The NFL playoffs are filled with talented rosters and respected head coaches, but postseason appearances alone no longer guarantee job security. Regular-season success matters, but it is not what defines a legacy. In today’s NFL, playoff wins carry real weight. When teams consistently fall short in January, pressure builds fast. That reality has many organizations evaluating playoff team head coaches who are potentially on the hot seat as championship expectations continue to rise. Even long-tenured coaches with strong resumes can find themselves under scrutiny when championships never follow.
Playoff Team Head Coaches Potentially on the Hot Seat
A coach can be good and still reach a point where a change benefits both sides. We have seen this across the league. Andy Reid was a respected coach in Philadelphia, having even reached the Super Bowl, but the Eagles eventually moved on after postseason shortcomings. That change of scenery transformed his career. Reid went to Kansas City and has since won three Super Bowl titles. It happens even to great coaches. John Harbaugh is another example. One of the longest-tenured coaches in the NFL, he won a Super Bowl in Baltimore, yet was recently fired more for a reset than poor coaching. Sometimes coaches simply reach a shelf life with one team, and a new voice can be better for everyone involved.
Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
Matt LaFleur continues to divide the Green Bay fanbase. Some want continuity. Others believe the ceiling has already been reached and want change. LaFleur has now coached seven seasons and owns a 3-5 postseason record. For a franchise defined by championships and Hall of Fame quarterbacks, that record does not meet expectations.
Green Bay finished the regular season 9-7-1 but entered the playoffs trending in the wrong direction. The Packers lost four straight games to close the year and looked worn down on defense. The loss of Micah Parsons, who tore his ACL in Week 15, has taken a toll on the Packers’ defense.
The pressure increases with the current matchup. Green Bay faces a hungry Chicago Bears team, which is playing confident football with head coach and offensive wizard Ben Johnson. Another early playoff exit would spark real debate about LaFleur’s future. Last postseason ended quickly as well with another one-and-done appearance. These patterns matter. With multiple experienced head coaches now available around the league, front offices may not be as patient as they once were. If the Packers go one-and-done again, LaFleur’s seat will heat up quickly.
Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
Sean McDermott has delivered consistent regular-season success in Buffalo, but postseason results continue to raise questions. McDermott holds a 7-7 playoff record and has not reached a Super Bowl with Josh Allen at quarterback. For a team built to contend every year, that absence is glaring.
Buffalo has suffered several painful playoff losses, including the 13-second collapse in 2021, where the Kansas City Chiefs tied the game late and won in overtime. For a defensive-minded head coach, moments like that leave a lasting mark. This season, the Bills finished 12-5 and entered the playoffs as a wild-card team, facing a difficult road path.
McDermott has yet to win a road playoff game. Josh Allen has not either. Buffalo now travels to face a red-hot Jaguars team that’s playing its best football of the season as of late. Jaguars’ new head coach, Liam Coen, has Trevor Lawrence playing very efficient football. Another playoff exit for the Bills would intensify pressure around the organization.
Allen is a generational quarterback. Those windows do not stay open forever. In the modern NFL, playoff wins define legacies, not regular-season success alone. That reality is why Playoff Team Head Coaches Potentially on the Hot Seat face increasing pressure when January results fall short. Teams built to contend every season eventually reach a point where patience runs out. Regular-season success alone is no longer enough.