The NFL coaching carousel gets under way with the conclusion of the regular season

Posted: January 6, 2025, 05:46 pm.

Last updated: January 6, 2025, 05:46 pm.

Today The NFL's coaching carousel is spinning fastA time when organizations that missed the playoffs can do something solid to end that season. It is also called “Black Monday”.

Here's a summary of what we've seen so far:

already fired

jerod mayo

The New England Patriots didn't even wait for the final whistle to blow in their 23-16 win over the Buffalo Bills yesterday before head coach Jerrod Mayo took off his headset.

Mayo only lasted one season on the job after taking over from Bill Belichick.

Mayo remained stubborn with quarterback Drake Mays this season, and there is debate over whether Mays is a legitimate NFL QB. The 4-13 Patriots have done nothing this season to inspire confidence in Mayo. They looked disinterested, badly prepared, poorly trained.

The Patriots could have had the No. 1 pick in the NFL Draft by losing to the Bills this April and not even performed well.

Mike Vrabel is rumored to be Mayo's replacement in New England. Vrabel would be a game-changer for the Patriots.

Doug Pederson

After three seasons as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13), Doug Pederson was fired this morning. The Jags were headed in the right direction with Trevor Lawrence as quarterback, but the team went 5–18 in its last 23 games, so Pederson was gone.

However, general manager Trent Baalke keeps his job – a surprise to many.

Where does Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson end up?It appears the garbage is being taken out in terms of jobs – including the Chicago Bears, who fired Matt Eberflus in November? Johnson will be able to work with QB Caleb Williams.

But Jaguar? Will Johnson be able to look beyond the organizational dysfunction there to coach Lawrence?

unknowns

las vegas raiders

Is Vrabel going to connect with his old friend Tom Brady, who is now the owner of the Raiders? Players today were crediting head coach Antonio Pierce for keeping the team motivated despite a 4-13 season, which included a 10-game losing streak.

Pierce said today that he has not heard anything to the contrary and that he intends to move forward as if he will be the Raiders coach again in 2025.

New York Jets

Vrabel has already given interviews there Rex Ryan saying he's confident he'll get the jobRyan will give an interview tomorrow.

Ryan coached the Jets from 2009 to 2014, where he went 46–50, leading the Jets to the playoffs, including back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010.

dallas cowboys

Mike McCarthy said he wants to return. Despite going 49-34 as head coach of the Cowboys, he is 1-3 in the playoffs, and this year they didn't even make it, going 7-10.

I've invested a lot here in the Cowboys and they've invested a lot in me,” McCarthy said. “I believe in building a program and developing young players, but in the end it's all about winning. I think our foundation here is very good.”

Last January, owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys were “all in” on 2024. It did not happen. Where Jones sits in relation to McCarthy is a big unknown.

miraculously survived

brian daboll

Despite going 3-14, GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are being kept around, as New York Giants team president John Mara is determined to bring more good than bad to both of them. Both are under the gun to get the trains back on track by 2025, with a new quarterback who will lead them back toward competency. The Giants have the No. 3 pick in this year's draft.

Giving QB Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million contract through 2023 was a disaster. This season, Jones was first benched and then cut.

Shane Steichen

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen have kept their jobs despite the team going 8-9, the exclamation point of the season being a blowout Week 17 45-33 loss to the hapless Giants. Ballard's record in eight seasons as GM is 62–69–1.

The Colts appear to be a directionless, directionless team with a poor culture. QB Anthony Richardson has been a disappointment, with a 50.6% completion rate over two injury-plagued seasons. It's a mess in a weak AFC South division.

super bowl odds

According to BetMGM, in terms of Super Bowl line movement (just last week):

• Leo +400 to +280
• Major +375 to +350
• Ravens +700 to +600