Head coaches
Names to keep an eye on to fill head coaching positions include:
- Mike McCarthy
- Gregg Williams
- Dennis Allen
- Jim Schwartz
- Jack Del Rio
- Mike Munchak
- Josh McDaniels
- Brian Flores
- Vic Fangio
- John DeFilippo
- George Edwards
- Kris Richard
- Pete Carmichael
- Eric Bieniemy
- Gus Bradley
- Chuck Pagano
- Bruce Arians
- Lincoln Riley
- Jim Harbaugh
- Kliff Kingsbury
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons announced offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian, defensive coordinator Marquand Manuel and special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong won't return in 2019.
Black Monday
The Atlanta Falcons did some major house keeping on Black Monday as well.
With the Green Bay Packers and Cleveland Browns also firing their coaches during the season, that brings the count to eight teams that will be searching for a new head coach. That is a quarter of the league.
With Gase out in Miami, Jeff Darlington of NFL Network reported Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam is interested in his services after a recommendation from Peyton Manning.
Not only that, but Adam Schefter of ESPN also reported Gase has already heard "from the majority of teams" with head coach openings and that Gase is "expected" to start interviews this week.
Per the team, general manager Chris Grier will be in charge of football operations, with executive vice president of football operations Mike Tannenbaum reassigned within the organization. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network first reported Gase's exit.
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins have parted ways with head coach Adam Gase.
On his final day as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, Marvin Lewisendorsed Hue Jackson as his potential replacement.
"I think he's more than qualified," Lewis told the media. "I think he's been in a couple of difficult situations [in Oakland and Cleveland], and that's tough, and it hasn't broke his way. But I think he's an excellent football coach, he's a great motivator, he's detailed. So I think he deserves an opportunity, if not here, somewhere else."
16 seasons.
2009 NFL Coach of the Year.
Most career victories in #Bengals History.
Thank you, Coach Lewis. pic.twitter.com/ccqfx8SyPy— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) December 31, 2018
As much as he did to help the Bengals achieve a level of respectability it hadn't enjoyed in decades, one could argue his departure is overdue. The Bengals never advanced past the AFC Wild Card Round under his watch, which generated a level of frustration among the fanbase.
Lewis leaves Cincinnati having compiled a 131-122-3 record over 16 seasons. Lewis is also the winningest coach in franchise history.
Cincinnati Bengals
After 16 seasons as their head coach, the Cincinnati Bengals fired Marvin Lewis.
Joseph was 11-21 during his tenure with the Broncos.
Joseph, who had two years remaining on the four-year deal he signed in 2017, lasted just 32 games with the team. The Broncos now will search for the fourth head coach in John Elway's seven-year tenure as the team's top football executive.
"I spoke with Vance this morning and thanked him for all of his hard work as our head coach," president of football operations John Elway said in the team release. "Although we decided to make this change, I believe Vance is a good football coach who has a bright future in this league."
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos have fired Vance Joseph.
"We want to make sure we get the best coach to take us into future, to get us back to where we should be. We feel like we are the most attractive opportunity out there for a coach. When you look at this young franchise quarterback that we have, the nucleus of talent that we have.
The silver lining here is that we are going to be the first overall pick not just in the first round but in every round, and then we are first in the claims order for when players are waived. So that is going to give us a great opportunity plus we have a lot of cap space.
So this is the kind of opportunity that is attractive to coaches." - Michael Bidwill
"I think one of the things that we want to do a little differently this time around this process is keep our cards a little closer to our vest." Michael Bidwill told the media Monday.
Wilks was the first coach in franchise history since Joe Kuharich in 1952 to last just one season with the Cardinals.
Wilks, 49, just finished his first season as the Cardinals’ coach and signed a four-year contract in January. He replaced Bruce Arians, who opted for retirement after an 8-8 season last year.
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals have fired head coach Steve Wilks.
Carolina Panthers have informed head coach Ron Rivera that he will return in his current position for the 2019 season.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan announced that executive vice president Tom Coughlin, GM Dave Caldwell and head coach Doug Marrone will all return in their current positions for the 2019 season.
As for the Arizona Cardinals, they have announced coach Steve Wilks will be available to reporters at 12:30 tomorrow afternoon Arizona time.
Chairman & CEO Christopher Johnson has informed Todd Bowles he will not be returning in 2019.
📰 https://t.co/JgKBKH0I2h pic.twitter.com/X1m1Ri34Sk— New York Jets (@nyjets) December 31, 2018
Maccagnan will work closely with CEO Christopher Johnson in the search for Bowles' replacement, the team said.
Bowles presided over one of the worst three-year stretches in Jets franchise history. Even though the Jets fired Bowles, the organization opted to retain embattled general manager Mike Maccagnan. During his tenure in New York, Bowles went 24-40.
Jets now have released HC Todd Bowles, per source.
Bowles follows former Bucs’ HC Dirk Koetter, let go earlier in the day.— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 31, 2018
The next coach to follow suit was New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles.
Source: The #Bucs have fired coach Dirk Koetter. An opening in Tampa Bay.— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 31, 2018
Koetter finished his stint with Tampa Bay with a 19-29 record, going 5-11 this season.
After three seasons, it appears that Dirk Koetter's time with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has come to an end. Koetter and the Buccaneers lost to the Atlanta Falcons 34-32 on Sunday.
"There are teams right now that are having internal discussions about calling the Ravens trying to trade for John Harbaugh."@JayGlazer with the latest on the NFL coaching carousel. pic.twitter.com/FvDLBDIeO1— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) December 30, 2018
As seen this morning on Fox, Jay Glazer discussed the potential openings around the NFL
NFL Black Monday
Greetings and welcome to Vavel NFL's coverage of Black Monday 2018. Black Monday is the Monday following the conclusion of the regular season as organizations fire coaches and begin searching for their replacements.