Three AFC North NFL Coaches on 2025 Hot Seat List

The AFC North faces significant scrutiny as three head coaches—Kevin Stefanski of the Browns, Zac Taylor of the Bengals, and Mike Tomlin of the Steelers—are on the early 2025 hot seat due to recent underperformance despite past successes. Stefanski's Browns struggled notably in 2024 with poor offensive and defensive metrics, while Taylor's Bengals, though talented, haven't reached the postseason recently, making 2025 a critical year. Meanwhile, NFL analyst Jason McCourty ranks Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow as the top quarterbacks in the AFC North, with Aaron Rodgers trailing behind following injury setbacks. Outside the AFC North, the Arizona Cardinals are cautiously optimistic with the HC-QB duo of Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray, who are aiming for a playoff berth after steady improvements. In the NFC East, teams have heavily invested in their offensive lines, with the Eagles maintaining a strong unit led by top-paid linemen, while the Giants, Commanders, and Cowboys continue to build and adjust their lines with varying degrees of success. These developments highlight the intense competitive pressures across divisions as teams prepare for the 2025 NFL season.