Coaches brace for change as NFL’s ‘Black Monday’ approaches

The day after the NFL’s regular season ends is known as “Black Monday,” when struggling teams inform coaches their services are no longer needed. This year, it falls on Monday, Jan. 6, and there is plenty of speculation surrounding what could be more than half a dozen moves.

Three job searches are already underway, as the Chicago Bears, New York Jets and New Orleans Saints fired their coaches during the season.

Current NFL job openings

• Chicago Bears –– Thomas Brown (interim)
• New York Jets –– Jeff Ulbricht (interim)
• New Orleans Saints –– Darren Rizzi (interim)

Those teams currently have interim head coaches, all of whom will reportedly interview for the head job with their respective teams. But there will also be multiple outside candidates brought in.

The Jets, for instance, have already conducted interviews with former head coaches Rex Ryan and Ron Rivera.

Coaches likely to stick around

• Tennessee Titans –– Brian Callahan
• Cleveland Browns –– Kevin Stefanski
• New England Patriots –– Jerod Mayo

Three teams have made it clear they will give their coaches at least one more season in charge. New England’s first-year coach, Jerod Mayo, is the shakiest on this list; he has posted a 3-14 record. Right now, the Patriots are in line for the number one pick in April’s draft.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan has seen good and bad reports concerning his tenure.

“I don’t really pay much attention to those reports. I just try to come in and do my job as best I can and do it as long as they allow me to do it,” said Callahan. “If for some reason, and hopefully it’s years from now, they say your services are no longer needed, then that’s how it goes.”

Coaches in the ‘hot seat’

• Las Vegas Raiders –– Antonio Pierce
• Jacksonville Jaguars –– Doug Pederson
• New York Giants –– Brian Daboll
• Indianapolis Colts –– Shane Steichen
• Dallas Cowboys –– Mike McCarthy

Although it’s pure guesswork, these five coaches are most mentioned in the debate about whether the teams need a change.

For those like Doug Pederson and Brian Daboll, it would not be a surprise if they were let go Monday.

For Mike McCarthy of the Dallas Cowboys, the jury truly is still out. He has heard both praise and criticism from team owner Jerry Jones. On New Year’s Eve, Jones talked about the possibility of retaining McCarthy on a local Dallas radio station, saying he’s been thinking about the issue for weeks.

“What I’m not gonna do this morning is get into any indication one way or the other that I’m not interested in having Mike back. I don’t want that to be the case at all,” Jones said.

Not exactly a vote of confidence. In any case, McCarthy is in a different situation. His contract expires Jan. 14, so he‘ll be free to sign with any team –– whether he’s officially fired or not. There are also reports that other teams could be interested in McCarthy.