Odds Favor Dan Quinn Being Next NFL Coach Fired; Vrabel Listed at +400, Kitchens at +700

By Robert Duff in NFL Football
Updated: March 26, 2020 at 7:49 am EDTPublished:

- Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons is the +150 favorite to be the next coach fired
- The 1-5 Falcons are tied for the worst record in the NFC
- First-year Browns coach Freddie Kitchens is in the top six at +700
The target on the back of Atlanta Falcons’ coach Dan Quinn grows bigger with each mounting loss.
Just three years removed from a Super Bowl appearance, the Falcons are an NFC-worst 1-5.
Quinn is the +150 favorite to be the next NFL head coach to walk the plank and be fired.
Odds On Next NFL Head Coach To Be Fired
Coach | Team | Odds |
---|---|---|
Dan Quinn | Atlanta Falcons | +170 |
Jason Garrett | Dallas Cowboys | +300 |
Anthony Lynn | Los Angeles Chargers | +300 |
Mike Vrabel | Tennessee Titans | +400 |
Doug Marrone | Jacksonville Jaguars | +500 |
Freddie Kitchens | Cleveland Browns | +700 |
*Odds taken on 10/16/19.
Atlanta and the Washington Redskins share the worst record in the NFC. Washington fired head coach Jay Gruden after opening 0-5. Last week, under interim head coach Bill Callahan, they edged the Miami Dolphins 17-16 for their first win of the season.
Quinn’s Underachieving Falcons
It would be one thing if Atlanta were a truly bad team. On paper, the Falcons certainly are not that.
In Matt Ryan, they start a former NFL MVP at quarterback. Wide receiver Julio Jones is an All-Pro who has led the NFL in receptions once, in receiving yardage twice, and in receiving yards per game three times. He’s averaged over 100 yards per game five times in the past six seasons.
The 2016 Falcons had the:
#1 offense under Kyle Shanahan
#26 defense under Dan QuinnNearly won the Super Bowl
Kyle leaves, Quinn stays
The defense is still bad:
2017: #28 defense
2018: #31 defense
2019: #26 defenseand without Kyle, the offense hasn't been the same.
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 8, 2019
Yet, this is a team that finds increasingly bizarre methods to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.
Last week, the Falcons lost by a point to the Arizona Cardinals because kicker Matt Bryant missed a game-tying extra point. Including their Super Bowl 51 loss to the New England Patriots, where they blew a 28-3 third-quarter lead and lost 34-28 in overtime, the Falcons are 19-22 in their past 41 games.
Deep In The (NFC) South
Atlanta is last in the NFC South. This is a division where two teams are starting backups at quarterback (New Orleans Saints, Teddy Bridgewater; Carolina Panthers, Kyle Allen) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are starting Jameis Winston under center.
The Falcons defense might as well line up like this on every snap. pic.twitter.com/tt1ms4XrW7
— Steven Ruiz (@theStevenRuiz) October 7, 2019
One of Atlanta’s biggest problems is that the Falcons’ defense always rests. And not on their laurels.
Last season, they finished 28th in the NFL in overall defense and 25th in scoring. This season, Atlanta is 26th in total defense (388.8 yards per game allowed) and 31st in scoring (31 PPG). Only the dismal 0-5 Miami Dolphins (36) have surrendered more points per game.
Who Else Could Get The Ziggy?
After a 3-0 start to the season, Jason Garrett was being treated like a king in Dallas. Following three straight setbacks, including last week’s loss to the New York Jets, is he in jeopardy? Probably not.
In their entire history, the Cowboys have made an in-season coaching change once. Granted, it was when Garrett replaced the 1-7 Wade Phillips in 2010.
LMAO pic.twitter.com/qptF3AZkoC
— Steve Noah (@Steve_OS) October 6, 2019
Despite the pitiful pratfall of the Los Angeles Chargers from 12-4 last season to 2-4 this season, Anthony Lynn is likely safe. He’s 23-15 and just went to the playoffs.
The Jaguars were 5-11 last season and 2-4 this season. If they keep sliding, Doug Marrone is in trouble. Ditto for Mike Vrabel if the 2-4 Titans can’t turn it around.
Still, Quinn is the clear front runner. Atlanta has been spiraling downward for two straight seasons. The Falcons get the Rams, Seattle, the Saints and Panthers twice each and the 49ers among their next eight games.
Quinn’s seat is already smoldering, and the heat figures to get more intense.
Pick: Dan Quinn (+150)

Sports Writer
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.