Chip Kelly got the axe Tuesday evening from the Eagles. While the actual firing wasn’t surprising, the timing was. Needless to say, Kelly will not be the only coach looking for work in the near future. Most coach firings happen the Monday after the regular season ends. But now that the coaching carousel has began to spin, let’s take a look at who could potentially be joining Kelly in the unemployment line on “Black Monday.”
TOM COUGHLIN (NEW YORK GIANTS)
The red face of the Giants for the past decade may finally be on the way out. Two Super Bowl victories will get Coughlin in the conversation for the Hall of Fame. Inconsistency in non-Super Bowl seasons, including his third straight sub-.500 season this year, may mean the end of his tenure as Giants coach. The Giants have struggled to find an identity on either side of the ball these past three years, and Coughlin’s coaching staff has been in constant flux. Whether Coughlin retires or gets fired, there will be changes on the blue side of MetLife Stadium entering 2016.
MIKE PETTINE (CLEVELAND BROWNS)
The Browns are a complete mess and the head coach isn’t making matters any better. Pettine has been out of his depth since day one in Cleveland. His 10-21 coaching record is just the tip of the iceberg. The Johnny Manziel fiasco hasn’t helped his cause. But then again, his sideline antics, poor clock management, and questionable decision making have been equal parties in his abysmal stint as Browns coach. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam has had little qualms about pulling the trigger on any type of personnel move. Pettine may not even make it to Monday if the Steelers pile on the embarrassment Sunday afternoon.
JEFF FISHER (ST. LOUIS RAMS)
The Rams are currently on a three game winning streak and could easily end the season at .500. But don’t discount the indifference they showed to their coach during the middle of the season. Fisher has had to tinker with his quarterback situation on several occasions due to injury and ineffectiveness. That didn’t sit well with many of the higher ups and offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti lost his job for it. The offseason trade of former #1 pick Sam Bradford was viewed as a way to alleviate stress, not create more of it. Fisher has also had a hard time shaking the dirty label that comes with his association with Gregg Williams. Fisher still has one year left on his 5 year, $35 million contract so it wouldn’t be a clean break. However, if there is a housecleaning coming in St. Louis, there is no way Fisher is escaping it again.
JIM CALDWELL (DETROIT LIONS)
How Caldwell was even able to get a second stint as an NFL head coach is beyond my comprehension. So it should come as no surprise that he could be on the chopping block again after a disappointing 2015. It started off horribly for the Lions as they started off 0-5. They have gone 6-4 since but have woefully underperformed on most Sundays. With Sheldon White unlikely to have his interim general manager status become permanent, new management may be looking to start anew with their own coach.
JASON GARRETT (DALLAS COWBOYS)
Injuries happen in football. But no team has been more bitten by the injury bug this year than the Dallas Cowboys. Even with that caveat, the heat is on head coach Jason Garrett. Since Jerry Jones took over ownership, he’s never been bashful about questioning his coach and/or making a coaching change. Garrett has done very well to take Tony Romo from the middle of the pack to the upper tier of NFL quarterbacks. The rest of his resume isn’t as rosy. A 4-12 year in 2015, no matter how unlucky, may just be enough for Jerry Jones to force Garrett to polish up said resume.
MIKE MCCOY (SAN DIEGO CHARGERS)
There has been a dark cloud looming over the Chargers all season long. With their departure from San Diego nearly a formality at this juncture, the team has been a constant state of flux. Their play on the field reflects that. Mike McCoy hasn’t done much to alleviate the stress on both the organization and its fans. Like Garrett, he has dealt with some big injury hits, primarily wide receiver Keenan Allen. But McCoy is regularly outfoxed by the man on the opposing sideline and his inability to adjust his gameplan on the fly makes small deficits for the Chargers loom larger. There will probably be a new man at the podium for the 2016 Chargers introductory press conference, whatever city that may be in.
CHUCK PAGANO (INDIANAPOLIS COLTS)
Chuck Pagano has seen this day coming for quite a while. Jim Irsay’s unwillingness to give him a contract extension should have sent up red flags. His 2015 coaching portfolio hasn’t made much of a convincing argument to the contrary. There is going to be substantial turnover within the Colts next year. Although GM Ryan Grigson should be the first to get a pink slip, it is more than likely going to be Pagano. He has said this will be his last job, but if he changes his mind he would get a coordinator gig in a heartbeat. Chuck should just probably steer clear of the head coaching ranks from now on.
Do you think any other coaches will be dismissed on “Black Monday”? Let us know in the comments, or you can give us a shout on Facebook or Twitter @sportsftb. You can hassle me @TREVORutley.