NFL Black Monday: Who’s Been Fired

January 4, 2015
|In NFL
|By Paul Marin
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The Monday after Week 17 in the NFL is referred to as “Black Monday.” It has nothing to do with holiday shopping, it’s the day that losing teams around the league typically announce the firings of their coaching staffs and personnel executives. Sometimes, the news leaks ahead of Black Monday, but most of the moves hit the wires that day. Let’s see which teams handed out pink slips this morning.

New York Jets

Head Coach Rex Ryan was expected to get the ax. But, the departure of General Manager John Idzik was a surprise. Owner Woody Johnson has brought in former NFL team executive and broadcaster Charlie Casserly to head up the Jets’ upcoming GM and head coach search.

Expected move: With the Jets, you never know, but there have been some strange moves around Gang Green. This week, Bills Head Coach Doug Marrone resigned, citing unhappiness with his contract situation. Almost simultaneously, the Jets met with Marrone’s representatives. Marrone is the leading candidate to become the next Jets head coach.

Chicago Bears

In Chicago, it came down to the case of the $100 million quarterback or the head coach. The Bears are stuck with QB Jay Cutler. Since the Bears can’t afford to cut him yet, Head Coach Marc Trestman and his over-hyped offensive system are gone. Also fired in the siege was General Manager Phil Emery.

Expected move: It’s too early to tell, but according to the team’s Twitter account, the Bears have interviewed Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase for their head-coaching position.

Atlanta Falcons

Close but so far. Head Coach Mike Smith helped the Falcons become perennial winners and nearly got them to the Super Bowl. But close wasn’t good enough and Smith was terminated. The Falcons have skill players galore, but they need to address their offensive and defensive lines. It wouldn’t hurt to decide who their primary ball carrier either.

Expected move: Atlanta is in desperate need to upgrade their defensive scheme. The name we are hearing is former Jets’ Head Coach Rex Ryan. The move makes sense. With Matt Ryan (no relation) at quarterback, Julio Jones, and Roddy White on the outside, even Rex can’t screw that offense up.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Jose drama has finally come to an end. Former 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh accepted the head coaching job at his alma mater, the Univerity of Michigan.

Expected move: According to the Sacramento Bee and our own insider Mike Hunt, the three leading candidates for the position are, former Washington Head Coach Mike Shanahan, Rex Ryan, and the 49ers’ current defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio. We thought the combo of Mike Shanahan as GM and his son Kyle Shanahan as head coach is a viable solution for the New York Jets.

Marrone’s resignation was a shocking move. Once again, the team from Orchard Park and #BillsMafia need to decide on am an organizational direction. There are two names currently in the mix. The next head coach could be Bills hero and current offensive coordinator of the Chargers, Frank Reich, or the team could promote from within and hire Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz.

Oakland Raiders

The Raiders did not impress with their play coming down the stretch. But the progress of rookie quarterback Derek Carr could keep interim head coach Tony Sparano at the helm.

Expected move: The Raiders could go in a thousand different directions for their next head coach. It’s too early to tell, but the speculation is (according to Bleacher Report) that former Jets Head Coach Eric Mangini and Eagles offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur will be interviewed by the silver and black.

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