Posted on: September 28, 2023, 03:37h.
Last updated on: September 28, 2023, 03:37h.
Josh McDaniels from the Las Vegas Raiders (+200 odds) and Matt Eberflus from the Chicago Bears (+225 odds) are currently the top choices for bettors looking to wager on which NFL head coach will be fired first this season.
The Las Vegas Raiders sit at a 1-2 record, while the Chicago Bears are winless at 0-3 after three weeks of the NFL season.
BetOnline offers a prop bet for the first head coach firing, with McDaniels, Eberflus, Ron Rivera from the Washington Commanders, and Brandon Staley from the Los Angeles Chargers being the frontrunners.
Last season, Matt Rhule from the Carolina Panthers was the first head coach to be fired after a disappointing 1-4 start in 2022. Two other head coaches, Frank Reich and Nathaniel Hackett, were fired during the 2022 season.
Josh McDaniels (Las Vegas Raiders) +200
Josh McDaniels, who previously won multiple Super Bowl rings as the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, has found challenges as the head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders. Following a shaky first season with a 6-11 record, McDaniels and the Raiders started the current season with a road victory over the Denver Broncos, but have since lost two consecutive games, including a close defeat against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.
McDaniels has faced criticism for his decision-making, particularly a questionable choice to kick a field goal instead of going for it on fourth down against the Steelers. The Raiders ultimately lost the game, leading to further scrutiny of McDaniels’ decisions. Star wide receiver Davante Adams has also voiced frustrations about the team’s performance.
Given his current odds of +200, McDaniels is the favorite among bettors to be the first head coach fired this season. This wouldn’t be the first time McDaniels has been dismissed mid-season, as he was previously fired during the 2010 season as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. With a career head coaching record of 18-30, McDaniels’ future with the Raiders remains uncertain as they face a challenging schedule ahead.
Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears) +225
The Chicago Bears have struggled this season and are considered one of the weakest teams in the NFL. They suffered a significant defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 3, with attention shifted to pop singer Taylor Swift’s appearance at the game alongside Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.
The Bears’ offense has been lackluster, and there have been concerns about the team’s utilization of quarterback Justin Fields. Fields himself expressed frustration, citing coaching overload as a reason for his subpar performances in the first two games of the season.
While Matt Eberflus may become an easy target for blame, the issues with the Bears run deeper than just the coaching staff. Eberflus led the team to a 3-14 record in his first year as head coach last season, and it appears they may struggle to secure their first win even into the tenth game of the season.
Eberflus has odds of +225 to be the first head coach fired this season, making him the second favorite among bettors. However, his fate will likely depend on the Bears’ continued poor performance.
Ron Rivera (Washington Commanders) +300
Ron Rivera, commonly known as “Riverboat Ron,” understood the pressure he faced entering this season. The Commanders hired Eric Bieniemy as their offensive coordinator, despite his interviews for head coaching positions.
Rumors have swirled in the nation’s capital, suggesting that if Rivera fails to deliver a winning season in 2023, the Commanders will fire him and promote Bieniemy. Rivera led the team to a postseason berth and NFC East title in 2020, albeit with a 7-9 record. However, the Commanders have missed the playoffs in the last two seasons, with Rivera’s best record being 8-8-1.
While the Commanders started the season with a promising 2-0 record, they suffered a heavy defeat against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. Despite their 2-1 standing, Rivera is the third favorite among bettors to be the first head coach fired this season, with odds set at +300.
Brandon Staley (Los Angeles Chargers) +750
Last year, the Los Angeles Chargers narrowly avoided firing head coach Brandon Staley after their playoff meltdown against the Jacksonville Jaguars, blowing a 27-point lead. Staley, a former defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, was highly regarded when he was hired by the Chargers as head coach in 2021.
However, the Chargers’ defense has struggled, leading to a 1-2 start with two close losses. Their inability to secure crucial stops late in games has been a significant factor in their defeats. All three of the Chargers’ games this season have been decided by one score, resulting in a point differential of minus one.
Staley currently has odds of +750 to be the first head coach fired, making him the fourth favorite on the board. While a mid-season firing seems unlikely, the Chargers would still have financial obligations to Staley due to his four-year contract.