The Giants have gone 9-25 the last two years under coach Brian Daboll.
The Giants have gone 9-25 the last two years under coach Brian Daboll.Seth Wenig/Associated Press
Training camp is the happiest time of the year in the NFL. Every team is 0-0. Every player is feeling great. Possibilities abound.
Except, not really. About 30 players on each team are under immense pressure to make the 53-man roster. And a handful of head coaches and starting quarterbacks enter the season knowing their jobs are on the line.
A look at those on the hot seat, starting with the coaches, because they are easier to replace:
Coaches
Mike McDaniel, Dolphins: His first three seasons produced a lot of points, but also a 7-12 record in December and January with no playoff wins. Last year also was a major step back at 8-9 and no playoffs. Owner Stephen Ross has fired two coaches in-season (Tony Sparano, Joe Philbin). A slow start could make McDaniel the third.
Brian Daboll, Giants: After a 9-7-1 record and playoff appearance in his first season, the Giants have gone 9-25 the last two years. Owner John Mara announced in January that Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen would return for 2025, but said he’s “just about run out of patience.” No guesswork needed here.
Shane Steichen, Colts: He’s 17-17 with no playoff appearances in two years, though he has been saddled with inconsistent quarterback Anthony Richardson. Steichen needs to impress new owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon, which is probably why he signed Daniel Jones.
Brian Callahan, Titans: His first year was rough at 3-14 and the Titans showing little direction. Now they have a promising young quarterback in Cam Ward, and if Callahan can’t get the most out of him, owner Amy Adams Strunk hasn’t been afraid to change coaches.
Kevin Stefanski, Browns: He has gotten the Browns to the playoffs twice in five years and been named NFL Coach of the Year both times, no small feat. And the Browns haven’t handed him much this year in the way of a quarterback. But coming off a 3-14 season, Stefanski probably needs to show big improvement to keep owner Jimmy Haslam off his case.
Raheem Morris, Falcons: Previous coach Arthur Smith got three years, while this is only Morris’s second. But last year’s 8-9 record with Kirk Cousins was an expensive flop. Morris might not survive a second one.
Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals: Showed upward trajectory in two seasons, from 4-13 to 8-9 last year. But if the Cardinals don’t take another step forward in 2025, don’t be surprised if owner Michael Bidwill makes wholesale changes.
Zac Taylor, Bengals: Previous coach Marvin Lewis got 16 years, and Taylor is only entering his seventh, with a Super Bowl appearance on his résumé. But the Bengals have missed the playoffs the last two years because of slow starts, and the Netflix show “Quarterback” revealed a surprising amount of strain between Taylor and Joe Burrow. Another playoff-less season could be costly.
Kyle Shanahan, 49ers: He has reached four conference championship games and two Super Bowls in eight seasons. But nine years is a long time with one coach, and if the 49ers follow up last year’s 6-11 record with another flop, owner Jed York might want to start over fresh.
Pete Carroll, Raiders; Dave Canales, Panthers; Liam Coen, Jaguars: Each is perpetually on the hot seat because all three work for owners that change coaches more often than they change socks.
Sean McDermott, Bills; Mike Tomlin, Steelers: McDermott still hasn’t made it to a Super Bowl with Josh Allen, and Tomlin hasn’t won a playoff game in seven years. At some point they have to be on the hot seat, right?
Quarterbacks
J.J. McCarthy, Vikings: The Vikings are coming off a 14-3 season and have designs on winning a Super Bowl. But they’re handing the team to a quarterback who didn’t throw many passes in college and missed his rookie season with a torn meniscus suffered halfway through training camp.
McCarthy’s performance isn’t inspiring confidence, and the Vikings have a competent backup in Sam Howell. But is it crazy to think the Vikings could trade back for Cousins, who is rotting on Atlanta’s bench for $27 million? We know from “Quarterback” that Cousins didn’t want to leave.
Bryce Young, Panthers: Finished 2024 on a positive note, with a 4-5 record overall and a 92.2 passer rating in December/January with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. But if Young doesn’t make a big jump in Year 3, the Panthers probably aren’t exercising his fifth-year option after the season, which means they might not bring him back for Year 4, either.
Anthony Richardson, Colts: Same for Richardson, who has played in just 15 of 34 possible games and completed only 50.6 percent of his passes. Richardson avoided an injury scare in Thursday’s preseason opener with just a dislocated pinkie, but misidentifying the blitz and creating a free rusher isn’t going to help him beat out Jones.
Sam Darnold, Seahawks: After a Cinderella year, he cashed in with a $100 million deal in Seattle, right? Kind of. Darnold will earn a handsome $37.5 million this year, but the Seahawks can walk away after one year, which means Darnold better have the Seahawks in playoff contention come December.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals: Murray has not reached his potential as a No. 1 overall pick, with a 36-45-1 record in six seasons with no playoff wins and only one appearance. He has $32.8 million already guaranteed for 2026, but teams have shown they’re willing to pay that kind of money to move on from a quarterback. And releasing Murray next March avoids $33.5 million guaranteed for 2027.
Caleb Williams, Bears: It’s not do-or-die time yet in just his second season. But he looked awful in his rookie season and is off to a rough start in training camp. If the Bears aren’t at least competing for a wild-card spot this season, Williams is going to start hearing “bust” whispers.
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers: He’s playing on a new two-year, $83 million deal, but with only $13 million fully guaranteed in 2026, for now. It would be very surprising to see this relationship turn sideways in one season, but you never know.
Playing on a new contract, Baker Mayfield is facing high expectations with the Buccaneers.
Playing on a new contract, Baker Mayfield is facing high expectations with the Buccaneers.Chris O'Meara/Associated Press
MONEY TALKS
Bad contracts
good protection?
There were several other quarterbacks who have not played to their expectations and deserved to be on the hot seat list. But they are protected by their generous, and some might say overpriced, contracts.
Tua Tagovailoa should be on thin ice with his poor play in December and January, and inability to stay healthy. But the Dolphins owe him $51 million this year, and another $54 million next year that is fully guaranteed.
Trevor Lawrence has been underwhelming in four years since being the No. 1 overall pick, with a 22-38 record and one playoff appearance. Yet he already has $37 million fully guaranteed in 2026, and $29 million in 2027.
The Lions’ Jared Goff has $55 million fully guaranteed in 2026, and $18 million in 2017. The Packers’ Jordan Love has $51 million in 2026. The 49ers’ Brock Purdy has $46 million in 2026, and the Cowboys’ Dak Prescott $40 million.
The Broncos did cut Russell Wilson in 2024, despite owing him $38 million, so there is precedent. But there are probably several teams who regret giving their quarterback big money and will be stuck in limbo for another year or two.
Trevor Lawrence has been underwhelming in four years since being the No. 1 overall pick, with a 22-38 record and one playoff appearance.
Trevor Lawrence has been underwhelming in four years since being the No. 1 overall pick, with a 22-38 record and one playoff appearance.John Raoux/Associated Press
PICK A SIDE?
Some doubt
Hunter’s goal
Travis Hunter is potentially a rare talent, with the chance to do something unprecedented in the modern NFL — star on offense and defense.
Hunter, the No. 2 overall pick by the Jaguars, is listed as a starting wide receiver and backup cornerback, and is getting lots of work on both sides. In the Jaguars’ scrimmage a week ago Friday, Hunter played 17 snaps on offense and 21 on defense.
“If Friday was a glimpse of it, we should all be excited to see him running around out there, wherever it’s at on offense, defense,” Trevor Lawrence said.
Hunter and the Jaguars haven’t shied away from the hype. Coach Liam Coen told Rich Eisen, “I do think it’s possible,” for Hunter to be named Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year. And last week on “Up & Adams,” Hunter said when asked if it’s hard training on both sides: “It’s not hard at all, if I’m being honest.”
Hunter and the Jaguars might want to chill. It’s hard enough thriving on one side of the ball in the NFL, let alone two. Travis Kelce mentioned that opposing receivers are going to run Hunter deep to tire him out. And each snap Hunter plays increases his injury risk.
“I don’t think it’s possible to do for real — not at a high level. It’s hard enough to go cover a punt and then be on one side,” Rams receiver Davante Adams said on “The Pivot.” “How long is his career going to be if he’s playing that many snaps? All you’re doing is just doubling your risk for injury, and I don’t wish any of that on him.”
In the Jaguars’ scrimmage a week ago Friday, Hunter played 17 snaps on offense and 21 on defense.
In the Jaguars’ scrimmage a week ago Friday, Hunter played 17 snaps on offense and 21 on defense.John Raoux/Associated Press
SAD CHAPTER
Burks not an
ordinary bust
A notable chapter in NFL history closed this past week when the Titans waived injured receiver Treylon Burks two days after he fractured his collarbone. Burks, the 18th overall pick in 2022, had just 53 catches for 699 yards and one touchdown in three seasons, and only played five games for the Titans last year.
But Burks wasn’t an ordinary bust. He was the player selected to replace A.J. Brown after the Titans controversially traded Brown to the Eagles on draft day for the 18th and 103rd picks. The trade seemed to enrage then-coach Mike Vrabel, and was a large factor in costing GM Jon Robinson his job eight months later.
Brown promptly got a four-year, $100 million deal with the Eagles, and rewarded them with 261 catches, 4,031 yards, and 25 touchdowns over three seasons, with two Super Bowl appearances and one championship. The Titans got Burks and depth pieces at cornerback and offensive tackle, in perhaps the most lopsided trade in NFL history.
“I am a little sad for Treylon Burks,” Brown said this past week on “Pardon My Take.” “I wish he could get healthy, because he is a good kid and I talk to him numerous times. I’ve got his number. It sucks to see it go down like that.”
The Titans waived Burks, the 18th overall pick in 2022, who had just 53 catches for 699 yards and one touchdown in three seasons.
The Titans waived Burks, the 18th overall pick in 2022, who had just 53 catches for 699 yards and one touchdown in three seasons.George Walker IV/Associated Press
ACTIVE LEADER
Bengals’ Burrow
back in the game
Joe Burrow almost never played in a preseason game during his first five NFL seasons, thanks in part to tearing his ACL and ligaments in his wrist. Burrow also has a 2-5 September record the last two years, with the Bengals missing the playoffs at 9-8 both times.
Ergo, Burrow was slinging darts Thursday night against the Eagles, finishing 9 of 10 for 123 yards and two touchdowns in two series. Burrow called his performance “average. I could have been better. I missed the first throw.” He will likely play more in the next preseason game against the Commanders.
The risk of injury was why Taylor held Burrow out all those years. But the threat of getting hit is why Taylor now wants Burrow to play.
“Because he knows he’s not going to get hit in practice,” Taylor said. “I think him having the knowledge that it’s possible someone could lose a one-on-one, ‘I get hit on the backside so that a free runner could come in,’ you can’t simulate that rep in practice. That’s a big part of why we’re doing this, and so I think it’ll be beneficial for us in the long run.”
ETC.
Bridgewater’s money
went to a good cause
The Buccaneers added veteran backup quarterback Teddy Bridgewater on a one-year deal to solidify the depth chart behind Baker Mayfield. But it’s a shame Bridgewater was available.
Last year he coached his alma mater, Miami Northwestern High, to a state championship. But this year he was suspended by the school for providing improper benefits to the players.
Bridgewater brought trouble on himself by revealing in a Facebook post that he spent $14,000 on a football camp for players with three meals per day, $9,500 for clothing, $300 per week to paint the field, $1,300 per week for recovery trucks, $2,200 for the weekly pregame meal, and $700 per week for Uber rides.
“Miami Northwestern is in a tough neighborhood. Sometimes things can happen when kids are walking home. I was just trying to protect them,” Bridgewater said. “I know what it’s like to walk those halls at Miami Northwestern and to have your stomach growling and rumbling at 12 o’clock in the afternoon because you didn’t have any lunch money or you don’t get the free lunch. So I can’t change who I am.”
Extra points
The Falcons under coach Raheem Morris begin practice with positional drills and one-on-ones. They spend a lot of time in 11-on-11 periods. Yet the Falcons haven’t done any seven-on-seven drills this camp, a cornerstone in most practices. “I am not a seven-on-seven guy,” Morris said. “I think it’s unrealistic for the quarterback, I think it’s unrealistic for the DBs. I love for the quarterbacks to feel the collapsing of the pocket or to get comfortable in the pocket. I think that’s a major part for us and a major part of how we grow.” … 49ers GM John Lynch said the team doesn’t have an exact date on the return of receiver Brandon Aiyuk from a significant injury, and “I don’t think it will be Week 1.” That, plus $24 million fully guaranteed in 2025, are why Aiyuk is a 49er and not traded … One veteran player I’m keeping an eye on as a surprise cut/trade is Patriots safety Kyle Dugger, who has had a quiet camp and is part of a crowded safety room. The Patriots essentially cleaned house from last year’s leadership, and it seems Dugger may only still be in New England because of his $9.75 million fully guaranteed salary. But if the Patriots can convince another team to take on some money, I wouldn’t be surprised if they make the trade. Even if Dugger is released, it would create $1 million in cap space, and the Patriots’ $9.75 million cash obligation would be reduced by whatever Dugger gets after signing with another team … Brutal: Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater suffering a season-ending patellar tendon tear less than two weeks after signing a new deal worth $56 million over the next two years ... More proof that sacks are (generally) a quarterback stat: The Colts’ Anthony Richardson took the blame for getting walloped by an unblocked pass rusher on Thursday night. Richardson said he expected the nickel cornerback to blitz, but the Ravens “brought it from the other side. Got to be on my P’s and Q’s when it comes to that.” … There was an unexpected celebrity sitting in the back of the Miami federal courthouse on Wednesday to support a lawsuit from Friends of the Everglades against the recently built “Alligator Alcatraz” detention center: former Jets quarterback Joe Namath. His daughter, Jessica Namath, is an activist with the organization and testified at the hearing, arguing that the government failed to study potential environmental harm to the Everglades before construction.
Ben Volin can be reached at ben.volin@globe.com.