NFL
Six NFL Head Coaches Fired on Black Monday; Number of Head Coaching Vacancies Now at Eight
Black Monday is infamous in the NFL as the day that many head coaches lose their jobs following underwhelming seasons. This Monday was no different, as the Buccaneers, Jets, Dolphins, Broncos, Bengals, and Cardinals all moved on from their current coaches. These six teams now join the Packers and Browns, who both fired their coaches mid-season, in the search for a new head coach. Teams have already moved quickly to secure interviews with prized coaching candidates. Others, such as the Packers and Browns, have already begun to interview potential candidates. Most coaches, though, were fired after their Sunday games or early on Monday morning, as teams look to get a jump on the hiring process.
Coach Firings
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals, in a shocking but expected move, fired head coach Steve Wilks after a 3-13 season. Wilks was previously the defensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. Wilks was a criticized hire from the start, as Arizona pivoted from Bruce Arians (an established, offensive-minded coach) to the defensive-minded Steve Wilks. There were many factors that led to his firing. Notably, Wilks hired Mike McCoy as his offensive coordinator. McCoy could not make it through the whole season, struggling before being fired and subsequently replaced by Byron Leftwich. The Cardinals offense was never really able to get going. Rookie quarterback Josh Rosen failed to show much in the way of development, despite being touted as the most pro-ready QB.
Wilks’ defensive knowledge also never really emerged. While he may not have had the best personnel to run his system, he still had shutdown corner Patrick Peterson and former All-Pro pass-rusher Chandler Jones. His defense finished as only the 20th best team in total defense and 29th in passing offense. These failures, especially, led to Wilks being the 10th member of the exclusive one-and-done club of head coaches.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals finally moved on from head coach Marvin Lewis, regarded as a long overdue move. Lewis was the Bengals’ head coach for 16 seasons. His career record was 131-122 – which was not horrible, in itself – but his tenure was characterized largely by a consistent failure to achieve playoff success. Marvin Lewis never won a playoff game with the Bengals, managing an 0-7 postseason record. It was clear that Lewis was not the answer for Cincinnati and they needed to go in another direction. The team went 6-10 this year and was ravaged by injury, losing AJ Green, Andy Dalton, Tyler Boyd, and plenty more to injury. Lewis will have no problem finding a job, however, as he will be coveted for a front-office job or a move into broadcasting. The next coach of the Bengals faces a likely rebuild with an aging quarterback and aging star receiver.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Dirk Koetter was fired shortly after the Buccaneers’ Week 17 game ended. Koetter went 19-29 as the Buccaneers head coach and it was clear the team needed to move on. Under his coaching, the team consistently fielded one of the worst defenses in the league. Making matters worse, Koetter generally refused to make moves to address it. Tampa’s defense ranked fifth-to-last in total defense. Koetter was also not able to get anything out of former first overall pick Jameis Winston during his tenure. He notably refused to commit to a quarterback this year, switching between Ryan Fitzpatrick and Winston all season. Tampa clearly needs to look for a defensive coach that will bring in an coordinator to focus on Winston’s development.
New York Jets
The Jets moved on from Todd Bowles on Monday after three seasons with the team. He managed a 24-40 record with the Jets. Bowles, like Steve Wilks, was touted as a defensive mind, but was never able to demonstrate his acumen. This year, the Jets ranked in the bottom third in total defense — even with players such as Trumaine Johnson, Leonard Williams, Demario Davis, and Jamal Adams anchoring the defense. The offense was also never particularly strong under Bowles. This is not all on him, however, as they lacked reliable weapons and were stuck with rookie Sam Darnold this year. While Darnold showed flashes of great potential, he was still one of the most turnover-prone quarterbacks in the league. Bowles will have no shortage of offers for defensive coordinator positions, should he choose to step back from head coaching.
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins are stuck in a peculiar position. They appear to be a franchise in limbo. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill has shown time and time again that he is not their franchise quarterback, yet they refuse to move on from him. That will change this offseason, however, as it came out recently that Miami is looking to improve at the position. In addition to moving on from Tannehill, the Dolphins also fired head coach Adam Gase. Gase’s time in Miami was a tumultuous one, marked by a pervasive losing culture. Gase, notably, also clashed with – then traded – star players Jay Ajayi and Jarvis Landry. Gase is one of he most prolific offensive minds in the league, however, and is sure to find work. He has already been requested for an interview with the Browns for their head coaching position.
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos were very disappointing this season. They finished 6-10, despite investing heavily in free agent quarterback Case Keenum. The Broncos refused to select a quarterback in a draft littered with high-talent prospects, viewing Keenum as their future franchise QB. They responded to this season’s woes by firing head coach Vance Joseph after only 2 seasons. Joseph managed a 11-21 record in Denver. This offseason could be the start of a rebuild for the team. Denver may choose to let many of their key free agents walk. They could also try to find a real franchise quarterback in free agency or the draft. There are many key young pieces that could help to build the foundation of the team, such as Courtland Sutton, Philip Lindsay, and Bradley Chubb.
Photo Credit
Featured image courtesy of Clay Seal via Flickr
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