As the NFL reaches the one-third mark of the 2026 regular season following Week 6, several head coaches and coordinators face mounting pressure after poor starts to the campaign. Teams that entered the year with playoff aspirations are discovering that early struggles are rapidly evolving into lost seasons, placing several prominent figures firmly on the hot seat.
Todd Bowles Faces Scrutiny in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles entered the 2026 season under pressure after the team lost seven of its last nine games in 2025 and missed the playoffs. The Buccaneers opened the 2027 schedule with four consecutive defeats before securing a 24-16 victory against the Dallas Cowboys.
While that win in Dallas provides a temporary reprieve, questions persist regarding the team’s trajectory. Despite Bowles possessing a defensive background, the Buccaneers’ offense has carried the club for multiple seasons while the defense has frequently been a burden. Tampa Bay claimed three division titles under Bowles from 2022 to 2024, yet never with more than 10 wins, capitalizing on a weak division in the NFC South.
Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders Under Fire
In Washington, head coach Dan Quinn finds himself scrutinized following his 2024 campaign, where he presented a 12-5 record and participated in the NFC Championship Game, propelled by the emergence of quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The momentum unraveled in 2025 as the Commanders suffered a collapse, compounded by an injury Daniels sustained while remaining in a lopsided loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Frustrations peaked following a 27-27 tie with the New York Giants, during which the Commanders failed to capitalize on multiple overtime opportunities amid clock-management miscues. Holding a 1-3-1 record, Washington prepares for a matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night before a bye week, a juncture that could influence decisions regarding Quinn’s future.
Mike McDaniel and Defensive Coordinators on the Brink
Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel is absorbing considerable criticism as the team searches for its first victory through five games. Expected to direct a potent offense anchored by quarterback Justin Herbert, offensive linemen Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt, and running back Omarion Hampton, the Chargers instead rank 25th in total yards and 30th in points scored.
With head coach Jim Harbaugh secure in his position, the coordinator staff bears the brunt of the accountability.
In Detroit, defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard faces similar jeopardy. After losing offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn to head coaching positions prior to the 2025 season, the Lions missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Retained to coordinate the defense in 2026, Sheppard has overseen a unit that ranks 32nd in total and passing yards allowed per game, leaving the franchise contemplating a change to “shake the cage” during their bye week.
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