NFL coaching carousel in full swing (UPDATED)
Tim Tebow looms large over the future of two franchises. (AP)
The day after the final day of the NFL regular season is typically referred to as Black Monday. A day in which coaches, general managers and other personnel are relieved of their positions after disappointing years.
Today is Black Monday. And it could be one of the busiest with seven teams potentially making moves at the top.
The first to pull the switch were the Cleveland Browns who dismissed coach Pat Shurmur and GM Tom Heckert. Shurmur’s replacement will be the Browns’ sixth coach since 1999.
In Jacksonville, the Jaguars fired GM Gene Smith after four seasons. Coach Mike Mularkey, a former Falcons offensive coordinator, could be next. Smith’s replacement will likely be tasked with bringing hometown boy Tim Tebow back to Florida.
And speaking of Tebow …
Jets head coach Rex Ryan publicly pleaded for his job this weekend and it might’ve worked. New York owner Woody Johnson fired Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum, apparently for his decision to acquire Tebow from the Denver Broncos last March.
Lovie Smith coached the Bears for nine years (AP).
The Bears have let go coach Lovie Smith after nine seasons. Chicago became the first team since the 1996 Washington Redskins to miss the playoffs after starting the season 7-1.
In Philadelphia, Andy Reid’s tenure concluded Monday when the Eagles announced they would fire their head coach of 14 seasons.
The Kansas City Chiefs fired head coach Romeo Crennel and are evaluating the future of GM Scott Pioli.
Buffalo dismissed coach Chan Gailey after three losing seasons. Gailey, a native of Gainesville, Ga., formerly coached the Dallas Cowboys and Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. The Bills failed to make the playoffs for a 13th straight year, the NFL’s longest active drought.
San Diego dismissed coach Norv Turner and GM A.J. Smith after failing to make the playoffs for a third straight season.
Arizona’s Ken Whisenhunt, who led the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl in the 2008 season, became the seventh coach fired on Monday. Along with Whisenhunt, general manager Rod Graves also was let go.
One coach on the hot seat keeping his job is Tennessee’s Mike Munchak. Titans’ personnel director Mike Reinfeldt, however, will be replaced.
Larger speculation is on who will fill all the vacancies, the biggest name being thrown about is Jon Gruden, who has apparent indicated an interest in interviewing for some head coaching jobs.
Among the assistants getting a view from teams is Falcons’ offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, who will interview with the Kansas City Chiefs this week.
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83 comments Add your comment
This Just In.......
December 31st, 2012
1:14 pm
ATLSteve….. 10-6 is still a winning season. Lets ask Chan Gailey, Romeo Crenel, Pat Shurmur, Norv Turner, and even Rex(i Cried to keep my job) Ryan would they take 10-6 this year.
WILLY
December 31st, 2012
1:16 pm
To all YOU FREAKING NEGATIVE FALCON FANS you are not fans if you get on these blogs anytime they win or lose and complain you should go down and get on the Ga Techs blog or some one else you will appreciate the negatism
David
December 31st, 2012
1:22 pm
Kurtis, You’re either a young dude or you’re really not very knowledgeable about football. You should look at the Falcon’s record prior to Mike Smith becoming head coach. Firing a coach because he didn’t “win enough” is a mistake the old owners made all the time. As big a deal as most folks like to make of winning playoff games, when it’s one and done it’s tough. On another note, I think Andy Reid is a case of if you can’t fire the indians, you got to fire the chiefs.
Kurtis
December 31st, 2012
1:26 pm
Paddy, I can comment on anything I want. That’s why this forum is called a VENT. I’ve watched every single minute of every single Falcons game for too many years to count. I’ve spent my hard earned money on admission and parking and concessions at the Dome to watch these Falcons, so again, i’ll say what I dang well please. Agree with what I say or not, I don’t give a rats a$$. Yes, the Falcons organization is 1000 times better than it has ever been, but we’ve lost in the playoffs before, now it’s time to win. Mike Smith has the owner and the GM and the team to win, but he’s gotta take his thumb off of Koetter and Nolan and let them do what they do best. We’ve seen glimpes this season, and now we want to see it when it means something.
The Truth
December 31st, 2012
1:26 pm
The rev. jessee jackson will Not be happy over some of these firings.
Kurtis
December 31st, 2012
1:33 pm
David, I’m not nearly as young as I wish i were, and I have forgotten more about football than a lot of people know. I’m not a Mike Smith basher, I think he’s been wonderful for the organization, but when does his “process” include winning in the playoffs and bringing a Lombardi trophy to the state of Georgia? Are you satisfied with a great regular season and a yearly flop in the playoffs? And the same thing every year? Seriously? I didn’t think so, and neither am I. That’s all I am saying…….
To Paraphrase Bill Curry
December 31st, 2012
1:39 pm
@the Hill boys
December 31st, 2012
11:56 am
but if i recall, you played a defining role
In Beatty’s defense, he was forced into his role, you Hill(billy) boys played your part with a disturbing combination of willingness and enthusiasm. FYI-you really misunderstood what the term ‘man cave’ is really meant for…
Braves #17 Fan
December 31st, 2012
1:49 pm
This was the first year with the improved coaching regime. Let’s focus on filling some holes, including our rushing game. Let’s take a look at Reggie Bush… at least a look.
Brad
December 31st, 2012
2:04 pm
My gosh Lovie Smith getting fired after a 10-6 season is clearly racist. I remeber when Marty Schotteheimer was fired after going 14-2 that was clearly racist also.
DollarDawg43
December 31st, 2012
2:07 pm
Agree Braves #17. I’m a huge Fan of Mike Smith’s but we need a running back with a combination of speed and power. He doesn’t have to give us 2,000 yards per year al a Adrian Peterson but someone with some size and explosiveness will upgrade an already potent offense by a wide margin.
george bush
December 31st, 2012
2:41 pm
jerry your time is up u big mouth sissy and if u dont who i am talking about he thinks he owns texas how bout them dallas cheerleaders cause looks like them girls will win one before sir jerry almighty jones mental capicity of a monkey
Reid Among 6 NFL Coaches Sacked in Firing Frenzy – ABC News | News headlines
December 31st, 2012
2:43 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
The Director
December 31st, 2012
2:59 pm
I will be filming Deliverance II soon, would love for some of you guys come on up to North Ga. and try out for parts. I prefer that meth head dental look but, if you can squeel like a pig you would be considered for a part. Tryouts will be sat. night about midnight.
Houston
December 31st, 2012
3:03 pm
and all you Falcon fans.. . . you could be pulling for the Dallas Cowboys with an egoistical owner who
thinks he is God’s answer to everything football. Dallas will be an 8 – 8 team for years to come
GTBob
December 31st, 2012
3:16 pm
“I will be filming Deliverance II soon, would love for some of you guys come on up to North Ga. and try out for parts. I prefer that meth head dental look but, if you can squeel like a pig you would be considered for a part. Tryouts will be sat. night about midnight.”
Count me in!
Iluvnutella
December 31st, 2012
3:55 pm
Bobby Cox, oops I mean Mike Smith, will be gone if he flubs another playoff game. He can take Captain Clumsy, aka our QB, with him if he doesnt learn how to scramble….matty Ice is one of the goofiest looking runners I have ever seen on ANY playground…..
Terry
December 31st, 2012
3:57 pm
I saw the very first Falcon game in Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. Except for an aberration or two, the Falcons have been terrible until Smitty arrived. I hope he retires here like Don Shula. Some of yall complaining probably were picked last on your high school PE teams. You don’t have a clue.
#1 seed
December 31st, 2012
3:59 pm
………. happy 13-3 new year
DollarDawg43
December 31st, 2012
4:09 pm
Wrong Terry, they didn’t get picked at all. Even when they brought the ball to play with.
Falcon fan
December 31st, 2012
5:08 pm
A meaningless game? Why was Roberson and Abe on field. Why did Mike Cox Smith have starters on field if he wasn’t trying too win? Why does falcon OC try to go long when a short pass would get a first down. I personally hope DK is hired or fired. I do not see him winning a super bowl with his play calling.
I would like to see Mike Nolan sign too a long contract. He is a very good defensive coach. His history is one year and moving on. He is a good coach. but if Abe doesn’t play in playoff, falcons are one and home!!
Falcon fan
December 31st, 2012
5:09 pm
Terry a least we were picked and not cheerleading!!!!!!
Falcon fan
December 31st, 2012
5:14 pm
I agree with alot of blogs about falcons. But I do not lay blame on Matt Ryan for his play. No QB , Brees Manning or Rogers could look good with falcon offense line. Pat Hill was going to fix OL. It is worst this year with him. A defensive tackle can take Konz or McClure and push them on top of Ryan.I put Falcon line in same class as Bears.
Falcon fan
December 31st, 2012
5:15 pm
Bears line got Their coach fired!
Falcon fan
December 31st, 2012
5:19 pm
Well spoken Kurtis!!!!!!!
love
December 31st, 2012
5:29 pm
For this to be an Atlanta newspaper, there is a lot of negative comments about the Falcons (all the Atlanta transplants are running their mouths). Don’t worry, we’re going to show and prove. It’s going to be a fantastic party when we make it to New Orleans and win the Super Bowl. I’ll be doing the dirty bird all along the way. Here comes our first ring! Yes!
Really!?
December 31st, 2012
5:37 pm
Anybody who wants Smith or Ryan gone is NOT a Falcons fan, nor do they possess any Football I.Q!
Jay
December 31st, 2012
5:42 pm
@ Lanier…and I guess Michael “Con”Vick did a fabulous job? Yeah…right…EAGLES…DREAM TEAM…ring a bell?
Falcon fan
December 31st, 2012
5:49 pm
Anyone that think Smith is doing a great job has no IQ, Moron
tom
December 31st, 2012
5:58 pm
Owner of the Jets needs to be committed. To keep Rex Ryan is a joke. All season Rex would say Sanchez gives up the best chance to win. Well, that did not play out so well. Then he leapfrogs a 3d stringer over Tebow because he would give us the best chance to win. What a pitiful excuse for a head coach. Poor judgement the whole season.
hind tit
December 31st, 2012
6:38 pm
Both Smith and Reid will be the ones to prosper from being let go. Neither had a descent QB. Both will be hired before next season.
Black Monday: Tracking NFL moves – FOXSports.com | Myrun.asia
December 31st, 2012
8:07 pm
[...] season out of the playoffs has …Chargers fire coach Norv Turner, GM A.J. SmithNBCSports.comNFL coaching carousel in full swingAtlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Mike "coach killer and the dynasty" Vick
December 31st, 2012
9:04 pm
This Just in….yeah, just like Vick, always something else to blame. I guess the defense threw all those interceptions. All the people that know a damn thing about the QB position, you excluded, say Vick holds on the ball to long, cannot read a defense, is not a pocket passer.
Bottom line: He stinks and always has. He is a Tebow freak show and it fills seats.
From NFL.com
Foles QB rating this year 79.1 Vick 78.2.
Foles more yds per game, higher completion percentage.
Foles lower interception % 1.9, Vick 2.8
and the Philly brass knew that would happen just like Blank knew if Schaub was given half a chance he would upstage Vick and then they would have a headache. Schaub played few games in a row. Never got a real chance.
bkgutt31
January 1st, 2013
11:49 am
Good take, but forget all that. Here is a GREAT article detailing who your next coach and GM will be. Yes, I’m talking to you Chicago, Phili, SD, Arizona, etc, etc…
http://snip.ps/HereIsYourNextCoachAndGM