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There have already been two head coach firings in the NFL this season, but one expert expects that number to grow by the end of the year.
During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, ESPN’s Adam Schefter was asked how many head coach openings he expects to be available this offseason, and he provided a grim outlook.
“When I look ahead into this season, there will be no less than seven, and I will say the realistic range is seven to nine, and it’s probably closer to the over than the under,” Schefter said. “And if it came in over nine, that wouldn’t be the most shocking thing either. But I think seven to nine is realistic, probably eight or nine.”
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.<a href=”https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@AdamSchefter</a> tells <a href=”https://twitter.com/PatMcAfeeShow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@PatMcAfeeShow</a> he believes there could be seven to nine NFL coaching changes before next season 😯 <br><br>”There’s a playoff season and there’s a hunting season.” <a href=”https://t.co/LFWsCYdQTA”>pic.twitter.com/LFWsCYdQTA</a>
If Schefter’s prediction comes true, that means at least a quarter of the NFL will be searching for new head coaches this offseason. The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints already fired Robert Saleh and Dennis Allen, respectively, and it sounds like many teams will follow suit.
There were eight new head coaches hired last offseason, so it seems like this massive turnover is becoming the norm in the NFL.
As for the teams that could be in the market for a new head coach, many are already speculating about the job security of Doug Pederson with the Jacksonville Jaguars amid their 2-9 season. The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported on Tuesday that former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick “certainly has his eye on this Jacksonville opening” if the team parts ways with Pederson.
Disappointing seasons for the Cleveland Browns (2-8), Las Vegas Raiders (2-8), New York Giants (2-8), Dallas Cowboys (3-7) and Chicago Bears (4-6) could result in more changes if they’re unable to turn things around.
The shelf life of NFL head coaches is continuing to dwindle as team owners make quick decisions to shake things up in hopes of finding an easy fix. This offseason is sure to feature a ton of changes around the league.