NFL: 4 Coaches Who Will Be On the Hot Seat Next Season

Rex Ryan, New York Jets

May 10, 2013; Florham Park, NJ, USA; New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan addresses the media during New York Jets rookie minicamp at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The New York Jets seem to be more of a circus than a football team, and Rex Ryan is responsible.

Despite making the AFC Championship Game in 2009 and 2010, Ryan is on the hot seat and the Jets are headed downhill. Ryan’s squad won eight games in 2011 and six in 2012, and general manager Mike Tannenbaum was fired as a result. Ryan wasn’t fired, but he’s going to be on a short leash.

Ryan decided to keep throwing Mark Sanchez onto the field as the starting quarterback, even though the team wasn’t winning and Sanchez’s stats were horrific. Sanchez finished with 13 touchdown passes and 18 interceptions, and he posted an appalling 66.9 passer rating.

Now, the Jets have a plethora of options at quarterback. David Garrard retired, but the team added Geno Smith. Smith, Sanchez and Greg McElroy will likely be fighting for the starting job, and Tim Tebow could be in the mix if he re-signs with the team.

While the Jets have a lot of options, none are great. If Ryan sticks with Sanchez, who hasn’t exactly turned heads with his performance in OTAs and other offseason activities, and he struggles, Ryan will likely be fired.

If Ryan chooses Smith and he doesn’t meet expectations, Ryan should meet the same fate. So, it’s safe to say that lots of pressure is on Ryan to make the right decision.

New York doesn’t have a good offense, and with games against four solid teams in the AFC South (the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints), three solid AFC North teams (the Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens) and two games against the New England Patriots, they should have trouble.

And if they can’t pull off an abundance of upsets, New York will be upset and Ryan will be gone.