The Miami Dolphins fired head coach Joe Philbin today, showing that even though we're just four games into the season, no head coach is safe from getting the pink slip if they don't produce results. Here are the three guys that are on the hot seat and might find themselves looking for work this offseason.
Jim Tomsula -- San Francisco 49ers
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46261734/usa-today-8215872.0.jpg)
You're probably saying, "he's only four games in with one of those being a tender parts-punching of the Vikings in the 49ers' season opener." Our response is simple: Jim Tomsula is the most obvious placeholder head coach in the history of the NFL -- a full-year interim coach destined to be demoted for a big-name coaching free agent this winter. Just watch. A few more games like last Sunday's 47-7 debacle in Arizona and the white flag will rise quickly over the 49ers' front office.
Jim Caldwell -- Detroit Lions
/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/44243290/459462288.0.jpg)
It's the curse of the three-letter first names that start with "J" (Jay, Jim, Jim again) - the Detroit Lions' 0-3 start isn't a mirage, ladies and gentleman. Detroit has been THAT bad in several areas, most notably in the running game (45 ypg, worst in the NFL). Caldwell shouldered the blame for the Indianapolis Colts' 2-14 fall from grace in 2011, and it'll happen to him again here. The Lions have fallen from being a playoff team a year ago to the only team in the NFL without a win. That doesn't bode well for anyone's job security.
Jay Gruden -- Washington Redskins
Gruden's incredible mishandling of the RGIII situation in DC will seal his fate, especially true considering that the Redskins' current talent pool (re: Kirk Cousins) appears way too thin to make playoff headway this year, vulnerable NFC East or not. New GM Scot McCloughan could easily blow up the Gruden/Kirk Cousins wonder tandem this offseason and no one would blame him. That's the benefit of being a general manager on the bridge between years one and two.
Back to the NFL Newsfeed