Odds on First NFL Coaching Casualty of the Season

WILLEMSTAD, Curacao – (PRESS RELEASE) -- Each NFL off-season sees a number of coaching changes and this year is no different as 10 teams enter the 2006 campaign with a new head coach calling the shots. With the regular season kicking off next week, all 32 franchises will have Super Bowl aspirations, but once some teams fail to meet pre-season expectations, several coaches will inevitably find themselves in "the hot seat," with fans and the media calling for their jobs. Knowing that job security for professional coaches is volatile at best, PinnacleSports.com today announced odds on which current NFL head coach will be the first to be fired, resign or otherwise leave their post.

The largest sports betting site on the Internet, PinnacleSports.com has created individual odds on 15 NFL head coaches becoming the first coaching casualty this season. Although he's under contract through next season, San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer is the favorite to get his pink slip first at 6/1 odds mainly due to a lack of public and front office support for the fifth-year head coach. Coming off the worst season in his tenure, Tennessee's Jeff Fisher (7/1) may decide to walk away if the rebuilding Titans don't improve this season. PinnacleSports.com lists both Dallas' Bill Parcells and Baltimore's Brian Billick as solid candidates to lose or leave their jobs at 15/2 odds despite both being signed through the 2007 season. While Bill Cowher (8/1) may have the longest tenure among NFL head coaches and is coming off a Super Bowl victory, rumors persist that the Steelers coach may resign following his fifteenth season at the helm in Pittsburgh.

"While the coaches favored to lose their jobs are mainly highly respected, successful coaches who remain under contract after this year, there's no reason to believe all will return to their posts next season," said Simon Noble of PinnacleSports.com. "The Chargers have won 21 games in the last two years under Marty Schottenheimer, but enter this year with an unproven Philip Rivers leading the offense and a losing season could mark the end for the San Diego head coach. Tennessee GM Floyd Reese has indicated the Titans will bring Fisher back after this season, but one must wonder if the strained relationship between the coach and front office can ever be restored to what it once was. Given the T.O. situation, Parcells could easily leave Dallas at season's end, while Billick's future in Baltimore may be hanging on Steve McNair's aging arm improving the Ravens offense."

The Arizona Cardinals begin 2006 with a state-of-the-art stadium and All- Pro running back in place, but head coach Dennis Green (10/1) could receive his walking papers if there's another losing season in the desert. Despite only entering his second season at the helm in San Francisco, PinnacleSports.com has listed Mike Nolan at 19/1 to become the first coaching casualty this season. Despite leading their teams into the playoffs last season, PinnacleSports.com has included Tom Couglin (19/1), Joe Gibbs (19/1), Lovie Smith (24/1), Mike Shanahan (24/1), Jon Gruden (49/1) and Bill Belichick (49/1) among their candidates to lose or leave their jobs this season mainly due to contract or age issues. First year coaches Art Shell and Dick Jauron have both been installed at 32/1 to be ousted from their posts -- Shell due to the unpredictable Al Davis and Jauron because of Hall of Famer Marv Levy hovering over his shoulder.