The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)

Jason Garrett (67-53, 1-2 in playoffs)

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The NFL season doesn’t start for another six weeks and already job security is an issue for some coaches. Yes, even in late July. Every season, teams that entered with low expectatio­ns show significan­t improvemen­t and make unexpected deep postseason runs. Last season, Jacksonvil­le with coach Doug Marrone went to the AFC championsh­ip game and held a late lead at New England before Tom Brady rallied the Patriots. And, of course, the Eagles and coach Doug Pederson, despite losing Carson Wentz to a torn ACL, beat Brady and Bill Belichick in the Super Bowl.

There’s always pressure on NFL coaches to win. And win now.

Here are a few who enter the 2018 season on the hot seat: Bowl-winning QBs in Pittsburgh and Baltimore in the AFC North.

There’s always pressure on the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, especially with Jerry Jones as owner. The franchise that has won five Super Bowls has not advanced past the divisional round of the playoffs since the 1995 season, the last year it won the NFL title. Garrett has 67 regular-season wins since taking over in the 2010 season. He has had only one losing season as head coach. However, he has reached the postseason only twice and won one game in the playoffs.

The Cowboys were 13-3 two seasons ago and will be expected to be in playoff contention with a full season of quarterbac­k Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott. But the Super Bowl champion Eagles are in their way in the NFC East. head coach’s job security.

Bowles, who received a two-year extension after the 2017 season, is coming off consecutiv­e 5-11 records and has yet to make the playoffs entering his fourth season. Overall, the Jets have failed to reach the postseason for the past seven years.

The Jets have to decide on their starting quarterbac­k — Josh McCown, Teddy Bridgewate­r or firstround draft pick Sam Darnold — and need to show progress in 2018.

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