# Conor Orr: Orr ranks 12 NFL head coaches by how hot their seat is, from most likely to be replaced (Todd Bowles) to least (DeMeco Ryans), arguing more jobs may open than expected because of a deep crop of play-callers and Mike Tomlin's availability.

**Claimed:** Oct 5, 2026
**Pundit:** Conor Orr — https://missedtakes.co/pundits/conor-orr
**Outlet:** Sports Illustrated — https://missedtakes.co/outlets/sports-illustrated
**How it reached us:** published in writing
**Original:** https://www.si.com/nfl/coaches-hot-seat-more-jobs-open

One checkable claim, graded on its own against what actually happened.

Nothing to score yet: this grades once the result is in.

> Consider this a ranking from the hottest seat, to the least hot, of the coaches that we should consider in this sort of category.

*(their words, quoted for attribution)*

## The claims

- “Consider this a ranking from the hottest seat, to the least hot... 1. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2. Aaron Glenn, New York Jets; 3. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders; 4. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers; 5. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals; 6. Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers; 7. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts; 8. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles; 9. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers; 10. Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans; 11. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions; 12. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans”
  - Kind: Head Coach Rankings
  - Verdict: not settled yet

## More head coach rankings

The same kind of call, about other players and teams.

- Jesse Holley: Jesse picked the 49ers to beat Seattle (expecting Sam Darnold to revert to form), the Texans over New England, and the Rams over the Bears. They also called Oregon's tight end a first-round player and ranked the Giants' new head coach as the best in the NFC East ahead of Quinn and Schottenheimer. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/ac1244ea-9b1b-4b60-b3e6-f7beb62adf4c (scored 25)
- Gregg Rosenthal: In a snake-draft-style ranking of the NFL's returning head coaches, Rosenthal made the even-numbered selections, taking Sean McVay second overall, Kevin O'Connell fourth, John Harbaugh sixth and on down to Raheem Morris at 26. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/f1dd8036-757c-4f3e-9089-2429df99c92a (scored 62.2)
- JP Acosta: Acosta made the odd-numbered picks in the head-coach draft, naming Andy Reid the best coach in the NFL, Dan Campbell third, Kyle Shanahan fifth, and continuing down to Brian Daboll at 25. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c84ddac3-964c-40fe-a238-31130b5f9e4f (scored 51.92)
- Colin Cowherd: Cowherd likes Jacksonville, Chicago and Pittsburgh (with DK Metcalf back) in the wild-card round, ranks the league's head coaches with McVay first and Ben Johnson seventh, and predicts Lamar Jackson has about two strong years left. They also name the Rams as a possible team to draft a receiver and floats next year's draft having seven first-round quarterbacks. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/432d7268-d5b1-49f6-9435-12c9442d3023 (scored 47.62)
- Ollie Connolly: Connolly ranked their Coach of the Year top five with Kyle Shanahan first, Mike Vrabel second, Mike McDonald third, Liam Cohen fourth and Ben Johnson fifth, naming Shanahan their winner. They also predicted the Broncos would blow out the Chiefs on Christmas night. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/c07e055c-4ff1-47bf-9062-548b240402ae (scored 75)
- John Middlekauff: In a mid-July podcast, Middlecoff reacted to the Garrett Wilson extension and Jauan Jennings' contract unhappiness, predicting Jennings is San Francisco's clear No. 1 receiver and will top 80 catches; they also expect the Browns to keep Quinshon Judkins on the roster, ranks Mahomes as the top quarterback, calls Dak a top-12 QB, backs Bo Nix as a top-15 starter, says the Bears should win 10 games but must be ranked behind Denver, and would take Dan Campbell over Nick Sirianni. — https://missedtakes.co/opinions/32b8564c-773f-4dcf-94bf-654d342ddcec (scored 0)

---

Accuracy is 0-100 against what actually happened. The naive guess is what a strategy requiring no knowledge would have scored on the same call — the difference is the skill, and it is what the MissedTakes Score averages.

Full method: https://missedtakes.co/methodology

We summarize what a pundit said and quote a short span for attribution; we never republish their article. If this is wrong, tell us:
https://missedtakes.co/corrections?pundit=conor-orr