The 2014 political season has thankfully passed, meaning no more "paid advertisements" advocating for one candidate or tearing down another. It doesn't matter what your political leanings are when it comes to these ads, as we can all agree they grow old after a couple of months on constant repeat.

This election, like many in the past, brought about changes across the states and in the capital, seemingly caused by a nationwide desire for something to change about the way things are run. Often, the desire for something better or different often ignites change faster than having a genuinely preferable alternative.

This is especially true among NFL head coaches, whose reputation and job security are often tied to the general success of everyone remotely associated with them, rather than being assessed for their own work. Fans will cry out for a new coach when things aren't going well with a team in the win column, even if the issues may have nothing to do with the coach's vision for the team, his ability to delegate responsibilities, or his in-game decisions.

A coach can only do so much, as he can't line up and play, and he can't be the one making sure every scouting report is accurate, every contract makes sound financial sense, and every assistant coach is always catching flaws in the way players practice or play. But yet coaches are judged on their team's performances all the same, and that's what we'll do using numberFire's data.

Here are six head coaches who are on the hot seat as we draw closer to the end of the season, along with a "historical comparison" to their level of job security.

Rex Ryan, New York Jets

Isn't Rex always in the news for some reason or another? This year, Ryan was given what seemed to be one last chance to turn things around in New York, yet his team sits at 2-8 at the bottom of the AFC East. The Jets have been unable to find a quarterback who meshes with his play callers' schemes and systems since he arrived, leading to another season with a struggling offense in 2014 (ninth-worst in the league according to our opponent-adjusted according to a report from ESPN. This wouldn't surprise anyone who has watched Shula's previous offenses at work, as he's one of the most backwards, boring play callers in the NFL. Yet he's been with Rivera since his arrival in Carolina, and actually received a promotion to offensive coordinator after an actually innovative coach (Rob Chudzinski) left for Cleveland.

Rivera had one solid season (2013) but has otherwise failed to inspire any confidence that he'll be a year-in, year-out leader for a good football team. The Panthers have had a coach like this before, and they moved on pretty quickly...

Hot Seat Level: 1998 Dom Capers, who led the Panthers to 12 wins in their second season of existence but was otherwise not that great of a head coach and was fired after four seasons.

Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams

Jeff Fisher had one of the longest reigns of any head coach in the modern NFL at his last stop, running the show for the Houston Oilers and Tennessee Titans from 1994 until 2010. His teams posted six double-digit win seasons, including one trip to the Super Bowl, which earned him plenty of respect and leeway with the franchise until mutual disagreements ended the relationship.

The Rams have not seen the same level of consistency from Fisher's teams as they witnessed during his time with his previous employer, as they've failed to reach .500 in any season under his command and are on pace to fall short of that mark yet again this year. St. Louis ranks 30th in our overall team rankings, proving that their poor record isn't just a reflection of a tough division but of a bad football team.

The franchise has bounced from quarterback to quarterback over the past couple of years, with injuries and poor play leaving much to be desired under center. Will that be enough of an excuse, when combined with Fisher's experience, to keep the veteran coach employed into 2015?

Hot Seat Level: 1996 Jeff Fisher, who had just finished an 8-8 season to cap a third-straight non-winning record with the Oilers. The team was about to relocate (as the Rams may be currently), and Fisher kept his job and ultimately rewarded the Titans for their patience.

Marc Trestman, Chicago Bears

The Bears are currently 27th in our team rankings, have been blown out on national television, and have apparently been dealing with locker room shouting matches between players. The team simply isn't playing as well as last year's unit, which was one of the more exciting teams to watch, especially on offense.

But it's really the defense that has been the issue since Trestman took over, and it might be what saves his job for a year or two. Lovie Smith set a standard for defensive coaching in Chicago, but by the time he left, the cupboard was pretty bare talent-wise on that side of the ball. Chicago has had one of the worst defenses in the league over the past two seasons, including a ranking of 31st this year.

Will simply firing the defensive coordinator be enough for Trestman, or has he lost his team after a decent first year in charge, just like Greg Schiano did with Tampa Bay?

Hot Seat Level: A less angry, less "take out the opposing quarterback's knees" 2013 Greg Schiano.