Published on: January 6, 2025, 05:46h. 

Last updated on: January 6, 2025, 05:46h.

Today the NFL’s coaching carousel is spinning rapidly, a time when organizations that finished out of the playoffs can do something tangible in flushing the season that was. It’s also called “Black Monday.”

Here’s a rundown of what we’ve seen so far:

Fired Already

Jerod Mayo

The New England Patriots barely waited for the final whistle in their 23-16 wins over the Buffalo Bills yesterday to fire head coach Jerod Mayo, moments after he took off his headset.

Mayo had only been on the job the one season, after taking over from Bill Belichick.

Mayo stubbornly stuck with quarterback Drake Maye this season, and whether Maye’s a legitimate NFL QB is up for debate. There wasn’t much the 4-13 Patriots did this season that inspired confidence in Mayo. They looked disinterested, badly prepared, poorly coached.

The Patriots could have secured the No. 1 spot in the NFL Draft this April with a loss to the Bills and couldn’t even do that right.

Mike Vrabel is the rumoured replacement for Mayo in New England. Vrabel would be a game-changer for the Patriots.

Doug Pederson

After three seasons as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13), Doug Pederson was fired this morning. The Jags were seemingly heading in the right direction with a quarterback in Trevor Lawrence on an upward trajectory, but the team hit the skids, going 5-18 in their past 23 games, so Pederson is gone.

General Manager Trent Balke keeps his job, though – a surprise among many.

Where does Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson end up, seemingly with the pick of the litter in terms of jobs – including with the Chicago Bears, who fired Matt Eberflus in November? Johnson would be able to work with QB Caleb Williams.

But the Jaguars? Will Johnson be able to look beyond the organizational disfunction there for a shot at coaching Lawrence?

Unknowns

Las Vegas Raiders

Does Vrabel go join his old buddy Tom Brady, now an owner of the Raiders? Players today were crediting head coach Antonio Pierce for keeping the team motivated despite a 4-13 season that included a 10-game losing streak.

Pierce said today he hadn’t heard anything to the contrary and intends to plow ahead as if he will be coach of the Raiders again in 2025.

New York Jets

Vrabel has already interviewed there, with Rex Ryan saying he’s convinced he will get the job. Ryan interviews tomorrow.

Ryan coached the Jets from 2009 to 2014, where he went 46-50, leading the Jets to the playoffs, including back-to-back AFC Championship Games in 2009 and 2010.

Dallas Cowboys

Mike McCarthy said he wants to return. Despite going 49-34 as Cowboys’ head coach, he’s 1-3 in the playoffs, and this year they didn’t even make it, going 7-10.

I have a lot invested here in the Cowboys and they have a lot invested in me,” McCarthy said. “I believe in building programs and developing young players, but in the end it’s all about winning. I think we have a very good foundation here.”

Last January, owner Jerry Jones said the Cowboys were “all in” on 2024. That didn’t turn out. Where Jones sits with regards to McCarthy is the big unknown.

Survived, Surprisingly

Brian Daboll

GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are being kept around, despite going 3-14, since New York Giants team president John Mara seems determined they bring both more good than bad. Both are under the gun to get the trains on the tracks for 2025, with a new quarterback to lead them back to competency. The Giants hold the No. 3 pick in this year’s draft.

Giving QB Daniel Jones a four-year, $160 million in 2023 was a disaster. Jones was benched then cut this season.

Shane Steichen

Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen keep their jobs, despite the team going 8-9, the exclamation point on the season being a Week 17 45-33 blowout loss to the hapless Giants. Ballard has a 62-69-1 record in eight seasons as GM.

The Colts are a seemingly rudderless, directionless team with a bad culture. QB Anthony Richardson has been a disappointment, with a 50.6% completion rate over two injury-marred seasons. It’s a mess there, in a weak AFC South division.

Super Bowl Odds

According to BetMGM, in terms of Super Bowl line movement (last week now):

• Lions +400 to +280
• Chiefs +375 to +350
• Ravens +700 to +600

Highest ticket %:

• Lions 14.9%
• Chiefs 12.7%
• Ravens 8.4%

Highest handle %:

• Lions 16.0%
• Chiefs 15.9%
• Ravens 11.6%

Biggest liability