NFL Black Monday 2018: Coaches on Hot Seat Rumors and Firing News

There are 12 teams that are preparing to make a long run in the NFL postseason. Only two will make it all the way to Super Bowl LII in Minneapolis, Minnesota, February 4.

That means 20 teams did not make it to the postseason, and the conclusion of the 2017 regular season is also the start of preparation for the 2018 season.

Teams will make a plethora of changes in the offseason, and it begins with coaching moves for many of them. Several head coaches will learn their fate on Black Monday. In some cases, rumors may be scotched and a coach or two may hold onto his job.

Second-year head coach Ben McAdoo was fired by the New York Giants as they got a jump on the process following his benching of veteran quarterback Eli Manning. The Giants also let general manager Jerry Reese go, and they replaced him with Dave Gettleman earlier this week.

Gettleman has to rebuild the Giants, and his most obvious assignment is to find a new head coach. Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was reported to be a top candidate by ESPN insider Adam Schefter.

Schwartz is the former head coach of the Detroit Lions.

Jim Caldwell replaced Schwartz, and he has been the head coach of the Lions since the 2014 season. He is likely to be fired after the Lions failed to make the playoffs this season, according Ian Rapoport of NFL.com. New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia has been mentioned as a top candidate for the position.

Chicago Bears head coach John Fox has been rumored to be on the hot seat for several weeks. The Bears have suffered double-digit losses in each of his three seasons with the team, and it would be a shock if Fox did not get his pink slip.

Longtime Bears beat writer Bob LeGere of the Daily Herald listed Josh McDaniels of the New England Patriots, Matt LaFleur of the Los Angeles Rams and Frank Reich of the Philadelphia Eagles as the top candidates that general manager Ryan Pace would pursue.

McDaniels, LaFleur and Reich are all offensive coordinators, and they would be charged with the continued development of rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky if any are hired by Chicago.

Indianapolis head coach Chuck Pagano was fired shortly after the Indianapolis Colts closed their season with a 22-13 victory over the Houston Texans. Pagano's firing was first reported by NFL insider Ian Rapoport.

Pagano had been in a similar position last year, but he was able to convince owner Jim Irsay to let him remain on the job. He could not do the same thing this year.

The Oakland Raiders have had a disappointing season after many expected them to challenge the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers for AFC superiority. Instead the Raiders had a losing record, and head coach Jack Del Rio was fired (per Schefter) after his team's loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in the regular-season finale.

Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported that the Raiders are interested in bringing in ESPN analyst and former Oakland head coach Jon Gruden as the team's new head coach, and possibly giving him a ownership stake in the team.

Marvin Lewis, who has has been the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals since the 2003 season and has brought his team to the playoffs seven times, is likely to leave the team. Schefter reported on December 17, but Lewis has not confirmed those rumors.

If that is the case, Lewis will be going out under dramatic circumstances. His Bengals pulled out a last-minute victory over the Baltimore Ravens, and that win knocked the Ravens out of the playoffs.

Veteran head coach Bruce Arians may be retiring from his position as well. Arians, 65, has been coaching the Arizona Cardinals since the 2013 season. Hub Arkush of Pro Football Weekly reported that Arians would step away from the team at the end of the season.

Arians denied those reports, according to the Washington Post.