Which NFL Coach Will be Fired First?
Scott Morris | August 20, 2015
The NFL regular season begins Thursday September 10. Some NFL insiders believe there are a handful of NFL head coaches already on what is often called but overused “hot seat” for the 2015 season.
If anyone is looking for a popular prop for NFL sportsbooks it is one that puts the odds on what head coach will get the axe first. Not a fun thing for the coach or coaches involved but very popular amongst bettors.
One major sportsbooks offshore has opened up Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden as the favorite to be fired first with odds of 5 to 2, which betting $100 will get you $250.
Not far behind Gruden is Mike Pettine the head coach for the Cleveland Browns who is now sitting on 5 to 1 odds.
Other names on the list that are more high profile include Sean Payton the New Orleans coach at 10 to 1 and Miami’s Joe Philbin at 12 to 1.
In 2009, New Orleans was the Super Bowl champion with Payton as the head coach, but the team has not advanced beyond the Divisional playoff round since then and had a season of 7-9 last year.
Many fans in Miami have called for the firing of Philbin since his arrival in 2012. His overall record is just 23-25 during three seasons and the team has yet to reach the postseason.
With the expectations high during the 2015 high and an easy schedule to start the season, a losing record to start could be detrimental to Philbin by the start of November.
Long shot at odds of 500 to 1 win include the two coaches in from last year’s Super Bowl Pete Carroll and the winner Bill Belichick.
First NFL Head Coach to be Fired
Jay Gruden (Redskins) 5 to 2
Mike Pettine (Browns) 5 to 1
Ken Whisenhunt (Titans) 8 to 1
Sean Payton (Saints) 10 to 1
Joe Philbin (Dolphins) 12 to 1
Gus Bradley (Jaguars) 15 to 1
Jim Tomsula (49ers) 15 to 1
Bill O Brien (Texans) 20 to 1
Ron Rivera (Panthers) 20 to 1
Todd Bowles (Jets) 20 to 1
