Nothing is sacred in coaching. Though it was predictable -- and inexcusable -- that Jon Gruden and Tony Dungy might be relocating as head coaches heading into last season, who would have forecast that Gruden would replace Dungy and Dungy would replace Jim Mora?

The only certainty in the annual scramble to determine whose coaching career is on the hot seat is that ultimately every coach is. Few are insulated from job insecurity. Mike Shanahan in Denver, Bill Cowher in Pittsburgh and Jeff Fisher in Tennessee are about the only coaches insulated from any job worries. Recent extension bought more time for Mike Martz in St. Louis, Dick Jauron in Chicago, Brian Billick in Baltimore and Jim Haslett in New Orleans.

Everything is fair game even though the process is unfair. Since 1992, there have been 80 coaching changes heading into a season. Free agency has escalated those changes, but the salary cap, which punishes teams for churning rosters filled with long-term contracts, makes it harder for those changes to succeed. Rosters turn over from 16 to 30 players a year in times of coaching instability, and with roughly seven coaching changes a year, players are advised to rent and not buy.

This is a typical year in which you can put a handful of coaches into the hotseat, but you better expand the seating chart if you are going to fully appreciate the worries in this profession. Think about it. Since 1997, there was only one season -- 1998 -- in which there weren't at least seven new coaches entering an NFL season. Since 1992, there have been only two seasons that have opened with fewer than six new coaches.

With talented coaches such as Dennis Green, Bill Parcells and Jim Mora hanging around without work, every coach should work as though this year is his last.

Here's the hot seat candidates:

	Reeves' future in Atlanta could depend on the success of Vick this year.

1. Dan Reeves, Atlanta: Even though new owner Arthur Blank is a golf buddy, Reeves has to worry about the pairings Blank is making in the front office. Reeves likes being coach/general manager and wouldn't mind eventually slipping into the GM chair, Blank made it clear he wants a new front office direction for the franchise. That's why he brought in Bobby Beathard as an interim general manager through next January and plans to hire one after the season. It's not out of the question for Blank to talk Beathard into staying, which could put Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer into the Falcons coaching mix. Reeves has a tough task. The Falcons have had three losing seasons since Reeves' 14-2 Super Bowl run, and their development as a winner rides on Michael Vick's ability to be a franchise quarterback. Vick is working with mostly a slow, veteran group of wide receivers who can't fully take advantage of his great ability to throw deep. The defense will be better with Wade Phillips installing the 3-4, but Reeves faces a tough fight to get the team over the seven-win hump.

2.Dick LeBeau, Cincinnati: Even though only ownership and LeBeau know the length of his contract, LeBeau is believed to be entering the final season of his deal. The good news is that most coaches and general managers who play the Bengals come out saying that they are good enough to go to the playoffs. The schedule isn't that tough either. Those evaluations could be bad news for LeBeau. The Bengals haven't had a winning season since 1990. LeBeau's fighting tough odds to overturn that tradition. LeBeau turns 65 on Sept. 9 even though he's trim and looks and acts younger than his birth certificate. His hiring of Bob Bratkowski as offensive coordinator improved that unit. LeBeau has to coach as though there is no tomorrow. But will the players respond? They are used to going into the tank at the slightest sign of trouble. Should anything happen to LeBeau after the season, team president Mike Brown won't look too far outside the organization for a replacement. He would most likely promote defensive coordinator Mark Duffner.

3. Mike Tice, Minnesota: Red McCombs says that no sale is imminent and he's probably right. The economy isn't good enough for investors to be lining up to pay top dollar for a franchise that needs a new stadium, but is being stalled by politicians. But the right offer at the right time could lead to a new owner, and, you know what that means to a management team. Tice didn't care. He was an undrafted free agent who virtually played 14 NFL seasons trying to make the roster every season. Being head coach of the Vikings is no different to him, and he is making the most of this opportunity. Players like him and are working hard for him. Receiver Randy Moss has become a leader and the main weapon on offense. Offensively, they will be exciting. If defensive coordinator Willie Shaw can coach up the young players on defense, Tice has a chance at .500 season and that clearly will be enough to keep him safe as long as there isn't a sale. The smart thing Tice is doing is coaching as though this is his only season at the helm.

4. Bill Callahan, Oakland: Callahan signed a four-year contract, but long-term deals won't be in vogue after the season. Remember, the Raiders are $64 million over the salary cap. Though about $45 million of that money is bloated contacts that will be easy to redo, the roster will have to get younger after the season. Change is inevitable. The Raiders are banking everything on going to the Super Bowl this year. That's tough for a first-year coach to pull off. Callahan doesn't have the luxury of learning on the job. He just has to win, baby. The roster is filled with self-motivated veterans in the final stages of their careers, but they have to keep their bodies young and healthy for success. Callahan is already to start to reach into his bag of tricks. He's experimenting with a 3-4 and a 5-2 scheme in the defensive front seven. Callahan knew he was taking over a pressure-packed situation. He knows he better win.

5. Gregg Williams, Buffalo: Getting quarterback Drew Bledsoe raises the bar on the expectations for Williams, which is a little unfair. The franchise took the direction of weeding out high-paid aging players on the front seven of their defense last season, and the rebuilding process in that unit won't be complete until next year. To ask Williams to be a winner this year isn't right, but he's got the show progress. The Bills should be pretty good on offense. They have three solid wide receivers, two good tight ends and a decent crop of running backs. Williams needs the offensive line to come together quickly to keep Bledsoe healthy. If Williams can double last year's victory total, he should be okay.

6. Mike Holmgren, Seattle: Holmgren signed an eight-year deal four years ago, but there was an option for the final three years. His relationship with owner Paul Allen is good, and Allen stays out of the football operation. But next year is the final year before the option, so this season will set up an evaluation of how things are working for the coach/general manager. Holmgren has drafted well on offense, but his defense is getting older. Last year, he brought in four veteran free agents to solidify the run-stopping qualities, but one of those acquisitions, Levon Kirkland, is gone. Another, defensive tackle John Randle, hasn't practiced after having microfracture knee surgery, so Holmgren doesn't know what he will look like on the field even though Randle is the ultimate professional. The Seahawks move into the tough NFC West where they are clearly seeded behind the Rams and 49ers. Making the playoffs will be tough.

7. Marty Mornhinweg, Detroit: Most forecasts believe it will be hard for the Lions to win more than five games. They have a lot of holes in personnel and they are working with two young quarterbacks, Mike McMahon and Joey Harrington. Mornhinweg is excellent working with quarterbacks, and that should buy him time to get a third season. But will fans and owner Bill Ford Jr. be patient? The Lions are coming off a 2-14 season. Fans are excited about new Ford Field now, but how will be they feel about the team after another tough season.

8. Jim Fassel, New York Giants: Going to the Super Bowl probably gives Jim Fassel job security for a long time because the owner, Wellington Mara, is very loyal to his employees. This isn't a Super Bowl team and everyone knows it. If Fassel can pull off a .500 season or battle for the NFC East title or a wild-card, he would be doing quite well. But can they? Defensive end Michael Strahan could be in his last year with the team. The defensive line is good, but it has some age. And the success of the team is dependent on the play of an offensive line that is virtually new and not loaded with talent.

9. Steve Mariucci, San Francisco: Team president Dr. John York made it clear that contract extension talks won't begin until after the season. If the 49ers make the playoffs, everything should be smooth. Mariucci will get his extension and the 49ers will be one of the most stable organizations in the league. The team is good enough to make the playoffs and challenge the Rams for the NFC West. The defense is good, and defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr. is a rising star who will draw interest for head coaching opportunities next season. But what if the 49ers fall backward? Personally, I believe Mariucci's relationship with management is good enough that the team will still go through with the extension, but you never know for sure.

10. Dave Campo, Dallas: As evidenced by the HBO Hard Knocks show, Campo is the perfect coach for the Cowboys. Owner Jerry Jones loves being in the front lines of the day-to-day operations, and Campo does a good job of working in what could be tough circumstances for some coaches. And, to his credit, the Cowboys are improving under Campo. Jones thinks this team might be making a playoff run this year, but he isn't coming out with any bold forecasts of a 10-win season. Campo should be safe as long as the team gets closer to the playoffs.

11. Tom Coughlin, Jacksonville: The salary cap has eaten away at the Jaguars, and the team should continue to fall upon hard times this season. Coughlin is too good of a coach to let the franchise fall too much. Though their record may not be great, the Jaguars are always competitive. If they lose that edge, though, Coughlin could be in trouble. Owner Wayne Weaver is a big believer in Coughlin, but if the players turn him off, bad things could happen. Despite a bad exhibition season, Coughlin should rally the troups to battle every week, but like every NFL coaching situation, it's a hotseat worth watching.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.