NFL head coach firings, hirings and openings: Everything to know about hot seats, job candidates and more

There are just two more weeks of the NFL regular season, and head coachhiring-and-firing season is off and running for the 2019-20 cycle. The Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers each fired their coach, and there are more firings on the way soon.

When we rated the job security for every coach in early December, there were four coaches squarely on the hot seat and a few more inching closer into the danger zone. We also identified the potential candidates who could get interviews.

What's next on the NFL coaching carousel? Here's everything you need to know about the movement through hiring-and-firing season, with updates on coaches who could be next to go and the latest news on open jobs.

Read more:

Barnwell: Ranking potential openings

Tannenbaum: Inside a coaching hunt

OPEN JOBS

Carolina Panthers (5-9)

Interim coach Perry Fewell's chances of becoming a serious contender to succeed Ron Rivera are dwindling with an 0-2 start. Not that he really fit the job description owner David Tepper mapped out after he fired Rivera.

Tepper continues to work behind the scenes with the advice of others at Bank of America Stadium to put a list together with priorities on a young, offensive-minded coach with an old-school flair but big into analytics. He indicated to Sports Illustrated last week that the new coach would have input into front office jobs such as the new assistant GM and VP of football operations. There's been a lot of speculation but nothing official in terms of interviews that could happen for assistant coaches. -- David Newton

More:

• Panthers players feel like they lost more than a coach in Rivera
• With Rivera gone, Panthers must focus on Cam Newton's future
• Rivera's ouster leaves NFL with only three full-time head coaches of color

Washington Redskins (3-11)

Former Ohio State coach Urban Meyer attended Sunday's loss to the Eagles, sitting with his former Utah quarterback Alex Smith in the owner's box. He was there to watch his former Buckeyes players Terry McLaurin and Dwayne Haskins, but the Redskins have an opening and Meyer is intrigued by the NFL. Still, it would take a different power structure setup to land him -- plus likely beating out situations that might be more conducive to winning.

Other names that have been mentioned include Stanford coach David Shaw, but the chance of landing him is probably around 1%, leaving open the you-never-know scenario.

First, though, the Redskins must decide whether they want Bruce Allen to remain as president and in charge of football operations. His presence will be a hindrance for some candidates. -- John Keim

More:

• One play by Dwayne Haskins a sign of progress Redskins hope to see

JOBS THAT COULD OPEN

Atlanta Falcons (5-9)

Coach: Dan Quinn (41-37 over five seasons)

Quinn is making this a tough decision for owner Arthur Blank. Thanks in large part to Julio Jones' effort, Quinn help guide the Falcons to a 29-22 win over the 49ers, arguably in the NFC's best team. Although the Falcons are just 5-9, Quinn has wins over both the 49ers (11-3) and Saints (10-3), and his team played a great second half in a seven-point loss to the Seahawks (11-3).

Although Quinn will finish the season with a losing record, he'll certainly try to sell Blank on the potential for a 2020 turnaround based on those impressive outings. -- Vaughn McClure

More:

• Can Falcons rebound from 1-7 start to save Quinn's job?
• Quinn reassigns three assistants on staff

Cleveland Browns (6-8)

Coach: Freddie Kitchens (first season)

Buffalo knocking off Pittsburgh on Sunday night mathematically kept the Browns alive for the playoffs. But really, that's just delaying the inevitable for what might be the NFL's biggest disappointment.

Cleveland general manager John Dorsey was always going to give Kitchens every opportunity to show he warranted a second season, even without a spot in the playoffs. But Sunday's hapless loss at Arizona did little to that end. -- Jake Trotter

More:

• Browns shift from salvaging this season to saving this era
• Steelers blast Kitchens for controversial shirt

Dallas Cowboys (7-7)

Coach:Jason Garrett (84-66 over 10 seasons)

Garrett is still on the hot seat. It might be hotter now after the Cowboys' win against the Rams because it has many wondering where that team has been for most of the season. A loss Sunday in Philadelphia would likely end the Cowboys' playoff hopes, so there is little wiggle room.

Jerry Jones is not necessarily reassessing the coaching staff now, because "that implies that I'd concluded and had assessed the future, and that's not correct," he said. "So I had not reached that point, and wouldn't under any circumstances until this season is over. What it does is remind me the season's not over. That's a plus thing. We've got a long road to hoe, but we've got a huge challenge coming up here this weekend up in Philadelphia. But this is what the doctor ordered to go get ready to play the Eagles." -- Todd Archer

More:

• Sizing up coaching market if the Cowboys move on from Garrett
• Answers hard to come by for what has happened to Cowboys
• Jones says he's sticking with Garrett
• Cowboys' season, Garrett's tenure hit low point in loss to Bills

Detroit Lions (3-10-1)

Coach:Matt Patricia (9-20-1 over two seasons)

The Lions lost their seventh straight game Sunday, as they trailed 21-3 at the half to the Bucs and allowedJameis Winston to throw for 308 yards before halftime. While not all of that can be placed on the coach, it is surely a sign of the team not improving. The fan base has started to speak with their attendance as well, as the stadium never looked close to full and rows in some sections of the lower bowl were almost completely empty.

Things seem to be trending in the wrong direction for Patricia and general manager Bob Quinn. While the Ford family hasn't said anything about their status, the losses are piling up and frustration among the fan base is clearly high.-- Michael Rothstein

More:

• Patricia says Lions are not their record; history might say otherwise
• How Patricia and the Lions can show actual progress

Jacksonville Jaguars (5-9)

Coach:Doug Marrone (21-27 over four seasons)

The Jaguars' come-from-behind victory over Oakland on Sunday snapped a five-game losing streak, and while it doesn't significantly impact coach Doug Marrone's job security, it did prove one thing: The players haven't quit. That's a good sign for Marrone. His decision to go with Gardner Minshew over Nick Foles looks better now than it did last week, too.

The Jaguars, however, just aren't very talented as this point, partly due to injuries, but also because of personnel mistakes made by vice president Tom Coughlin and general manager Dave Caldwell. Major changes are expected once the season ends, but owner Shad Khan hasn't given any indication on whether that means a clean sweep. -- Michael DiRocco

More:

• Jaguars hit rock bottom, and they're familiar with the neighborhood

New York Giants (3-11)

Coach:Pat Shurmur (8-22 over two seasons)

The Giants finally won a game for the first time since September. They ended a nine-game losing streak with a victory over the Dolphins in Week 15. Pat Shurmur's seat is still hot, but at least it's not the uncomfortably scorching variety it would have been had they lost in what could beEli Manning's final home start to the lowly Dolphins.

Still, not much changes with this victory. The Giants' owners are going to meet after the season ends to discuss Shurmur's and general manager Dave Gettleman's fate. It still seems unlikely Shurmur survives, but a few more wins certainly won't hurt his cause. -- Jordan Raanan

More:

• Making the case for Shurmur after latest Giants loss