The NFL futures market offers a wide range of bets both before and during the season. Compared to other sports, it’s like being a kid in a candy shop – if you want it, chances are it’s available.
As sports betting continues to grow in popularity, the variety of markets has expanded right alongside it. That includes creative options such as “First Head Coach Fired.”
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Can Mike McDaniel right the ship and save his career?
With just one week in the books, let’s take a look at how these odds are shaping up.
According to BetOnline, there’s already a clear favorite in the “First Head Coach Fired” market:
- Mike McDaniel (-400)
- Brian Daboll (+650)
- Kevin Stefanski (+700)
- Dave Canales (10/1)
- Brian Callahan (10/1)
While the list goes deeper, this is where the realistic cutoff lies. These are the coaches with a plausible chance of being shown the door.
Leading the way is Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel. That comes as little surprise given the team’s continued regression under his watch—punctuated by a brutal Week 1 home loss to the Colts, a team projected to finish near the bottom of the league, by a score of 33-8.
McDaniel’s odds shortened dramatically from around +200 entering the game, and his postgame press conference only reinforced the market’s bearish sentiment, saying things such as, “The positive is I don’t see how it could be worse.”
The swirling rumors of Tyreek Hill wanting out of Miami don’t do McDaniel any favors, either.
Looking further down the list, it’s hard to imagine Browns coach Kevin Stefanski truly being on the hot seat. A two-time Coach of the Year who’s juggling two rookies and an aging veteran at quarterback shouldn’t be punished for circumstances largely out of his control.
As for Panthers coach Dave Canales, the outlook could get rocky. Carolina looked dreadful in a 26-10 Week 1 loss to Jacksonville, and if that performance sets the tone, conversations about his job security may follow. Still, it’s tough to put the blame squarely on him – there’s not much talent on the roster, and Bryce Young’s struggles raise the question of how much Canales can really be held responsible.
While McDaniel is the obvious front-runner, the next two names – Brian Daboll (+650) and Brian Callahan (10/1) – may offer some sneaky value.
Giants coach Brian Daboll’s seat isn’t scorching, but it’s warm enough to warrant discussion. His quarterback room is a puzzle: Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and rookie Jaxson Dart. How quickly will Daboll move off Wilson? Does he turn to Winston, who’s volatile but explosive, or give the rookie a chance after an encouraging preseason? And more importantly, will any of those moves actually save his job? Daboll is clearly a sharp football mind, but intelligence doesn’t always translate to leadership success. Dabbling on Daboll might not be a bad idea.
Then there’s Titans coach Brian Callahan. Tennessee nearly pulled off the upset of Week 1, but he drew criticism for questionable decisions and tone-deaf postgame remarks. A big catch by wideout Elic Ayomanor was wiped away because Callahan refused to challenge the play. Afterward, he doubled down, saying: “You got to get a foot in bounds, too… an elbow doesn’t equal two feet.”
Apparently, Callahan was unaware that Ayomanor’s elbow hitting in bounds before the rest of his body landed out would have counted as a catch. Naturally, that left fans irate. Callahan later admitted he did not know that rule.
The defense showed promise, but the offense collapsed in key moments, raising serious concerns about his play-calling and even his grasp of basic rules. While rookie quarterback Cam Ward may buy him some patience, repeated coaching errors won’t. If the Titans drop games because of sideline mismanagement, that 10/1 ticket could cash faster than expected.
We’ll continue monitoring these unique futures markets as the season unfolds, but for now, those longer shots are worth keeping in mind. In the NFL, you never know what can happen – everything can change in just a week.
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