We’re less than a month away from the opening kickoff of the 2023 NFL regular season, where 32 NFL franchises will look to be the one to hoist the Vince Lombardi trophy. While the 49ers Super Bowl odds are the best among California teams, the Chargers aren't far behind.
We also know a host of NFL teams will fail to even compete for the league’s postseason, ultimately dooming some coaches to the league’s firing line between now and season’s end. For example. the Rams playoff chances are around 35% in the preseason.
BetCalifornia.com took a look at which coaches are on the hot seat entering the 2023 season and compiled hypothetical odds on the first to be fired.
Unfortunately for the state’s NFL fans, you will have to visit another state to place wagers will legal sportsbook operators. there is no legal California sports betting. A possible referendum to approve wagering won’t take place until at least 2024.
Odds of First NFL Coach to be Fired
Chargers’ Staley on the Hot Seat
Few NFL coaches have seen their stock sour as much as Brandon Staley of the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers playoff chances are over 50%, and they are a darkhorse pick for Super Bowl champion.
While the third-year NFL head coach has seen his year-end win total climb (from nine to 10 in 2022), there’s also the burden of expectation that comes when you have the league’s highest paid quarterback on your roster.
Whether Staley can get Justin Herbert and his $218.7 million contract past the AFC Divisional Round for the first time in their two-plus years together could ultimately decide the 40-year-old Ohio native’s future.
The Chargers last advanced past the Divisional round in 2007, when they ultimately fell to the New England Patriots, 21-12, in the AFC Championship game.
In the last decade-and-a-half, the franchise has made it to the playoffs five times, losing in the Divisional round four times and the Wild Card round in 2022 — a particularly embarrassing 31-30 loss to Jacksonville which saw the Chargers blow a 27-0 lead.
As for the year ahead, oddsmakers at BetMGM Sportsbook (there is no BetMGM California) list the Chargers at +2500 to capture the franchise’s first Super Bowl, ranking in a tie for 10th with Miami.
As for the team’s divisional odds, Staley and the Bolts are listed at +300 to win the AFC West this year, ranking second behind Kansas City (-165) and ahead of Denver (+500) and Las Vegas (+1400).
Leaguewide, BetCalifornia.com sees Todd Bowles of Tampa Bay (+500), Josh McDaniels of the Raiders (+550), Kevin Stefanski of Cleveland (+650) and Ron Rivera of Washington (+700) as the NFL coaches to be fired first in 2023.
