NFL's Black Monday Started On Sunday: Head Coach and GM Firings

The Monday following the end of the NFL’s regular season is often referred to as “black Monday” due to the number of head coach and front office firings that usually take place. This season a few teams got ahead of the game. Check out whose on the move.

The Philadelphia Eagles were the first to get the ball rolling last week by firing Chip Kelly. The final straw for owner Jeffrey Lurie reportedly was Kelly acting like Scrooge over his holiday party. Lurie and Eagles running back DeMarco Murray had a chat about Kelly on the flight back from an away game earlier this season.

The San Francisco 49ers fired head coach Jim Tomsula on Sunday after beating the Rams 19-16. At least he went out on an up note. Tomsula was with the 49ers for only one season and finished with a 5-11 record. Tomsula’s hiring came after the widely unpopular firing of Jim Harbaugh. Chip Kelly has expressed interest in the job and is reportedly being given consideration. They are also exploring the idea of hiring Saints head coach Sean Payton.

Harbaugh through a small shot at the Niners on Twitter.

Do not be deceived. You will reap what you sow.

— Coach Harbaugh (@CoachJim4UM) January 4, 2016

The Cleveland Browns fired head coach Mike Pettine on Sunday after losing to the Pittusburgh Steelers 28-12. The Browns record on the seasons is a lowly 3-13. The Browns also fired GM Ray Farmer. The Browns have been chaos all season. Quarterback Johnny Manziel has been acting like a 22-year-old all season, turing up to Future and partying when he’s supposed to be keeping a lower profile.

Browns’ owner Jimmy Haslam has hired a consulting firm to help him sort through the interview process. The firm will also help him find a GM once the coach is in place. Haslam says the final decisions in all of this will be made by he, his wife Dee plus Browns’ new executive vice president of football operations, Sashi Brown.

The Indianapolis Colts are expected to fire coach Chuck Pagano.

New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin is expected to retire.

The Miami Dolphins dumped their head coach in early October. Joe Philbin was let go after four games. Interim head coach Dan Campbell served as interim head coach but won’t be offered the job.

The Tennessee Titans were on the early wave as well. Coach Ken Whisenhunt was fired after going 1-6. Their interim coach Mike Mularkey ended the season 2-6. Rumors of Chip Kelly possibly taking over this job to coach his college quarterback have bubbled. Chip Kelly probably needs to put some thought into how he can adjust his off field interactions with grown, rich professional athletes who don’t fit his personal “style.”