Kansas City Chiefs: 2020 opposing head coach hot seat rankings

Level Four: The Jungle of Flagg

One novel I’ve been itching to re-read during the pandemic is The Stand by Stephen King. So far, I’ve resisted the urge. I’m honestly not sure what good would come of reading a novel about a superflu that decimates the world’s population right now.

There is, however, an interesting character in that novel who eventually shows up again and again in other King works: Randall Flagg. Or, really, any character with the initials “R.F.” And sometimes he shows up without those initials, but you’ll know if you see him.

At the end of The Stand, Flagg, who’s been ruling over a bunch of people in Las Vegas, seemingly dies with his flock due to the actions of The Trashcan Man. Later, though, in the novel’s epilogue, a group of indigenous people in a faraway jungle are dismayed to find an outsider in a tree.

That outsider is, of course, Flagg, and he starts anew in that horrible heat, a place as hot as these coaches’ hot seats.

Adam Gase, New York Jets

I was shocked when the Jets hired Gase, and I’m still shocked they’ve kept him around this long. The dude’s not a good coach.

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The Jets are in a much worse spot than they were in before hiring him, and the Dolphins are in a much better spot than they were in before firing him. This will probably be Gase’s last hoorah as a head coach in the National Football League with the Chiefs helping him toward the exit on November 1.

Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons

One almost has to feel badly for Quinn. His Falcons came oh so very close to winning the Super Bowl several years ago only to badly cough up the game against the Patriots. Things just haven’t been the same since, and after back-to-back seasons of finishing 7-9, the end seems near for Quinn.

Still, he can turn it around, as the NFC South always seems to be up for grabs. Atlanta’s Week 16 trip to Kansas City may prove vital in Quinn’s attempts to keep his job. Or he may already be out by then.

Anthony Lynn, Los Angeles Chargers

Lynn is the absolute best coach to lead the Chargers, and I hate that I have him at this spot. But the Chargers hugely underachieved last season, dropping to 5-11 after going 12-4 and winning a playoff game the previous year.

What’s worse for Lynn is that, unless the Chargers get off to a good start under Tyrod Taylor, he may have his hand forced into going to rookie quarterback Justin Herbert more quickly than he would like. And that means a rebuild, most likely.

And rebuilds for guys with seats this hot? Well, that’s a recipe for getting the pink slip.

Well, there you have it. My rankings of every head coach and the likelihood of them getting canned during or after the 2020 season.

Here’s to hoping a 2020 season is to be had.