What NFL coach won’t last the rest of the season?

Writers from around the Tribune Co. discuss which NFL coaches are on the hot seat near the midway point of the season. Feel free to join the conversation with a comment of your own.

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times

Kansas City plays at San Diego on Thursday night, and the stakes are incredibly high for both coaches.

Although I’d be somewhat surprised if Romeo Crennel is canned by the Chiefs in the middle of his first full season, Kansas City’s ineffectiveness has reached historic proportions. The Chiefs have gone seven games without ever holding a lead, something no team has done since 1950. That has to put a coach’s job in extreme jeopardy.

And in San Diego, where the Chargers are faced with digging themselves out of a deep hole on a yearly basis, the situation is unraveling by the week. Following that epic collapse against the Broncos with a touchdown-free defeat at Cleveland might have sealed Norv Turner’s fate. Something to remember about the Chargers, though, is that owner Dean Spanos has consistently stood by Turner and GM A.J. Smith, and Spanos is absolutely glacial when it comes to making big moves.

Still, the losses have been demoralizing. I believe Turner will go first -– and certainly if the Chargers can’t beat Kansas City on their home field.

Nick Fierro, Allentown Morning Call

San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner has to be first on this list, followed by Ron Rivera of the Carolina Panthers and Romeo Crennel of the Kansas City Chiefs. Turner’s Chargers, who haven’t won a playoff game since the 2008 season, most recently blew a 24-0 halftime lead at home against Denver, then came out of their off week and dropped a 7-6 decision to Cleveland on Sunday to fall to 3-4.

Rivera’s days have been numbered ever since GM Marty Hurney was fired on Oct. 22. Franchise quarterback Cam Newton also is disenchanted with the team’s 1-6 start, during which it has lost its last four games by a combined 12 points. Crennel’s Chiefs, on the other hand, haven’t even been competitive.

Joseph Schwerdt, South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Jacksonville, Carolina and Kansas City are the worst teams in the NFL, sharing dismal 1-6 records. But they all have relatively new coaches, so it is hard to see the button being pushed in those cities any time soon.

Pat Shurmur could be out soon in Cleveland. The Browns are 2-6 and rank at or near the bottom in several key offensive categories. Shurmur was Mike Holmgren’s hire and with Holmgren gone, expect Shurmur to be next.

The big coaching question, though, is how is Rex Ryan still employed? After two straight AFC title game appearances, the Jets have gone backward under Ryan. Quarterback Mark Sanchez is not progressing, Tim Tebow has been a distraction and the defense, which Ryan could turn to in previous seasons, has been awful.

The Jets have some impressive wins: 48-28 vs. Buffalo; 35-9 vs. Indianapolis. But, how about the 34-0 loss at home to San Francisco? Or Sunday’s 30-9 loss at home to the Dolphins?

If Ryan keeps creating more sound bites than wins he may not make it through the Jets’ bye week.

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