NFL Black Monday 2023: Coaches on Hot Seat, Rumors and Firing News
The final Sunday of the NFL season often comes with the elation of teams making the playoffs and jockeying for position. The following Monday often comes with a flurry of coaches who will be updating their resumes.
Black Monday in the league generally serves as a reminder that expectations in the NFL are high and most coaches don't get to leave on their own terms.
With the season officially done for teams that didn't make the playoffs, there are plenty of owners and front offices that are going to be thinking about making a move and getting a coaching search started.
Some teams couldn't even wait that long. The Carolina Panthers, Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos all fired their coaches during the season. It's unlikely they will be the only ones looking for the next leader who could turn their franchise.
Here's a look at the latest buzz surrounding coaches on the hot seat and the people who may be replacing them.
Arizona Cardinals Gathering Information on Head Coaching Candidates
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It's been an uncomfortable season for the Arizona Cardinals. Regardless of whether Kliff Kingsbury is retained as head coach there are going to be more uncomfortable conversations before things get better.
That's because the Cardinals have reportedly not made a decision on Kingsbury's fate, but they have done due diligence on potential candidates and how a search for a new head coach would operate, per Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Media.
The Cardinals are in a bit of a unique situation. They just signed general manager Steve Keim and Kingsbury to contract extensions through 2027 before extending Kyler Murray's contract to 2028.
Keim is on health-related leave, but Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reported his role with the team moving forward is "in the air." He also noted the Cardinals could opt to promote Quentin Harris and Adrian Wilson to co-general managers.
Considering all of the front-office transition, it would make sense the Cardinals have to figure out how to even approach a coaching search before they decide if they want to go that route.
Both the report from Breer and NFL Media mention Vance Joseph as a name to watch if they decide to let Kingsbury go. He was the head coach with the Denver Broncos in 2017 and 2018 with a record of 11-21 but has served as the defensive coordinator with the Cardinals since.
The Cards started the 2021 season 10-2. Since then, they've gone 5-18 and went just 1-8 at home this year.
Carolina Panthers Interviewing Frank Reich and Jim Caldwell
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The Carolina Panthers were the first team to make a change at the top of their coaching staff this season. They fired Matt Rhule in October after a 1-4 start.
Considering how poorly they were playing at the beginning of the season and the constant revolving door of quarterbacks that included Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold and P.J. Walker, Steve Wilks has done a good job as the interim coach, helping them finish the season 7-10.
However, that's not good enough to just hand Wilks the job. The Panthers' search is going to need to include outside candidates. Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported that two of those names are Frank Reich and Jim Caldwell.
Reich is an interesting candidate because he's also one of the coaches who was fired in this cycle. Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay relieved the 61-year-old of his duties in November and hired Jeff Saturday to serve as the interim coach.
It wouldn't be surprising to see Reich get another crack at being a head coach. He went 40-33-1 with the Colts, including two playoff appearances. That's not a bad mark considering he did it with a different starting quarterback in each of his five seasons at the helm.
Caldwell has been out of the league since 2019 but has a 62-50 record with head coaching stints in Indianapolis and Detroit. He led the Colts to an AFC championship in 2009 after taking over for Tony Dungy.
Rhule's rough transition from college to the NFL seems to be pushing the Panthers toward more experienced candidates.
Denver Broncos Search Will Include Sean Payton and Jim Harbaugh
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The Denver Broncos couldn't wait until Black Monday to hand Nathaniel Hackett a pink slip. They fired their first-year head coach after the 51-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Christmas Day.
One advantage of choosing to fire a head coach early is that teams can get a jump-start on finding a replacement. It would appear the Broncos have done just that, and they are now targeting some big names.
Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero of NFL Media reported they have sought, and received, permission to talk with Sean Payton about their vacancy. Part of the conversation between the two franchises includes a discussion on trade compensation.
The pair of NFL Network reporters noted the teams are "on the same page" regarding a trade. Any team hoping to land Payton will have to trade with the Saints as he's still under contract in New Orleans.
University of Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh has also been linked to the job by Rapoport and Pelissero. The 59-year-old guided the Wolverines to the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive season, losing to TCU in the semifinals.
While many coaches who attempt to transition from college to the pros have trouble finding success, Harbaugh has a proven NFL track record. The 49ers were 44-19-1 with a Super Bowl appearance under his charge.
Either option would be an experienced head coach with demonstrable success. That would be a welcomed change after Hackett struggled to succeed at much of the in-game management that comes with the role.
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Houston Texans Move on from Lovie Smith
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Lovie Smith took over the mantle of Houston Texans head coach after watching the organization fire his former boss, David Culley, after just one year. Now, he's experienced the same fate.
Smith made a last-ditch audition to keep his job after beating the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, but all it did was lose the No. 1 pick for the team.
Houston finished the season 3-13-1, a half-game worse than their record last year when Culley was head coach and Smith was defensive coordinator. Now, they'll be looking for a fourth coach in as many years, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.
The Texans have been a struggling team for three seasons. In the three years since firing Bill O'Brien, they are just 11-34-1.
The cupboard isn't bare for their next coach, though. The Deshaun Watson trade this offseason leaves them with additional first-round picks in the 2023 and 2024 drafts. They are also projected to have the eighth-most available cap space in the offseason.
Although they lost the No. 1 pick, they are still in a position to draft a quarterback. Ohio State's C.J. Stroud and Alabama's Bryce Young are considered to be the top two options, and at least one of them will still be available when they get on the clock in April.
There's untapped potential for the right candidate.
Sean McVay Undecided on Los Angeles Rams Coaching Future
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While many coaches are left hoping they still have a job in the week following the regular season, the Los Angeles Rams Sean McVay isn't sure he wants his.
The 36-year-old is just one season removed from winning the Super Bowl, but it isn't a lock that he'll be back on the sideline next season. Adam Schefter of ESPN reported he has gone "back-and-forth" on his plans for 2023.
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports added more context, reporting there are people within the Rams organization who would be more surprised if he decided to return than retire.
McVay was at the center of retirement rumors last season. Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported various networks would be interested in the Rams coach and be willing to pay him $10 million.
Ostensibly, those opportunities would still be there after this season.
Retirement would be somewhat shocking due to his age. But when you consider the amount of work that goes into rising up the ranks as quickly as he did to become a 30-year-old head coach in the NFL, combined with the number of hours and the stress it takes to guide a team to the Super Bowl, it makes sense that McVay may be looking for some respite.
If the 2017 Coach of the Year decides to hang it up, he will be in the same situation Sean Payton finds himself. He would be a hot commodity if he decides to return, but the Rams have some say over where he could coach. He is under contract through 2026.
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