Black Monday is a sobering event in the NFL — coaches are fired, families will be uprooted, and changes are made throughout organizations across the league.
However, these moves have a significant impact on teams across the NFL, so Pro Football Network will keep you updated on every coaching change that happens around the NFL.
Which NFL Head Coaches and GMs Have Been Fired?
The following head coaches and general managers were let go on or around Black Monday.
Antonio Pierce, HC, Las Vegas Raiders
Antonio Pierce was 9-17 in parts of two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. He took over as interim coach in 2023 when Josh McDaniels was fired. Now, after going 4-13 this year, the team decided to make a coaching change.
Turning red zone trips into seven points and limiting your opponent’s ability to do so often swings outcomes, and in that regard, the Raiders struggled in a major way under Pierce. During his two seasons, Las Vegas ranked 29th in red zone offense and defense, a combination that caps the team’s ceiling. Limited talent can result in a low red zone trip rate. Still, coaching is often responsible for scheming up ways to convert the opportunities when they present themselves, an area in which Pierce struggled.
The Raiders ranked 27th in third-down conversion rate during Pierce’s tenure. Part of those struggles can be attributed to a lack of upside at the quarterback position. Still, their ranking (27th) in third-and-short situations speaks to a lack of offensive creativity that prevented much in the way of offensive potential.
Looking at PFN’s Defense+ metric, the Raiders struggled to create pressure without bringing additional help (25th in non-blitzing pressure rate, a figure that was bottom-10 prior to Maxx Crosby getting injured), something that fueled the fourth-lowest turnover rate in the league:
2023 Ranking: 15th
2024 Ranking: 21st
When examining PFN’s Offense+ metric, Las Vegas failed to clear 20 points in seven of eight games following their bye week this season, a continuation of a downward-trending unit that finished the season ranking 31st in EPA per play. The underwhelming metrics have been the status quo of late:
2022 Ranking: 14th
2023 Ranking: 21st
2024 Ranking: 29th
What went right for Pierce and his staff? Well, over his two seasons, Las Vegas committed just 0.7 penalties per game, tied for the lowest in the league. That’s a nice stat to have in the pocket of any head coach, but the fact that he took over the most penalized team in the two seasons before his arrival (7.0) makes it that much more impressive.
With a 5-4 finish as interim head coach, Pierce was brought back by popular demand. A terrible 2024 season did not yield the same confidence from the players or front office, with many players gone or wanting out. Now, the Raiders will begin a coaching search, and minority owner Tom Brady is expected to have significant input throughout the process.
Ran Carthon, GM, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but general manager Ran Carthon won’t be making the selection.
On Tuesday, the Titans parted ways with Carthon after his second season running the front office in Tennessee. The Titans were 9-25 during Carthon’s tenure as general manager.
Carthon ended Will Levis’ draft-day slide, selecting him with the No. 33 overall pick in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Across his first two seasons, Levis has struggled mightily and seems poised to be replaced.
Carthon made it a priority to surround Levis with a favorable offensive environment, acquiring playmakers like Calvin Ridley, Tony Pollard, and DeAndre Hopkins while also rebuilding the offensive line. However, Levis was significantly worse during his sophomore season.
Carthon’s decision to fire head coach Mike Vrabel was also puzzling, as he is now one of the most highly coveted coaching candidates in the NFL while the team took a significant step back with Brian Callahan at the helm.
The Titans ranked 30th in PFN’s Power Rankings+ metric. They finished the season ranked near the bottom of the league in Offense+ (28th), Defense+ (22nd), and Special Teams+ (22nd).
Ran Carthon is out as the Titans general manager, per sources. Carthon spent two years in Tennessee with two different head coaches, and still has four years remaining on his contract.
A new Titans GM will make the No. 1 overall pick. pic.twitter.com/zoCxj26gbe
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 7, 2025
Doug Pederson, HC, Jacksonville Jaguars
After going 22-29 in three seasons with the Jaguars, Jacksonville decided to move on from Doug Pederson as their head coach. In his first season in 2022, he led the Jaguars to the playoffs, rallying to beat the Chargers before losing to the Chiefs in the Divisional Round.
In this era of football, if you can’t make your opponent uncomfortable, you’re in trouble. The Jaguars ranked 29th in sack rate during Pederson’s tenure, a statistic that has been tied to struggles over that stretch. The bottom four teams in this regard since 2022:
29. Jaguars
30. Panthers
31. Bears
32. Falcons
Sports betting is a billion-dollar business, and it has gotten that way because the lines set are ultra-efficient. They aren’t an end-all-be-all, but they are a pretty good snapshot of where the expectations sit at any given moment, and in that regard, Pederson’s Jaguars are underwhelmed.
During his time in Jacksonville, he won just 11 of 20 games when favored (55%; the NFL average hovers around 69% in such games). Over those three seasons, the Vikings, Chiefs, and Bills all have won north of 80% of their games when favored – take care of business when you’re expected to and you’ll put yourself in a position to play meaningful games in December (and keep your job).
Winning in the NFL is difficult, so when you have the chance to do so, you have to take advantage. The tail ends of the league are extreme, but the meat of the bell curve is as tightly packed as ever, and that results in a spike when it comes to games decided by a single possession.
Percentage of games decided by one-score
2022-24: 55.7%
2017-21: 50.3%
During his time with the Jags, Pederson went 10-20 in these contests, a 33.3% win percentage that ranks 30th. Of course, these coin-flip games can go either way for a variety of reasons, but the same teams have a way of winning them, and their coaches are viewed as true assets (Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin, and Kevin O’Connell have all won at least two-thirds of such games over the past three seasons).
Entering the season, Jaguars owner Shad Khan described this as “the best team assembled by the Jacksonville Jaguars ever” after making some key offseason additions (Brian Thomas Jr., Gabe Davis, Arik Armstead, etc.) and signing Trevor Lawrence to a five-year, $275 million deal that made him one of the NFL’s highest-paid quarterbacks.
Jerod Mayo, HC, New England Patriots
Jerod Mayo went 4-13 in his first (and final) season as the New England Patriots’ head coach, and his final win over the Buffalo Bills was costly, dropping New England from the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft to the No. 4 selection.
In recent weeks, many fans and analysts called for a coaching change. Well, Robert Kraft and Co. listened, parting ways with Mayo shortly after the team’s final game.
A rookie quarterback can skew some of the offensive numbers, but scheming is magnified in tight windows, and the Patriots failed that test at every turn in 2024. This season, New England ranked 29th in third down conversion rate (34.9%) and 30th in red zone efficiency (46.8%).
The elite offenses are going to produce, but the ranking of the middle tier will be separated on the margins. Even in the scope of the teams working in a franchise QB, the Patriots’ inability to finish off drives was alarming:
Red Zone TD% (Ranks)
- Washington Commanders: 63.4% (6th)
- Denver Broncos: 62.3% (7th)
- Chicago Bears: 62.2% (8th)
- New England Patriots: 46.8% (30th)
The Patriots allowed pressure at the second-highest (30.5%) rate this season. New England was slightly above average in this respect in 2023 prior to Mayo, a ranking that needed to be sustained with rookie Drake Maye under center rather than tanking. Of course, some of that blame falls on Maye, but the head coach is responsible for developing a plan, and the plan to keep the rookie quarterback comfortable failed.
The Patriots ranked 31st in PFN’s Power Rankings+ metric. They finished the season ranked near the bottom of the league in Defense+ (30th) and Offense+ (26th).
Midseason Firings
The following head coaches didn’t make it to Black Monday, as they were fired earlier in the season:
- Matt Eberflus, HC, Chicago Bears
- Dennis Allen, HC, New Orleans Saints
- Joe Douglas, GM, New York Jets
- Robert Saleh, HC, New York Jets
Which NFL Head Coaches Are Staying Put?
The following coaches were on the hot seat but received a vote of confidence from ownership.
Brian Daboll, New York Giants
Brian Daboll is 18-32-1 in three seasons with the Giants. A surprising first season led to a 9-7-1 record, playoff appearance, and Wild Card round win over the Minnesota Vikings. He was named AP 2022 NFL Coach of the Year after his first season with the Giants.
However, after a three-win season, Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen were on the hot seat. While there were rumblings that one or both may be fired, the Giants ultimately decided to stick with the pair in 2025.
Statement from Giants President John Mara pic.twitter.com/NwetfGG2In
— New York Giants (@Giants) January 6, 2025
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Mike McDaniel is now 28-23 over his three seasons with the Miami Dolphins, but a disappointing six-win season had many fans calling for the organization part ways with McDaniel and/or general manager Chris Grier.
However, Miami’s ownership has made it clear that both will be back in 2025, citing “their positive working relationship” as an asset to the franchise and “the value of stability.”
Dolphins owner Stephen Ross announced that HC Mike McDaniel and GM Chris Grier will return in 2025. pic.twitter.com/r8tZGWk3Zi
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 6, 2025
Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
Shane Steichen is 17-17 in two seasons as the Indianapolis Colts head coach. This season, the team collapsed down the stretch to miss the postseason.
Indianapolis didn’t live up to preseason expectations, and recently, there has been a lot of talk about the poor culture and lack of accountability under Steichen.
— Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) January 6, 2025
Many Colts fans called for a coaching change, but owner Jim Irsay announced that both Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard will be back, saying that he believes in “our collective ability to make the improvements needed to take us to the next level in 2025.”
Which Coordinators and Assistants Have Been Fired?
The following coordinators were fired on Black Monday:
- Cleveland Browns OC Ken Dorsey
- Seattle Seahawks OC Ryan Grubb
- Cincinnati Bengals DC Lou Anarumo
- Indianapolis Colts DC Gus Bradley
- San Francisco 49ers DC Nick Sorensen
The following assistant coaches were also let go:
- Cincinnati Bengals OL Coach Frank Pollack
- Cincinnati Bengals LB Coach James Bettcher
- Cincinnati Bengals DL Coach Marion Hobby
Check back throughout the day for the latest coaching news and rumors.