by Every NFL season brings excitement, drama, and surprises.
But it’s not just about the players making big plays on Sunday. Coaches also face huge pressure every single week.
Fans love to talk about which coach might lose his job first. It’s part of the NFL culture now.
Being an NFL head coach sounds like a dream job, but the truth is, it’s one of the least secure jobs in professional sports.
No matter how good you were last year, one bad season can end your career.
Owners expect wins. Fans demand playoffs. And if things go wrong, someone has to take the blame.
Which NFL Coach Will Be the First One Fired in 2025?
Let’s look at which NFL coach could be the first one fired in 2025 and why.
Why Coaches Get Fired So Often?
NFL coaching jobs are tough to keep. Even great coaches can find themselves out of work after just two or three bad seasons.
Here are the main reasons why coaches lose their jobs:
- Poor performance – Losing too many games is the biggest reason. Owners pay coaches millions to win, not to finish last in the division.
- Locker room issues – If players don’t respect the coach or stop playing hard, that’s a huge red flag.
- Injuries – Sometimes a coach loses his best players to injury, and the season falls apart. But owners still blame the coach.
- Bad team management – Poor game decisions, weak play calling, or bad clock management can cost games and jobs.
- High expectations – Fans and owners want results now. Nobody wants to wait five years for a rebuild.
Think about Matt Rhule with the Carolina Panthers. He was fired after just two and a half seasons because the team kept losing. It didn’t matter that he had a long-term plan. The results weren’t there, so he was gone.
That’s how the NFL works. You either win or you’re out.
NFL Firing Trends (2015–2024)
Coaching firings have become more and more common in recent years. Since 2015, every year at least five NFL coaches have lost their jobs. Some years it’s even more than that.
In the 2020s alone, more than 30 coaches have already been fired. That’s a lot of turnover in just a few years.
Some teams are known for changing coaches all the time. The Raiders and Cardinals have each fired 14 coaches since 1970. That’s crazy when you think about it.
Other teams, like the Steelers are the opposite. They stick with their coach for decades. Mike Tomlin has been there since 2007 and still has his job.
But most teams don’t have that kind of patience. If you’re not winning by year two or three, you’re probably gone.
Top Candidates Who Might Be Fired in 2025
Here’s a simple table showing which coaches are most likely to be fired first in 2025 – News Source:
| Coach Name | Team | Reason They Might Get Fired | Record/Issue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brian Daboll | New York Giants | Back-to-back losing seasons | 3–14 record in 2024 |
| Mike McDaniel | Miami Dolphins | The team missed the playoffs | 8–9 in 2024 |
| Shane Steichen | Indianapolis Colts | Poor offense, QB issues | 17–17 total record |
| Zac Taylor | Cincinnati Bengals | Missing playoffs with top QB | Below .500 career record |
| Kevin Stefanski | Cleveland Browns | Inconsistent team results | May lose the AFC North race |
| Jonathan Gannon | Arizona Cardinals | Team not improving | Weak rebuilding phase |
These coaches are all sitting on the hot seat right now. Let’s break down why each one could be in trouble.
Brian Daboll: From Hero to Hot Seat
Brian Daboll was once the hottest name in coaching. In 2022, he took the struggling New York Giants to the playoffs and even won a playoff game. He was named Coach of the Year.
But wow, things changed fast. The Giants have had two straight losing seasons since then. In 2024, they finished with a terrible 3–14 record.
Now Daboll is entering 2025 with one of the toughest schedules in the league. Six of the Giants’ first eight games are against teams that made the playoffs last year. The other two games are on the road in tough places like Dallas and New Orleans.
There’s no easy win on that schedule. If the Giants start 1–7 or 0–8, Daboll might not last till mid-season. That’s how fast things can change in the NFL.
The Giants brought in Russell Wilson and drafted Jaxson Dart to try to fix the offense. But honestly, neither option feels like a guaranteed solution.
When you ask which NFL coach will be the first one fired in 2025, Daboll’s name comes up more than anyone else. That tells you everything you need to know about his situation.
Mike McDaniel: Struggling to Keep the Dolphins Afloat
Mike McDaniel started strong in Miami. He was known as an offensive genius, and the media loved him. His creative play calling and fun personality made him a fan favorite.
But the shine is starting to wear off. The Dolphins missed the playoffs in 2024 with an 8–9 record. That’s not good enough in the competitive AFC East.
Part of the problem is Tua Tagovailoa’s health. When Tua is healthy, the offense looks great. But when he’s hurt, the whole team falls apart.
Some people are wondering if the Dolphins have hit their ceiling under McDaniel. The team looks good on paper, but they can’t seem to get over the hump.
If Miami misses the playoffs again in 2025, McDaniel could be the next headline. The AFC East is getting better with improved rosters in New England and New York. McDaniel doesn’t have much room for mistakes.
Shane Steichen: Colts’ Patience Is Running Out
Shane Steichen came to Indianapolis in 2023 with big expectations. The Colts hoped he could develop young quarterback Anthony Richardson into a star.
Two years later, Richardson still hasn’t taken that next step. The Colts are now bringing in Daniel Jones to compete for the starting job. That’s not a good sign.
Indy has gone 17–17 under Steichen. They’ve finished second in the AFC South both years but missed the playoffs both times. Close isn’t good enough in the NFL.
Two average seasons in a row might be enough for ownership to make a move. The Colts have talent on their roster, but they’re not winning the games they should be winning.
If the Jaguars or Titans take a step forward in 2025, Steichen could easily find himself left behind. When you’re stuck in the middle with no clear improvement, that’s when coaches get fired.
Zac Taylor: Too Many Chances in Cincinnati
Zac Taylor has been the Bengals head coach since 2019. He’s had some good moments, including a Super Bowl appearance in 2021. But lately, things haven’t been working.
The Bengals have missed the playoffs two years in a row despite having Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. Those are two of the best offensive players in the entire league.
Taylor’s career record is 46–52–1. That’s below .500, which is terrible for a coach who has a top-three quarterback. In 2024, the Bengals lost seven games by a touchdown or less. That shows poor coaching in close games.
People are starting to say the Bengals are wasting Burrow’s prime years. Burrow is only going to be this good for so long. If the team keeps missing the playoffs, what’s the point of keeping Taylor?
If they don’t make the playoffs again in 2025, Taylor could be gone. Cincinnati fans are running out of patience, and so is ownership.
Kevin Stefanski and Jonathan Gannon: Still on Thin Ice
Kevin Stefanski won Coach of the Year in 2020, but his time in Cleveland has been up and down. The Browns have talent, but they can’t seem to put it all together.
Stefanski’s job probably isn’t in immediate danger, but he’s not totally safe either. If the Browns fail to compete in the AFC North, ownership might finally look for a new direction.
Jonathan Gannon in Arizona is in a different situation. The Cardinals are rebuilding, so expectations are lower. But even rebuilding teams need to show progress.
If the Cardinals stay weak and don’t improve in 2025, Gannon could be the scapegoat. In the NFL, patience only lasts so long. Owners want to see signs of life, even during a rebuild.
Why It’s So Tough Being an NFL Coach?
People often forget about the human side of coaching firings. Yes, coaches make millions of dollars. But losing your job still hurts.
Former coaches have talked about how hard it is to get fired. They describe sleepless nights, family stress, and even depression. It feels like losing a family member when they get the call.
Here are some of the pressures NFL coaches face:
- Pressure from owners – Owners expect wins immediately. They don’t want to wait.
- Fans demanding results – Fans are brutal on social media. One bad game and they’re calling for the coach to be fired.
- Injuries ruining seasons – A coach can lose his best players and still be blamed for a bad season.
- Constant media attention – Every decision is analyzed and criticized on TV and online.
It’s a tough job, even with the big paycheck. Not everyone can handle the pressure.
Coaching Stability: Rare but Possible
Some teams do stick with their coaches for years. The Pittsburgh Steelers are the best example. Mike Tomlin has been their head coach since 2007. That’s almost 20 years with the same coach.
That kind of stability is rare in today’s NFL. Most teams would rather fire a coach and start over than give him time to build something.
The Steelers trust Tomlin even when they have down years. They know that good coaching takes time. Other teams could learn from that approach.
But in a league where everyone wants instant success, patience is hard to find.
Final Thoughts:
So which NFL coach will be the first one fired in 2025? Honestly, it’s hard to say for sure. The NFL is unpredictable.
Brian Daboll seems like the most likely candidate right now. The Giants have a brutal schedule and a weak roster. If they start losing right away, he could be gone by October.
But Mike McDaniel, Shane Steichen, and Zac Taylor are all in danger, too. One bad start to the season, and any of them could be out.
We can only guess who will be the first one fired in 2025, but history shows us one thing. Someone always goes first. It’s just a matter of time.
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