Broncos

Perhaps no head coach has lost the faith of fans quite so quickly as Nathaniel Hackett of the Denver Broncos. Hackett took over for the team earlier this year after three years as offensive coordinator for the Green Bay Packers in which he helped quarterback Aaron Rodgers win a pair of MVPs. The Broncos expected Hackett to recreate that magic with newly acquired quarterback Russell Wilson, but it hasn't worked out: the team ranks 30th in the league in points per game. Wilson certainly isn't going anywhere; if the Broncos want to shake things up, moving on from Hackett at the end of the season may be their only choice.

Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas Raiders

Josh McDaniels' offense with the Raiders has shown a lot more promise than Hackett's with the Broncos, ranking 14th in points per game through nine weeks. It hasn't helped the team at all. The Raiders are 2-6 through eight contests, and they've been a miserable 0-5 in one-score games. McDaniels has already flamed out once before as a head coach: he lasted only 28 games with the Broncos from 2009 to 2010. He managed an 11-17 record as a head coach his first time around, and he has a lot of work to do to catch up to that success rate with the Raiders. If his team culture sours in Vegas as it did in Denver, he could find himself back in New England before long.

Lovie Smith, Houston Texans

The Houston Texans have a very real claim to being the NFL's worst team, but head coach Lovie Smith wasn't burdened with the hopes that Hackett and McDaniels were. No one expected much from the Texans this year, and Smith has thoroughly delivered on those expectations. The team sports the worst record in the league, and they rank 29th in yards gained and 30th in yards allowed. The Texans likely anticipated a long rebuild when they hired Smith, but they may not be willing to put up with this sort of humiliation for long. This is Smith's third stint and 12th season as a head coach, and there's little reason to believe he can turn the organization around.

Photo Credit: © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports