Nov 3, 2026 · 16 min
NFL coaches avoid midseason firings as pressure builds
11/3/26 - First CFP Rankings, Wilbon Steps Away, NFL Coaching Hot Seats
The episode connects an unusually quiet NFL coaching market with mounting pressure on several teams, while examining major sports-business and media stories.
- 1NFL teams have avoided midseason firings after unusually high offseason coaching turnover.
- 2Dan Quinn, Aaron Glenn, and Shane Steichen face varying levels of pressure, with assistants potentially dismissed first.
- 3Victor Wembanyama rejects gambling and alcohol promotion as he defines his role beyond the court.
Don't miss
Mark Maske identifies Shane Steichen as potentially facing the hottest seat among the coaches discussed.
The brief
Front Office Sports Today opens with the first College Football Playoff rankings, Michael Wilbon’s indefinite health leave from ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption, and Victor Wembanyama’s refusal to promote gambling or alcohol.
Mark Maske explains why NFL owners have held off on in-season firings: teams already made unusually sweeping changes during the offseason, leaving new coaches little time to establish themselves.
The coaching pressure varies by team. Nick Sirianni and Jim Harbaugh retain important résumés, while Dan Quinn’s late-game decisions and criticism from ownership have intensified scrutiny.
Aaron Glenn faces questions with the Jets, but Shane Steichen is described as having perhaps the hottest seat. The discussion also considers whether assistants could go first.
The news coverage closes in Chapel Hill, where Bill Belichick declines questions about reports involving Jordan Hudson, saying nothing about his personal life.
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