Todd Bowles and Mike McDaniel bear NFL hot seat pressure as Jim Harbaugh gets a pass (Image via Getty: Todd Bowles and Mike McDaniel)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost their [almost] franchise quarterback, Baker Mayfield, to a thumb injury after he signed a blockbuster contract worth three years and $165 million. Mayfield’s injury came in Week 3; until then, they had had three losses. But he too started with a Week 4 loss. A ray of hope for Buccaneers fans came in Week 5 with a win over the Dallas Cowboys, thanks to Jalon Daniels. Bowles fired five assistant coaches from his staff in January 2026 after the 2025 NFL season.
It won’t take time for a head coach to follow that fleet. Rookie Jalon Daniels filled in. However, one win doesn’t erase concerns about their early-season record. The victory reminds the Buccaneers they can snatch wins when their offense and defense perform in unison.
The 2026 NFL season has completed one-third of its crucial phase. Remember Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll from the 2025 chapter? The Tennessee Titans fired Callahan on October 13, 2025, after a 1-5 start. The New York Giants fired Daboll on November 10, 2025, after a disappointing 2-8 start and a 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears. Head coach Todd Bowles must capitalize on that and sustain the improvement they had in Week 5. The Miami Dolphins fired Mike McDaniel in January 2026 after back-to-back losses in the 2025 season. He ended the season with a 7-10 record. Los Angeles is entering Week 6 with a winless record to face the 4-0 reigning champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Wide receivers Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre’ Harris are all listed as questionable for Week 6. Join conversation Share your thoughts in the comments Be respectful · TOI community guidelines ESPN’s Bill Barnwell did not place Jim Harbaugh in the hot seat after a 0-5 start into the 2026 season. His seat was cold entering the 2026 season. Anyhow, Harbaugh’s track record may give him a leash despite a 0-5 start. But with crucial matchups lined up against the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans, and Baltimore Ravens, the 0-5 record could soon become 1-8 or 0-9. Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news , check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule .
The team’s offense has come under intense scrutiny, especially because, since McDaniel’s arrival, the Chargers have not looked like they did in 2025.
The same “could” happen to Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles and Los Angeles Chargers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel as they remain on the hot seat ahead of NFL Week 6, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell. There’s hardly any benefit to making an in-season change at offensive coordinator, according to ESPN’s Bill Barnwell. The remaining two-thirds will decide every NFL team’s fate. But their coaches? They’re already facing the heat, facing questions about their job security. One more loss, and they could be fired midseason. Keyword being – “could be. Why? Let’s find out one by one. If his team doesn’t deliver consistent results after a single encouraging performance, people will question the team’s direction. Everything may fall onto him. He’s in his second stint as head coach and boasts three straight playoff appearances. This sure offers some slack. But for how long? He made playoff appearances in the first two seasons as a head coach. The Dolphins firing, however, led to his demotion to offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Chargers. There too, he is struggling to produce expected results. The Chargers currently have zero wins and five straight losses. Neither has Justin Herbert. Injuries have also impacted the offense extensively and continue to do so. But if Mike McDaniel fails to turn things around quickly and Justin Herbert continues to struggle, the Chargers will be pushed to make a move sooner rather than later. However, FanSided’s Zachary Rotman believes that Harbaugh is well in the hot seat. Harbaugh has led Los Angeles to back-to-back postseason appearances. But they are now one of the three teams with a winless start. The other two being – the Miami Dolphins and the Tennessee Titans. It’s only a matter of time; will Harbaugh be able to survive that? Remains to be assessed. Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.