As the NFL’s 18th week comes to a close and the playoff scene takes shape, four major teams are without coaching leadership: the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, and New England Patriots. The trend of having coaching positions vacated even before the customary ‘Black Monday’ prevailed yet again. With the wrap-up of the season, it won’t be surprising if there are more dismissals in the pipeline, with changes in key assistant positions plausible as well. Several clubs are predicted to embark on their search for replacements shortly, with numerous interview invitations anticipated.
Moving towards specifics, the Dallas Cowboys are holding off on announcing their plan for the impending 2025 season. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears might just be considering Mike McCarthy as a potential candidate for their coaching position. The announcement for application for McCarthy’s interview was made public by the Bears on Monday. As per the protocols, since McCarthy is with the Cowboys until the 14th of January, the team will need to provide consent for him to engage in any dialogue with the Bears.
Over at Jacksonville, Doug Pederson’s termination from the Jaguars wasn’t entirely unforeseen. However, notable curiosity revolved around owner Shad Khan’s decision to retain General Manager Trent Baalke. During a Monday press conference, Khan defended the continuity of Baalke, rejecting the idea that the Jaguars required a total overhaul. He equated drastic changes to self-impediment and confidently stated that Baalke’s presence wouldn’t hinder the attraction of a superior coaching prospect.
While the NFL community was abuzz with various announcements, the Las Vegas Raiders remained silent about their strategy for 2025. Yet, in a media appearance on Monday, Antonio Pierce, a key figure in the team, expressed confidence about his continued stint in the coming season. Hence, despite the lack of official statement, the suggestion of stability in the team’s hierarchy was subtly implied.
On the other hand, the Seattle Seahawks have decided to revamp their offensive strategies by parting ways with offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after just one year. The decision came in the wake of an underwhelming season by the team’s attacking standards. This indicates that the Seahawks are keenly looking at changes while the season’s retrospect is still fresh.
The Chicago Bears seem to be promptly moving in conducting their coaching search. In further developments, they have reached out to the Arizona Cardinals’ offensive coordinator, Drew Petzing, showing interest in his candidacy for the vacant head coach position. This suggests a desire from the Bears to potentially boost their offensive tactics in the coming season.
The New England Patriots, too, didn’t waste time after parting ways with Jerod Mayo on Sunday. Their active measures included immediately requesting an interview with Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. The swift action indicates an urgent desire to fill the void left by Mayo’s firing.
New York Jets’ owner Woody Johnson is confronted with the task of finding replacements for both the general manager and head coach positions. Demonstrating his readiness, he quickly reached out to staff members of teams headed to the postseason on Monday, making his intentions of revamping the team evident.
On the other side, questions arose regarding the future of GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll of the Giants, particularly if the team chooses a rookie QB in the draft. However, owner John Mara confirmed on Monday that both Schoen and Daboll will continue in their roles for the 2025 season, putting any speculations to rest.
In this game of musical chairs, Antonio Pierce chose not to dwell publicly on his standing within his current team. Similarly, the New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft made a bold move by letting go of coach Jerod Mayo after only a single season. Although this decision came surprisingly, it aligns with the Patriots’ history of making assertive moves.
The season-ending defeat at the hands of the New York Giants in Week 17 led to talks about the Indianapolis Colts possibly tweaking their status quo. However, these remained mere speculations as owner Jim Irsay confirmed both coach Shane Steichen and General Manager Chris Ballard would continue to hold their posts in the coming season.
Meanwhile, Antonio Pierce remained the center of focus amidst uncertainty within the Las Vegas Raiders. Despite a lack of official clarity about Pierce’s future with the team, several players came forward in support of him. This highlights a sense of unity within the team amid an intense period of speculation.
As for the Tennessee Titans, the team is expected to stick with their current coach, Brian Callahan, for his second year at the helm. The decision supports the continuity within the team’s leadership and endorses Callahan’s performance in his debut season.
Finally, to round off the personnel updates in the league, the Miami Dolphins have issued a statement affirming Mike McDaniel’s return as coach in the 2025 season. The move signals confidence in the team’s existing structure and leadership, wrapping up a week of dramatic coaching changes across the NFL landscape.