We know that there are numerous coaching changes in the NFL each offseason. Although we don’t know exactly which teams will flop, we do have an idea of which coaches need to be successful to hold on to their jobs.

We will rank which coaches seats are the hottest entering the 2015 season.

Our first volume featured the “safest” coaches for this year and why.

In volume two, we went over the coaches that are likely safe, but not guaranteed.

The last volume featured coaches who are probably safe, but should be concerned if the wheels fall off the wagon. 

Now we will look at the coaches who likely need to show improvement from the previous year or it’s likely they will be replaced.

17. Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings- Mike Zimmer had a positive first season in Minnesota as he kept the Vikings out of last place with a rookie quarterback.  In Year 2, Zimmer must build on that and get the team to .500.  Coach Zim has Adrian Peterson back for the season, a nice young quarterback in Teddy Bridgewater and the team spent money in free agency.

It’s not playoffs or bust yet for Zimmer, but if the proverbial wheels fall off the wagon he could be searching for employment.

16. Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys- Jason Garrett has seemingly lived on the hot seat throughout his 4 and a half seasons in Dallas.  Garrett’s NFC East title and playoff win don’t carry a ton of equity in North Texas, as the franchise that won five Super Bowls still has those aspirations, even though they haven’t sniffed the big game in nearly 20 years.

It’s possible that Garrett’s spectacular 2014 season could actually work against him as expectations have been raised, and Dallas will have to realize those expectations without the NFL’s leading rusher from a season ago, DeMarco Murray.  It’s difficult to imagine Garrett surviving if the Cowboys don’t qualify for the postseason.

15. Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers- It’s difficult to find anyone in the football community that will say anything negative about Mike McCoy’s coaching acumen, as he is a very good X’s and O’s coach.  McCoy took over a solid Chargers team with a franchise quarterback and qualified for the playoffs and even won a playoff game in his first season, while losing on the final week to miss the postseason last year (to a backup quarterback).

This is quite possibly the most important season in Chargers history, as the team could be changing addresses following 2015.  That’s just the tip of the iceberg as quarterback Philip Rivers is set to hit free agency following this season and 2015 will likely be the last year for both Antonio Gates and Eric Weddle.   With the Denver Broncos seemingly coming back to the rest of the AFC West pack, Mike McCoy needs to make the playoffs and make a run in them if he’s going to survive the offseason changes.

14. Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions- Jim Caldwell is one of the weaker X’s and O’s coaches in the NFL and although he’s very well respected as a coordinator, he isn’t considered as an above average head coach.

Caldwell took over an underperforming team in Detroit and led them to the playoffs (hollowed ground for the Lions), and nearly won a playoff game in Dallas.  Now expectations have re-set in Detroit and the Lions are expected to take the next step.  If Caldwell falls flat, it’s likely that Lions ownership could pull the plug.

13. Mike Pettine, Cleveland Browns- Is anybody really safe in Cleveland?  Sure, expectations are tempered for one of the worst franchises not only in the NFL, but in pro sports, but the fan base is desperate for a winner.  Mike Pettine doesn’t have a lot to work with at quarterback (or anywhere outside of the offensive line), and he’s going to need to navigate the Browns to at least a near .500 season to keep his job.