The NFL's annual Black Monday arrived with a vengeance in 2025, leaving a trail of head coaching vacancies across the league as teams began their offseason rebuilds. Following the conclusion of the 2024 regular season, multiple franchises parted ways with their head coaches, including high-profile names like Jerod Mayo, Doug Pederson, and Antonio Pierce, while rumors swirled about the future of Cleveland Browns coach Kevin Stefanski. The coaching carousel has already started spinning, with some teams making moves during the season and others waiting until the day after Week 18 to make their changes.
The Black Monday Bloodbath: Which Coaches Got Fired?
Black Monday 2025 proved to be particularly brutal for NFL head coaches, with at least seven losing their jobs either on January 6 or in the immediate days following the season's conclusion. According to USA Today's comprehensive tracker, the casualties included both first-year coaches and established veterans who couldn't meet their organizations' expectations.
Jerod Mayo's Swift Exit in New England
Perhaps the most surprising firing came in New England, where Jerod Mayo was dismissed after just one season as head coach. Patriots owner Robert Kraft announced the decision shortly after the team's Week 18 victory over the Buffalo Bills, despite that win dropping New England from the No. 1 to No. 4 draft pick. Mayo, who had been promoted from linebackers coach to replace Bill Belichick, compiled a 4-13 record in his lone season. According to Bleacher Report, the Patriots are expected to pursue former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel, who spent most of his playing career with New England.
Doug Pederson's Jacksonville Journey Ends
Doug Pederson became the first official Black Monday casualty when the Jacksonville Jaguars fired him after three seasons. Despite leading the team to the playoffs in his first year and engineering a memorable 30-point comeback victory over the Chargers, Pederson's tenure ended with a 5-18 record over his final 23 games. NorthJersey.com reported that Jaguars owner Shad Khan decided to retain general manager Trent Baalke despite the coaching change, creating an interesting dynamic for Jacksonville's next hire.
Antonio Pierce's Short Stint in Las Vegas
The Las Vegas Raiders fired head coach Antonio Pierce on Tuesday following Black Monday, ending his brief tenure after a 4-13 campaign. Pierce had initially impressed as interim coach in 2023, leading the team to a 5-4 finish that earned him the full-time job. However, the Raiders regressed in 2024, losing 10 consecutive games at one point. NorthJersey.com also reported that the Raiders fired general manager Tom Telesco just 48 hours after initially declaring him safe, adding to the organizational chaos in Las Vegas.
Mike McCarthy's Dallas Departure
While not technically a firing, Mike McCarthy's contract with the Dallas Cowboys expired after a disappointing 7-10 season, making him one of the most prominent coaches available. McCarthy had entered the season as a lame duck and couldn't produce the playoff success Jerry Jones demanded. According to Bleacher Report, the New Orleans Saints have shown interest in McCarthy as they search for Dennis Allen's replacement, though McCarthy has expressed his desire to remain in Dallas if possible.
Mid-Season Firings That Set the Stage
Black Monday wasn't the beginning of the coaching turnover—it was the culmination of a season that saw multiple coaches lose their jobs before the regular season ended. The New York Jets fired Robert Saleh after a 2-3 start, the New Orleans Saints dismissed Dennis Allen following a 2-7 beginning, and the Chicago Bears moved on from Matt Eberflus after a 5-12 collapse. These mid-season changes, as documented by USA Today, created additional openings that teams had already begun filling before Black Monday arrived.
The Kevin Stefanski Situation: Will Browns Make a Move?
While several coaches have already been fired, one of the biggest remaining questions involves Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski. According to Bleacher Report's Adam Wells, the Browns are "leaning toward" moving on from Stefanski after six seasons, though general manager Andrew Berry's job appears safe. The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported that Cleveland's decision-makers are weighing Stefanski's future after the team's offensive struggles—the Browns ranked last in points per game in 2024 and 31st in 2025 with one game remaining.
Stefanski's situation is complicated by his staff turnover—he's had three different offensive coordinators in three seasons after firing Alex Van Pelt in January 2024 and Ken Dorsey in January 2025. Despite these changes, the offense has continued to regress, putting Stefanski's job in serious jeopardy. The Browns have already fired offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey, indicating significant offensive philosophy changes could be coming to Cleveland.
What's Next: The Coaching Carousel Begins
With multiple openings already created, the NFL's coaching carousel is spinning at full speed. Several interesting dynamics have emerged, including potential coach trades and college-to-NFL transitions that could reshape the league's coaching landscape.
Potential Coach Trades Making Waves
In an unusual twist, Bleacher Report highlighted that multiple teams are considering trading for established head coaches. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that teams could call the Pittsburgh Steelers about Mike Tomlin, while Fox Sports' Jay Glazer said "multiple teams" are interested in trading for Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell. Such moves would be unprecedented in recent NFL history but could provide immediate upgrades for teams willing to part with draft capital.
College Coaches Entering the Conversation
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian is expected to draw interest from NFL teams after leading the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semifinals, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Sarkisian has NFL experience as an offensive coordinator with the Atlanta Falcons and could be tempted by the right opportunity. This follows the trend of successful college coaches making the jump to the professional ranks.
Internal Candidates Getting Their Shot
Some teams are looking inward for solutions. The Chicago Bears announced they will interview interim head coach Thomas Brown for the permanent position after he went 1-4 following Matt Eberflus' firing. Bears GM Ryan Poles told ESPN that Brown "will get an interview and I'm excited to hear his thoughts" about how to fix the team's issues.
Analysis: Why This Black Monday Was Different
The 2025 Black Monday stood out for several reasons. First, the sheer number of mid-season firings (four head coaches) created unprecedented instability during the regular season. Second, the quality of available replacements—including potential trade candidates like Mike Tomlin and Kevin O'Connell—is unusually high. Third, the uncertainty surrounding established coaches like Kevin Stefanski shows that even coaches with recent success aren't safe in today's results-driven NFL.
According to USA Today's analysis, several firings were justified by poor performance metrics: Doug Pederson's 5-18 finish in Jacksonville, Antonio Pierce's 4-13 record in Las Vegas, and Jerod Mayo's 4-13 debut season in New England all pointed to coaches who couldn't reverse their teams' fortunes. Meanwhile, Mike McCarthy's departure from Dallas represents the end of an era for a franchise that consistently fell short of expectations despite regular-season success.
Looking Ahead: Impact on the 2025 Season
The coaching changes will have significant implications for the 2025 NFL season. Teams with new coaches will implement different systems, particularly on offense, which could affect player development and team performance. Quarterbacks like Drake Maye in New England and Caleb Williams in Chicago will need to adjust to new coaching philosophies, while veteran teams like the Raiders and Jaguars will undergo cultural shifts.
The coaching carousel also affects coordinator positions, as new head coaches typically bring in their own staffs. This creates a ripple effect throughout the league, with quality assistants moving to new organizations. For fans, the changes mean fresh approaches and potentially improved fortunes for struggling franchises—though history shows that coaching changes alone rarely guarantee immediate success.
As the NFL moves into the offseason, all eyes will be on the remaining coaching decisions, particularly in Cleveland where Kevin Stefanski's fate hangs in the balance. With the combine, free agency, and draft approaching, teams will want to secure their coaching staffs quickly to begin planning for 2025. One thing is certain: after this Black Monday, the NFL coaching landscape looks dramatically different than it did just one season ago.
