NFL Hot Seat: General managers

Every week at CommRadio, we publish an editorial of players and coaches on the hot seat following Sunday’s slate of games. With the holiday season here, I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the hot seat from a new perspective, general managers.

Nobody ever really talks about general managers being on the hot seat.

It makes sense why, considering that general managers often hire multiple head coaches and removing them overhauls the entire organization in some cases. Nevertheless, let’s check out some general managers whose seats may be too hot to handle by season’s end. Warning, these rankings are in no specific order.

Joe Schoen, New York Giants

Schoen is on the hot seats squarely because of two moves. The decision to pay Daniel Jones and the decision to let Saquon Barkley walk in free agency. It’s more than those two moves, however. The Giants have a 17-29-1 record with Schoen at the helm, and his drafting track record doesn’t help. Evan Neal has been a bust, Deonte Banks has regressed and Malik Nabers is showing some diva tendencies.

The Hard Knocks series from the offseason showed the Giants are a structural disaster in need of an overhaul. Firing Schoen might be the catalyst for big changes in the organization that need to be made.

Ran Carthon, Tennessee Titans

Carthon won the organizational power struggle that led to the firing of Mike Vrabel, but one year later, he may find himself in the same position as Vrabel. Before the season, Tennessee had modest expectations with the chance to emerge as a darkhorse playoff contender. Instead, the team regressed and collapsed to one of the worst in the NFL.

Most of their free-agent signings have disappointed and Brian Callahan is also on the hot seat, which reflects poorly on Carthon for hiring him. The pressure may not be there now, but it certainly will be going into next season.

Trent Baalke, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville is reportedly embracing a culture change this offseason, which could include the firing of head coach Doug Pederson and Baalke. Jacksonville has lost at least eight games every season since Baalke took over in 2021. After his first season, they ended up with the first overall pick and passed on Aidan Hutchinson to draft Trayvon Walker.

The Jaguars only have one playoff appearance and one playoff win during his tenure as well. Jacksonville should at least be used to starting over, considering they do it every three years.

Andrew Berry, Cleveland Browns

Berry’s spot on this list is strictly due to the acquisition and subsequent extension of Deshaun Watson. That move is enough to get any GM fired. It’s not even the accusations against Watson, although those are disturbing enough in their own right, but the fact he was rewarded with $230 million in guaranteed money.

No quarterback had ever received a fully guaranteed deal, and Watson has failed spectacularly ever since the ink dried on the contract. He has objectively been the worst QB in football and Berry has more than likely played a role in forcing Watson to start. Outside of that dumpster fire of a move, the Browns are still the laughingstock of the NFL, and Berry has done nothing to fix that.

Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints

Loomis has been the general manager of the Bayou since 2002. He has overseen a Super Bowl win and the best stretch of football in Saints history. He needs to hang it up. The 2017 draft class, which is commonly sighted as the reason Loomis still has a job, is mostly gone at this point.

The Derrick Carr signing has been a disaster, the team has little talent outside an aging Alvin Kamara and their Super Bowl window has been slammed shut. The team needs a fresh start, and it should begin by allowing Loomis to retire and get a spot in the Saints Ring of Honor.

Nate Johns is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email jzn5275@psu.edu.