# NFL Black Monday 2024 thread
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750
**Category:** The Game Room
**Tags:** football-nfl
**Created:** [January 7, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750 "2024-01-07T22:25:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [January 7, 2024, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/1 "2024-01-07T22:25:17Z")
Riverboat Ron of the Commanders will be the first to set sail late tonight or tomorrow morning.
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/2 "2024-01-08T03:39:33Z")
I assume you mean that he’s going to be the first to get fired. Both your title and OP are pretty unclear on what you mean.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/3 "2024-01-08T06:49:49Z")
Nope.
> **[Falcons fire Smith after another playoff-less year](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39263667/atlanta-falcons-fire-arthur-smith)**
>
> The Falcons on Sunday night fired Arthur Smith, a move that came hours after the team's season-ending 48-17 loss to the Saints. He finished 21-30 in his three seasons with the team.
Seems like they pulled the trigger on the plane.
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### Author:  [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/4 "2024-01-08T13:32:31Z")
And Ron’s gone in D.C.
> **[Rivera fired; ex-GMs to lead Washington overhaul](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39264819/ron-rivera-fired-former-gms-advise-commanders-overhaul)**
>
> The Washington Commanders have dismissed head coach Ron Rivera and hired ex-Golden State Warriors GM Bob Myers and ex-Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman to help in the search for a new head of football operations and head coach, team officials told...
To clarify, this thread is for discussing the annual NFL coaching carousel as many NFL get fired right at the end of the regular season which was yesterday.
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### Author:  [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/5 "2024-01-08T14:46:14Z")
> [@Omniscient](#):
>
> Nope.
>
> [Atlanta Falcons fire Arthur Smith following 7-10 season - ESPN](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39263667/atlanta-falcons-fire-arthur-smith)
>
> Seems like they pulled the trigger on the plane
I suspect Smith’s fate was sealed when the Falcons lost to 1 - 12 Carolina on December 17th. Arthur Blank, the Falcons’ owner, wanted to see if the team could still win the division (the NFC South was truly terrible this year), but when they funked that by losing to the Bears and Saints, Smith was doomed.
Just to recap, the Falcons lost this year to the Panthers, the Bears, the Commanders, and the Titans.
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### Author:  [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/6 "2024-01-08T14:54:53Z")
Not a coach, but Panthers GM Scott Fitterer was [fired](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39264892/panthers-fire-gm-scott-fitterer-following-2-15-season).
Unfortunately, no one can fire their owner.
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### Author:  [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/7 "2024-01-08T19:16:23Z")
There has been massive speculation in Boston sports media for weeks if not months about Bill Belichick’s future with the Patriots. Will he get fired? Will he get traded? Will he accept the loss of GM duties to stay on as head coach? Nobody in the Patriots org has given so much as a wink at a hint about their plans. Now that Black Monday is here, the national sports press is weighing in. Most articles I’ve read so far seem to think he will be gone in one way or another. Several things I’ve seen have indicated that the Falcons are interested in having him as HC.
Whither Bill?
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/8 "2024-01-08T20:08:07Z")
Here is USA Today’s live tracker for Black Monday:
> **[NFL Black Monday live updates: Latest on coaches fired, front-office moves](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2024/01/08/nfl-black-monday-live-news-coach-firings/72148054007/)**
>
> The NFL's annual day of reckoning for coaching staffs and front offices has arrived, with multiple key figures already having been fired.
> [@Superdude](#):
>
> Both your title and OP are pretty unclear on what you mean.
NFL Black Monday has been a standard term for years. It was attributed to a 1998 AP article in this NYT story from 2013:
> **[Black Monday: Now a Ritual Whose Meaning Is Clear (Published 2013)](https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/sports/football/black-monday-now-a-ritual-whose-meaning-is-all-too-clear.html?ref=international)**
>
> Black Monday is the day of reckoning for many N.F.L. coaches whose jobs are in the balance, but it is unclear when the term was first used in a football context.
Hopefully we don’t have to explain every common sports phrase in this forum.
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### Author:  [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/9 "2024-01-08T20:29:49Z")
Yeah, god forbid someone not be aware of one goddamn term. It was one term I wasn’t familiar with.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/10 "2024-01-08T21:25:42Z")
Maybe you could have asked a question instead of throwing shade at the OP?
As everyone has said, NFL regulars were completely up to speed with the point of the thread from the outset. The lingo here isn’t exactly obscure.
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### Author:  [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/11 "2024-01-08T21:29:03Z")
As a very very casual follower of sports, I had never heard the term before but it was completely obvious to me from context.
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### Author:  [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/12 "2024-01-08T21:56:57Z")
> [@hajario](#):
>
> As a very very casual follower of sports, I had never heard the term before but it was completely obvious to me from context
Ditto. Although driving into work today, I was listening to the talking heads discussing the firing of Arthur Smith, so I already had the topic on my mind.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/13 "2024-01-08T22:34:51Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#):
>
> There has been massive speculation in Boston sports media for weeks if not months about Bill Belichick’s future with the Patriots. Will he get fired? Will he get traded? Will he accept the loss of GM duties to stay on as head coach?
I’m not dialed into the Boston rumor mill, but just looking at it from the outside, I think the Pats would be insane to cut ties with him. He obviously wants that record, and I have to think Kraft and co. would also enjoy having Bill lock up that unassailable record in New England.
I saw this earlier today.
> **[Bill Belichick indicates he would be willing to relinquish some personnel...](https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/01/08/sports/bill-belichick-patriots-gm/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CI%20have%20multiple%20roles%20in,m%20only%20part%20of%20it.%E2%80%9D)**
>
> Belichick spoke Monday as if he will remain coach, noting he is still under contract. He would not say whether he’s received indications from ownership that his job is in jeopardy.
> “I’m for whatever, collectively, we decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team,” Belichick said. “I have multiple roles in [the personnel department], and I rely on a lot of people to help me in those responsibilities. If somebody’s got to have the final say, I rely on a lot of other people to help. And, however that process is, I’m only part of it.”
There’s 2 ways to interpret this for me.
1. The “Bill is a terrible GM” trope has been overplayed. He may have final say, or veto power, but he’s got a staff of people doing all the same GM stuff that other clubs have. It’s more a question of titles than it is of a guy hoarding power and being overtaxed trying to do two jobs.
2. Bill is throwing the Krafts an olive branch to try to save his job. Bill the GM is willing to get fired to save Bill the Head Coach’s job.
The cynic in me says it’s mostly the latter. But I think the former is a perfectly rational read. Maybe they hire a proper GM just to quell the media and to maximize this draft while hanging onto Bill for a couple more seasons. Mac Jones is terrible and they looked like a pretty competent team with Zappe. Dude can still coach. But damn, he cannot hire coaches.
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### Author:  [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/14 "2024-01-08T23:20:18Z")
I think a trade is the most likely outcome. His value to another team is greater than his value to the Patriots, so I think they’ll try to parlay that value into some good players.
Belichick’s statement today sounds like typical meaningless sports talk. If it does have any actual meaning, I’d go with option 3: I’m available for a hire as a coach only; I won’t demand GM responsibilities too.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/15 "2024-01-08T23:39:09Z")
> [@TroutMan](#):
>
> I think a trade is the most likely outcome. His value to another team is greater than his value to the Patriots, so I think they’ll try to parlay that value into some good players.
I originally thought so, but I no longer buy into this line of thinking. Bill is 71. Even if he returns to greatness, he probably only has 3-4 seasons left in him. I can’t imagine a team giving away anything meaningful for the chance to have Bill for a short time. Maybe it’ll be a token trade of a day 3 pick or something.
> [@TroutMan](#):
>
> If it does have any actual meaning, I’d go with option 3: I’m available for a hire as a coach only; I won’t demand GM responsibilities too.
That is definitely a possible option. Maybe call it option 2a.
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### Author:  [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2024, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/16 "2024-01-08T23:44:57Z")
> [@Omniscient](#):
>
> I can’t imagine a team giving away anything meaningful for the chance to have Bill for a short time. Maybe it’ll be a token trade of a day 3 pick or something.
You could be right on this. I think the Pats are _trying_ for a trade - if they just wanted to get rid of him, he’d already be gone. And if they knew they were sticking with him, they’d make some statement that “Bill is our man.”
But as you suggest, they might be finding out there isn’t as much market for him as they hoped.
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### Author:  [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2024, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/17 "2024-01-09T07:06:17Z")
Couple coordinators are getting shown the door.
> **[Jags fire defensive coordinator Caldwell, others](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39268739/jaguars-fire-defensive-coordinator-mike-caldwell-assistants)**
>
> Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson fired defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell and multiple defensive assistants Monday, the team announced.
> **[Source: Wink Martindale to resign as Giants DC](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39267258/source-wink-martindale-resigns-giants-defensive-coordinator)**
>
> Wink Martindale is expected to resign as the Giants' defensive coordinator, a source told ESPN.
Just for the sake of completeness in the thread we have a few mid-season firings to include.
> **[Reich fired by Panthers after 11 games: 'It hurts'](https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/38991151/carolina-panthers-fire-head-coach-frank-reich)**
>
> The Panthers have fired coach Frank Reich after just 11 games, in which Carolina was an NFL-worst 1-10. Chris Tabor has been named the interim coach.
> **[Raiders fire head coach Josh McDaniels, general manager David Ziegler](https://www.nfl.com/news/raiders-fire-head-coach-josh-mcdaniels-general-manager-david-ziegler)**
>
> The Las Vegas Raiders have fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler, the team announced on Tuesday night. The Raiders later named Antonio Pierce as interim head coach and Champ Kelly as interim general manager.
> **[Chargers fire coach Brandon Staley, general manager Tom Telesco in midst of...](https://apnews.com/article/chargers-staley-fired-31e9c0d0a52ea7903bdf0d8fccdcdaec)**
>
> The Los Angeles Chargers have fired Coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco after one of the worst losses in franchise history.
Antonio Pierce is probably the only interim coach getting a serious look to keep the position going forward.
And one more weird one.
> **[Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams resigned over inappropriate...](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/bears-defensive-coordinator-alan-williams-resigned-over-inappropriate-activity-per-report/)**
>
> Williams said he was leaving to address his health and family
The Bears went without a DC all season, with Eberflus running the defense, but are certainly going to look to fill that position whether Eberflus returns or not.
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### Author:  [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2024, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/18 "2024-01-09T17:37:08Z")
The funny thing about Belichek is that if he were even a little bit likeable there would be no talk of him being gone. To the fans, at least, a coach that wins 6 Super Bowls would be able to leave on his own terms. Belichek, however, has cultivated this Darth Hoodie persona for 2 decades. So, after a couple of mediocre/bad seasons the attitude is “don’t let the door hit you on the way out”.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2024, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/19 "2024-01-09T17:55:52Z")
Vrabel out in Tennessee. Bit of a head scratcher, that one. I mean yeah, they didn’t have a good season, but he’s consistently done the best he could with what he had, and even overachieved most years. Someone else is going to get a really good head coach.
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### Author:  [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)
#### Post date: [January 9, 2024, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-black-monday-2024-thread/995750/20 "2024-01-09T17:57:28Z")
Well, I still have my hopes that the Bears will part ways with Eberflus, but his strong finish probably saved his job. He’s a poor head coach and has made some very bad decisions. He was completely outcoached by the Packers’ staff this past Sunday and is responsible for 3 of our losses.
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