We're just three weeks into the 2023 NFL season, and several head coaches are already on the proverbial "hot seat."
A couple of the names you'll see here were essentially already on it before the current campaign began, while the third put himself in that position with a loss to another who would've made the list had things gone the other way.
And just to get this out of the way, one name you won't see here is Sean Payton, who maybe should be fired after watching his Denver Broncos take a 70-20 beatdown at the hands of the Miami Dolphins. But given that the Walton-Penner group likely won't want to dish out the tens of millions of dollars remaining on his contract after just three games, I don't see him going anywhere anytime soon.
As for the three who did make the list, let's start with the most obvious.
NFL coaches on the hot seat after Week 3: Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears
Matt Eberflus was obviously given a pass last year in his first season as the head coach of the Chicago Bears.
And what a dreadful season it was as the Monsters of the Midway lost their last 10 to finish with a league-worst 3-14 record, claiming the franchise's worst winning percentage since 1969.
With several new additions in the offseason, including several new weapons for Justin Fields, the Bears seemed primed to improve in 2023. But they've actually looked worse, and there's absolutely zero evidence to suggest that Eberflus can turn it around.
Fields looks as bad as he ever has, and Eberflus and Chicago offensive coordinator Luke Getsy seem to have forgotten that he can effectively run the football.
The Bears' defense has been absolutely atrocious, allowing 106 points through three games, including 41 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. And seeing as defense is Eberflus' specialty, that's not a good thing.
With the XX-X loss to the Chiefs, the Bears losing streak now stands at 13, the longest in franchise history. And Eberflus' 3-17 start is the worst for any head coach in Chicago history. One has to wonder how much more ownership can take.
NFL coaches on the hot seat after Week 3: Ron Rivera, Washington Commanders
Coming into the 2023 NFL season, Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera was essentially already one of those on the hot seat as his three-year run in the nation's capital has been underwhelming.
Sure, he led Washington to its first playoff berth in five years in 2020. But he did so with a 7-9 record, as the NFC East was historically bad. And while the Eagles, Cowboys, and Giants all improved, the Commanders didn't, going 7-10 in 2021 and 8-8-1 in 2022.
Now, you may be wondering why I'd consider Rivera to be on the hot seat with the Commanders off to a 2-1 start in 2023.
Well, for one, with Dan Snyder gone, the new ownership group may want to go with their own guy, that guy being new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy, who should've gotten his own team years ago.
And secondly, it's not as if the Commanders beat good teams during their 2-0 start.
In Week 1, Rivera & Co. squeaked by the Cardinals, 20-16, although I do have to admit Arizona looks a bit better after upsetting the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
In Week 2, the Commanders took a two-point victory over the Denver Broncos, who've given up the most points in the NFL.
When they finally met up with a good team in Week 3, that being the Buffalo Bills, Washington was destroyed, taking a 37-3 loss at home.
Don't be surprised if new owner Josh Harris makes a change sooner rather than later.
NFL coaches on the hot seat after Week 3: Kevin O' Connell, Minnesota Vikings
A season ago, Kevin O'Connell led the Minnesota Vikings to the most victories they'd had in five years, winning 13 games in his first year as an NFL head coach.
But that 13-4 mark easily could have been much worse, as 11 of those wins were by eight points or less.
In similar fashion, the Vikings' first three games of the 2023 campaign have all been decided by one score. Only this year, O'Connell & Co. have been on the wrong side of victory all three times.
In Week 1, they were upset by Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-17. The following week, Minnesota was knocked off by the defending NFC champion Philadelphia Eagles, 34-28.
And on Sunday, despite a third straight 340-plus-yard performance by Kirk Cousins, the Vikes took a 28-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, who may have gotten Brandon Staley off his own hot seat with their first win of the year.
No head coach can ever take all the blame for a loss, but O'Connell certainly has to take some heat for this one, as his clock management down the stretch was quite poor.
Letting the clock run instead of getting in Cousins' ear to tell him to spike the ball as precious seconds ticked away was inexcusable, and Vikings fans certainly weren't happy about it on social media.
Kevin O'Connell's seat might not be quite as hot as those of Matt Eberflus and Ron Rivera, but it's certainly warming up with Minnesota dropping to 0-3.
