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Ranking the NFL head coaches by job security

Ranking the NFL head coaches by job security (from most secure to least secure).

 
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1. Bill Belichick, Patriots

Bill Belichick, Patriots
Mark L. Baer / USA Today Sports Images

Arguably the greatest coach in NFL history, Belichick will move into fourth place all time in wins this season. He's won four Super Bowls with the Patriots and made the playoffs in 13 of the last 15 seasons.

 
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2. Pete Carroll, Seahawks

Pete Carroll, Seahawks
Joe Nicholson / USA Today Sports Images

Carroll has led the Seahawks to two Super Bowls, winning one. The Seahawks have made the playoffs in five of his six seasons at the helm.

 
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3. Gary Kubiak, Broncos

Gary Kubiak, Broncos
Kirby Lee / USA Today Sports Images

The defending Super Bowl-winning head coach, Kubiak has quite a task ahead of him as the Broncos try to find their starting quarterback this season. Kubiak has bought himself plenty of time by winning the Super Bowl in his first season in Denver, and he's also a longtime friend and former teammate of Broncos GM John Elway.

 
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4. Mike McCarthy, Packers

Mike McCarthy, Packers
Jeff Hanisch / USA Today Sports Images

McCarthy is 104-55-1 during the regular season since taking over as Green Bay head coach in 2006. Even with a disappointing season from the team's injury-plagued roster last year, McCarthy extended his playoff streak to seven straight years.

 
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5. Mike Tomlin, Steelers

Mike Tomlin, Steelers
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

Tomlin is only Pittsburgh's third head coach in the last 47 years. He's never finished worse than 8-8 since taking over in 2007 and has made the playoffs in consecutive seasons. A two-time Super Bowl participant, Tomlin has bought himself plenty of leeway.

 
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6. Andy Reid, Chiefs

Andy Reid, Chiefs
Denny Medley / USA Today Sports Images

Reid is tied with his mentor, Mike Holmgren, for the 15th most wins ever among NFL head coaches. He's done an exemplary job turning around the Chiefs, going 30-17 in three seasons and giving the organization its first playoff win in 20 years last season. Considered a player's coach, free agents have often gone to Kansas City just to play for Reid.

 
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7. Ron Rivera, Panthers

Ron Rivera, Panthers
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

Coming off a 15-1 regular season and Super Bowl loss, Rivera was nearly fired early in his Panthers career but has certainly turned his fortunes around. The Panthers have now made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons.

 
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8. Bruce Arians, Cardinals

Bruce Arians, Cardinals
Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today Sports Images

Arians enters his fourth season with Arizona, and the organization has seen nearly unprecedented success under his watch. He's 34-14 in three seasons, and the Cardinals won a playoff game last season.

 
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9. Mike Zimmer, Vikings

Mike Zimmer, Vikings
Benny Sieu / USA Today Sports Images

Zimmer has done a great job as Minnesota's head coach in two seasons. The team went 7-9 in 2014 when Adrian Peterson played only one game, and the Vikings improved to 11-5, winning the NFC North last season. They were a short field goal away from making noise in the playoffs.

 
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10. John Harbaugh, Ravens

John Harbaugh, Ravens
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

Harbaugh certainly can't be faulted for his team's 5-11 performance last season given the injuries, but the Ravens have missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons. They're only four years removed from being Super Bowl champs, but Harbaugh probably can't afford another disastrous year.

 
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11. John Fox, Bears

John Fox, Bears
David Butler II / USA Today Sports Images

Fox ranks 25th all time in wins and has been coaching nonstop between three organizations since 2002. The Bears showed improvement last season despite their 6-10 record. As they continue to turn over their roster, Fox has plenty of time to install his system.

 
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12. Doug Pederson, Eagles

Doug Pederson, Eagles
Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports Images

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie turned back the clock, firing Chip Kelly and hiring former Andy Reid assistant Pederson. It's impossible to know how the Eagles will fare with a brand-new head coach, but it seems highly unlikely they'd dump him after his first season under any circumstances, especially after drafting quarterback Carson Wentz second overall.

 
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13. Bill O'Brien, Texans

Bill O'Brien, Texans
Troy Taormina / USA Today Sports Images

The Texans have finished 9-7 in each of the last two seasons and won the weak AFC South last year. That should buy O'Brien some time, though the current regime has pressure to develop new quarterback Brock Osweiler quickly.

 
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14. Dan Quinn, Falcons

Dan Quinn, Falcons
Logan Bowles / USA Today Sports Images

Quinn was given full control over the Falcons' football operation last year, but the defense didn't show significant improvement in his first year. Atlanta finished 8-8 after a fast start to the season. The poor second half of the year leaves a poor taste in the mouths of Atlanta fans, though it would take an embarrassing showing this year for Quinn to be ousted.

 
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15. Todd Bowles, Jets

Todd Bowles, Jets
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Bowles went 10-6 but missed the playoffs in his first season as Jets head coach. Their failure was a huge disappointment, and the New York market certainly adds pressure to Bowles' job. Still, it's unlikely he wouldn't be back for 2017.

 
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16. Adam Gase, Dolphins

Adam Gase, Dolphins
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

Gase has been acclaimed for the job he did with Jay Cutler as Chicago's offensive coordinator last year and was arguably the biggest prize of the head-coaching market over the last two offseasons. Miami won the bidding, but Gase has no experience in the job and an interesting roster. It's unlikely owner Stephen Ross would pull the plug quickly, though.

 
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17. Marvin Lewis, Bengals

Marvin Lewis, Bengals
David Kohl / USA Today Sports Images

The leader of the Bengals since 2003, Lewis has done an amazing job with the team during the regular season, leading Cincy to five straight playoff appearances. However, Lewis lost the team in its unbelievable playoff loss against Pittsburgh last year and has yet to win a playoff game in seven appearances. Owner Mike Brown could be at a boiling point if Cincinnati goes another year without a playoff win.

 
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18. Sean Payton, Saints

Sean Payton, Saints
Derick E. Hingle / USA Today Sports Images

One of the great offensive minds in football, Payton is 87-57 with one Super Bowl victory in nine seasons with New Orleans. The offense continues to produce, but the Saints have gone 7-9 in consecutive seasons with a couple of the worst defenses in league history. Payton could wear out his welcome, especially if aging quarterback Drew Brees falls off a cliff.

 
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19. Jack Del Rio, Raiders

Jack Del Rio, Raiders
Benny Sieu / USA Today Sports Images

Del Rio's impact on the Raiders was apparent last season, with the team improving to 7-9 and playing better in all facets. Many expect Oakland to compete for a playoff spot this season with one of the most talented young rosters in football. It will still be a difficult task in the AFC West, and owner Mark Davis hasn't really tipped his hand on whether he will rule with an iron fist like his father.

 
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20. Dirk Koetter, Buccaneers

Dirk Koetter, Buccaneers
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Koetter was promoted from offensive coordinator to head coach after last season, with the Bucs shockingly firing Lovie Smith. The move was an effort to keep the sought-after offensive mind, but Koetter wasn't exactly an overwhelming success as the head coach of Arizona State from 2001-06. If Tampa Bay falls flat, owner Malcolm Glazer could decide to turn the page and find a bigger name.

 
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21. Jay Gruden, Redskins

Jay Gruden, Redskins
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Gruden was a quiet hire in 2014 after Mike Shanahan failed in Washington. Jon's brother went 4-12 in his first season but won the NFC East in his second season. Gruden has developed Kirk Cousins at quarterback and helped shape a talented roster. However, owner Daniel Snyder is notorious for his lack of patience if things go awry this season.

 
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22. Chuck Pagano, Colts

Chuck Pagano, Colts
Jason Getz / USA Today Sports Images

At the end of last season, Pagano was expected to be fired. Instead, he received a contract extension after missing the playoffs. He did make the playoffs in his first three seasons, albeit one mostly in his absence due to cancer, and owner Jim Irsay probably wouldn't be happy with missing the playoffs in consecutive years.

 
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23. Jeff Fisher, Rams

Jeff Fisher, Rams
Jasen Vinlove / USA Today Sports Images

Fisher is 14th all time in wins, but he's yet to have a winning season in four tries with the Rams. Usually that would result in a firing, but the Rams have been rumored to be trying to extend Fisher's contract after the move from St. Louis to L.A. Maybe owner Stan Kroenke just wanted someone willing to relocate?

 
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24. Chip Kelly, 49ers

Chip Kelly, 49ers
Kelley L. Cox / USA Today Sports Images

The mad offensive scientist was let go by the Eagles before he could finish his third season. He went 10-6 in each of his first two seasons, and the expectation is that the 49ers will be patient given their lack of talent. Kelly's personality has rubbed many players the wrong way, however, so a disastrous season could test his job security.

 
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25. Ben McAdoo, Giants

Ben McAdoo, Giants
Vincent Carchietta / USA Today Sports Images

The Giants opted to fire future Hall of Fame head coach Tom Coughlin when the personnel was probably more of the issue. McAdoo got a promotion from offensive coordinator. The risk is that the defense and team discipline don't improve, which could cause ownership to wipe the slate clean from the front office on down.

 
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26. Hue Jackson, Browns

Hue Jackson, Browns
Benny Sieu / USA Today Sports Images

Jackson has one year of head-coaching experience, when he went 8-8 in 2011 with the Raiders. The Browns have turned the page too often recently, and owner Jimmy Haslam would do well to show more patience. Based on his track record, that's not a great bet despite an incredibly young roster.

 
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27. Jim Caldwell, Lions

Jim Caldwell, Lions
Tim Fuller / USA Today Sports Images

Caldwell was hired by Detroit when Tony Dungy didn't want the job, with the team hoping to fix Matthew Stafford. The jury is still out, especially without Calvin Johnson, but he did make progress last season after Jim Bob Cooter was promoted to offensive coordinator. Still, the organization known for losing was embarrassing at times last season before settling on 7-9, and Caldwell probably can't afford to take another step backward.

 
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28. Jason Garrett, Cowboys

Jason Garrett, Cowboys
Timothy T. Ludwig / USA Today Sports Images

Garrett isn't to blame for the injuries to Tony Romo and Dez Bryant last season, nor is he to blame for the team's lack of defensive talent going into this year. But the owner, Jerry Jones, is also the GM of the Cowboys, so he can't be held accountable if it all goes downhill like last year. Garrett has only one winning season in his five full years as head coach of Dallas.

 
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29. Mike McCoy, Chargers

Mike McCoy, Chargers
Tommy Gilligan / USA Today Sports Images

McCoy is probably still employed by the Chargers only because of their L.A. fiasco last year, preventing ownership from spending time to find a replacement. He went 4-12 last season and has an almost impossible task of competing in the AFC West with his roster this year.

 
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30. Mike Mularkey, Titans

Mike Mularkey, Titans
Logan Bowles / USA Today Sports Images

Tennessee shocked the football world when it removed the interim tag from Mularkey last season. There are still questions about the ownership situation, and Mularkey's track record as a head coach (18-39) isn't great.

 
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31. Rex Ryan, Bills

Rex Ryan, Bills
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Ryan moved from the Jets to the Bills last season, and his team went 8-8 with major decline from the defense. The organization distanced itself from Ryan in the offseason when he made a political endorsement and could lose even more patience if the Bills don't compete for a playoff spot. Ryan hasn't finished better than 8-8 over the last five seasons.

 
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32. Gus Bradley, Jaguars

Gus Bradley, Jaguars
Reinhold Matay / USA Today Sports Images

The Jaguars did start to show progress on offense last season, yet they still finished 5-11. Bradley is 12-36 in three seasons in Jacksonville, and ownership has basically given him a playoff ultimatum.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

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