The 2022 NFL season is a season of “parity.” Translation: most NFL teams stink this season. There are only six out of 16 AFC teams over .500 heading into Week 7 and just four out of 16 in the NFC. With all these lackluster records a third of the way through the season, it’s time to take a look at the NFL coach hot seat. With the trade deadline looming on November 1, several NFL coaches need to be worried about their jobs. Here are the five head coaches on the hottest NFL hot seat as that crucial deadline nears.

5. Ron Rivera

Ron Rivera has coached the Washington Commanders since 2020 and has a lackluster 16-23 record in that time. This season, after (supposedly) having quarterback Carson Wentz thrust upon him by owner Daniel Snyder, the team is 2-4, and only that good because of an unwatchable win over the Chicago Bears on Thursday night of Week 6.

The Commanders are a sinking ship, but with some good pieces, especially on defense. That is Rivera’s specialty, and the unit ranks 20th in the league right now. Under normal circumstances, that would be enough for an owner to fire Rivera, bottom out, and start fresh with a high pick in 2023.

What’s saving Rivera is his track record, more than his win-loss record. He played for the vaunted ’85 Chicago Bears, has coached in the league with dignity and authority for over 20 years, and his Hispanic heritage makes him one of the seven current minority NFL head coaches. Basically, he’s incredibly well-respected, making him the opposite of Snyder.

With as much hot water as Snyder is in now, his coach isn’t on as hot an NFL hot seat as he would otherwise be. That said, the owner is still the worst in sports right now and is blackmailing the entire league, so who knows what he does next.

4. Lovie Smith

When the Houston Texans hired Lovie Smith this offseason, it always felt like a temporary measure. The club was reportedly high on the inexperienced former NFL quarterback Josh McCown but turned to Smith after Brian Flores sued the NFL