The NFL season ended yesterday, which means today will be the biggest day of change around coaching staffs and front offices. We track all the firings and rumors as the day progresses.
The NFL regular season ended just before midnight last night, which means owners have had a few hours to ruminate on what they want to do with their teams. As playoff teams prepare for next weekend’s wildcard round, non-playoff teams have to decide what they are going to do in preparation for 2025. For several teams, what will mean it is time to make a change.
Colloquially known as Black Monday, today is the day teams fire their head coach and/or general manager as they reflect on what happened throughout 2024. Did the team underwhelm this year? Is it headed in the right direction, even if they missed the playoffs? A lot of questions have to be answered, and owners are going to start doing that today.
Who will be fired as Black Monday rolls on? What rumors are out there? We will keep up with everything if/when it happens.
Black Monday
New York Giants – 8:32 a.m. Eastern
Returning – Brian Daboll, head coach
Returning – Joe Schoen, general manager
Giants president John Mara released a statement Monday morning, writing, “Now that our season is over, we felt it necessary to make this statement. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll will continue with their respective roles with the organization.” Schoen has been the GM and Daboll has been the head coach of the Giants since 2022, recording a 18-32-1 record over that time.
You can find more Giants news, including reactions to the team retaining Daboll and Schoen, at Big Blue View.
Jacksonville Jaguars – 8:20 a.m. Eastern
Fired – Doug Pederson, head coach
Returning – Trent Baalke, general manager
Jaguars owner Shad Khan released a statement Monday morning, writing, “I had the difficult task this morning of informing Doug Pederson of my intention to hire a new head coach to lead the Jacksonville Jaguars.” Pederson joined the Jaguars in 2022 as their head coach after five years as the Philadelphia Eagles head coach, including winning Super Bowl LII. In the statement, Khan indicated general manager Trent Baalke will be involved in the hiring of a new head coach, keeping the GM with the team.
For more on the Jaguars and the change at head coach, check out Big Cat Country.
Early Rumors
Potential changes could be coming on Monday as the Jacksonville Jaguars (Doug Pederson), Las Vegas Raiders (Antonio Pierce), and New York Giants (Brian Daboll) are all believed to be considering a coaching change. The interesting one will be the Dallas Cowboys, where Mike McCarthy does not need to be fired as his contract runs out on January 14; the Cowboys could just let it run out and move on without necessarily firing McCarthy.
Sunday news
Miami Dolphins
Returning – Mike McDaniel, head coach
Returning – Chris Grier, general manager
There has been speculation, especially among the Dolphins fan base, that a change has to be made to the team following a disappointing 8-9 season and a missed chance for the playoffs. After the team’s Week 18 loss to the New York Jets, however, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross released a statement indicating Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier would be back for 2025.
New England Patriots
Fired – Jerod Mayo, head coach
After a 4-13 season, the Patriots fired Mayo following his first year as a head coach. The post-Bill Belichick era did not play out the way owner Robert Kraft wanted, and Mayo has been relieved of his duties. The Patriots won on Sunday, a move that knocked them out of the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Was that a factor in Mayo’s firing – or at least how quickly after the game Kraft made the move?
For more on Mayo’s firing and the second-straight season New England will be searing for a head coach, check out Pats Pulpit.
In-Season Firings
Chicago Bears
Fired – Matt Eberflus, head coach
The Bears made an in-season coaching change for the first time in their franchise history. They will now look to replace Eberflus, who was 14-32 in his two-plus years with the team.
For more on the Bears, visit Windy City Gridiron.
New Orleans Saints
Fired – Dennis Allen, head coach
The Saints fired Allen in November, with Darren Rizzi filling in as the interim head coach. Rizzi.
For more on the head coaching search in New Orleans, head over to Canal Street Chronicles.
New York Jets
Fired – Robert Saleh, head coach
Fired – Joe Douglas, general manager
The changes with the Jets started after Week 5, when the team fired Saleh. They then added Douglas to the casualty list in November. Now, they are starting a search for an entire new idenitity – though they could be headed for a reunion as former Jets head coach Rex Ryan is expected to interview for the opening this week. Mike Vrabel and Ron Rivera have already interviewed for the head coach opening as well. Louis Riddick has interviewed for the GM position.
For more on the Jets, check out Gang Green Nation.
