Fired NFL Head Coaches: Black Monday Tracker

EDIT (1/7): Fangio’s meeting concluded with Denver, and he returned to Halas Hall to meet with the Bears’ players (per Brad Biggs). Mike Klis is reporting that Fangio will have dinner with John Elway this evening, just like Elway did after interviewing Chuck Pagano and Mike Munchak for the head coaching job.

EDIT (1/7): Vic Fangio is still expected to meet with the Broncos today, but his interview with the Dolphins was never scheduled and will not take place. This according to Ian Rapoport.

EDIT (1/4): Adam Gase will interview for the Packers’ head coaching job on Monday, while reports have Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels meeting with the Packers today.

EDIT (1/2): The Broncos interviewed Chuck Pagano for their head coaching vacancy on Wednesday and here are the the other interviews scheduled per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic; Zac Taylor on Thursday, Mike Munchak on Friday, and Vic Fangio and Brian Flores on Monday.

EDIT (1/2): Former Dolphins’ head coach Adam Gase will be interviewed by the New York Jets for their vacant head coaching position.

EDIT (1/2): Radio host Ryan Witkowski (he has a verified Twitter if that means anything to you) is reporting that Fangio is the “leader in the clubhouse for the Broncos head coaching vacancy.” Fangio hasn’t even met with Denver yet, but if Witkowski’s source is to be believed it doesn’t matter!

EDIT (1/1): NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Dolphins and Broncos will interview Fangio on Monday. He’s also reporting that the Packers will interview Josh McDaniels from the Patriots.

EDIT: 12/31: That Pat Fitzgerald to the Packes rumor was shut down by Fitzgerald after his Northwestern Wildcats won their Bowl Game on New Year’s Eve.

EDIT (12/31): ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins have requested to interview Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Since the Bears play this weekend they can’t talk with him this week. Schefter also expects more teams to contact the Bears about Fangio.

Black Monday started early (way early) when the Cleveland Browns fired Hue Jackson in October. Then the Green Bay Packers had a false start fired Mike McCarthy on December 2nd. It seems like letting go of head coaches early is the new normal, because already news is rolling in regarding other changes at the top for a number of teams.

Remember when former Bears head coach Lovie Smith was fired so that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could hang on to Dirk Koetter and maintain a secure offensive system for Jameis Winston? Well, not only was Winston benched earlier this season (only to re-emerge), but Koetter is out in Tampa Bay. Does that make Winston the new coach killer in the NFL?

Here is the total list:

FIRED Head Coaches

• Hue Jackson (Browns): Let go in October
• Mike McCarthy (Packers): Fired on December 2nd
• Dirk Koetter (Buccaneers): Let go on December 30th
• Todd Bowles (Jets): Fired on December 30th
• Steve Wilks (Cardinals): Not returning as of December 31st*
• Adam Gase (Dolphins): Let go on December 31st*
• Vance Joseph (Broncos): Fired on December 31st
• Marvin Lewis (Bengals): Let go on December 31st

*Both worked for the Bears earlier in their coaching careers.

Or, as I like to think of it—if one more head coach is fired, it will equal the number of losses by Green Bay in 2018.

Each of these openings obviously has the potential to be a landing spot for some of the coaching talent currently on Matt Nagy’s staff (Fangio comes to mind).

Keep checking back, because we will update as we know more.

EDIT: