The NFL means plenty of things, from No Fun League to Not For Long. That’s never been more true for coaches.
Last year, 10 of 32 jobs became open. Whatever the number this time around, the number will be closer to nine than none.
Through two weeks, more than a few seats are getting hot. Or, as the case may be, hotter.
We’ll start with Colts coach Shane Steichen, mainly because of what team owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon said after the 2025 season ended: “We have been very clear with [G.M.] Chris [Ballard] and Shane that giving them another opportunity means that the sense of urgency for them to deliver and perform has never been higher.”
So far, the Colts are winless. The defense has given up more than 500 yards in each of the first two games. Obviously, something needs to change or there will be a housecleaning in Indianapolis.
Next on the list is Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles. Since starting 2025 with a 6-2 record, the Buccaneers are 2-11. Imagine the angst in the Glazer suite last week while they had to sit there and wait two hours for the likely loss to the lowly Browns to become official. A turnaround is a must.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn wasn’t one-and-done after 2025, in part due to a buyout that would have exceeded $40 million. The season started with a suffocation of the Titans and former Jets coach Robert Saleh. In Week 2, a blown 10-point lead, widely-criticized late-game clock management, and a decision to receive the opening kickoff of overtime have increased the pressure on Glenn to do more this year than he did last year.
Things are looking grim for Dan Quinn in D.C. For some, it’s already become a given that Quinn will be gone after his third season — especially if it’s another 5-12 showing, or worse. The latest Jayden Daniels dislocated left elbow likely won’t buy Quinn a mulligan.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur is facing an uprising in the land of beef and cheese. Yes, he got an extension after the 2025 season. But he wouldn’t be the first coach who received a new contract one offseason and a pink slip the next.
Lastly, we’ll mention Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. He made the playoffs in each of his first two years on the job. This year, however, has started in disastrous fashion. He has two years left on his five-year, $80 million contract after 2026; the buyout could buy him one more year. It all comes down to whether the Chargers play dramatically better than they did against two teams that combined in 2025 for a record of 6-28.
Any, some, or all of the coaches listed above could turn things around. After all, 15 games remain. And other coaches who are currently safe could end up in hot water as the season unfolds.
Either way, it makes sense to be watching the situation closely, because the NFL head-coaching industry has proven to be a high-turnover business. And, as former Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon acknowledged once it became clear he was on the hot seat in 2025, it’s the business they’ve chosen.
The Herbert brothers could have a special moment today in Buffalo.
Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert’s little brother, tight end Patrick Herbert, has been elevated from the Chargers’ practice squad to the active roster. That means the Herberts are set to play together today against the Bills.
When the Chargers added Patrick to their practice squad just before the start of this season, it made the Herberts teammates for the first time since they were at Oregon in 2019. Patrick barely played as a true freshman that year, and Justin never threw him a pass.
The 25-year-old Patrick, who is three years younger than Justin, signed with the Jaguars as an undrafted free agent last year and spent the season on their practice squad. He remained with the Jaguars throughout this offseason.
Patrick spent six seasons at Oregon, playing there from 2019 through 2024. As a freshman he got on the field for two games, while Justin was leading the Ducks to a 12-2 record that culminated in winning the Rose Bowl. During his college career, Patrick caught 31 passes for 388 yards and four touchdowns.
If Justin throws a touchdown pass to Patrick, he’d do something the NFL hasn’t seen in almost a century. Via Sal Paolantonio of ESPN, the last time an NFL player threw a touchdown pass to his brother, it was Red Grange to Gardie Grange for the Chicago Bears against the Minneapolis Red Jackets on October 27, 1929. The only other brother-to-brother touchdown pass was Cobb Rooney to Bill Rooney for the Duluth Kelleys against the Kenosha Maroons on October 26, 1924.
The Chargers placed offensive lineman Trey Pipkins III on injured reserve, the team announced Saturday.
Pipkins, who was ruled out for Week 3 with a knee injury, will miss at least the next four games.
With Kayode Awosika (fibula) also ruled out, Trevor Penning will start at left guard.
In a corresponding move, the team signed quarterback DJ Uiagalelei to the active roster. In addition, the Chargers elevated tight end Patrick Herbert and outside linebacker Caleb Murphy from the practice squad for Sunday’s game.
Backup quarterback Trey Lance popped up on Friday’s injury report as questionable, prompting the Chargers to sign Uiagalelei to the active roster. He will backup Justin Herbert against the Bills if Lance is unavailable.
The Chargers are hurting at tight end with injuries to David Njoku and Charlie Kolar, so Patrick Herbert will add depth. Murphy is a core special teams player.
It was a bad weekend for the Brothers Harbaugh at SoFi Stadium. On Monday night, John lost his game and his quarterback. One day earlier, Jim’s Chargers joined the 1926 Racine Tornadoes in losing back-to-back home games who won fewer than 20 percent of their games in the prior season.
The Chargers emerged from what were, on paper, two winnable games with an 0-2 record. For Jim Harbaugh, it’s the first time he has ever started 0-2 as a head coach, at the college or pro level.
Although the 2026 start is depressing, it’s impressive that he went 22 seasons without losing two straight games to open a campaign. The run includes three years at the University of San Diego, four at Stanford, four with the 49ers, nine at Michigan, and his first two with the Chargers.
That won’t make him feel much better about the current predicament, especially with a four-game gauntlet before the Chargers’ Week 7 bye (at Bills, at Seahawks, Broncos, at Chiefs).
Jim needs to dig deep into the bag of Jack Harbaugh motivational quotes to turn this one around. The fact that Sunday’s game is regarded as a trap game for the Bills shows how quickly the L.A. program has crumbled.
The Chargers have now lost five in a row dating back to 2025, and they haven’t scored 17 or more points in any of them. If something doesn’t change, changes could be coming after the dust settles on the next four weekends and the Chargers get extra time to figure things out before facing the Rams, Texans, and Ravens.
Eight teams entered Week 3 at 0-2. One of them — the Falcons — avoided an 0-3 start. For the others, it becomes imperative to avoid starting the year with three straight losses.
In NFL history, only seven teams have made the playoffs after starting 0-3. The group includes the 2025 Texans, the 2018 Texans, the 1998 Bills, the 1995 Lions, the 1992 Chargers, the 1982 Buccaneers, and the 1981 Jets.
Only the ’92 Chargers made it to the postseason after starting 0-4.
It’s easier now than it once was, thanks to 17 regular-season games and seven playoff spots per conference. It’s still not easy.
For starters, plenty of teams that start 0-3 do so for a very good reason — they’re not very good. Those that are have a reduced margin for error over the final 14 games.
This year, one game features two 0-2 teams: the Texans at the Colts. The other winless teams are the Dolphins, the Titans, the Chargers, the Commanders, and the Buccaneers.
