Generally speaking, the Monday after the end of the regular season is when head coaches get fired, hence the “Black Monday” name. Teams would generally prefer to avoid firing their head coaches in-season, no matter how bad things are, because whatever continuity in the building leaves with that move. Of course, you could argue that dysfunctional continuity is less than optimal.
Two teams have lost their head coaches in-season in 2021. There was Jon Gruden’s resignation from the Raiders in October after it was revealed that in his former capacity as an ESPN analysts, Gruden sent e-mails of a repugnant nature on several subjects.
And there was the Jaguars’ decision to fire Urban Meyer last week — a decision that was long overdue, and a decision made by team owner Shad Khan as he was flying back from the owners meetings at which a new rule was endorsed.
This rule allows teams to ask permission from other teams to interview potential replacement head coaches during the last two weeks of the season. It’s a one-year rule at this point, and there’s an interesting poison pill: Only teams who have fired or otherwise lost their coaches in-season are allowed to “pre-interview,” or at least request permission to interview. So, at this point, only the Raiders Jaguars are eligible to get first shot at the guys they may want.
When it comes to replacing your head coach at this point, time is of the essence. If you know you’re going to do it, sooner is the time.
With that in mind, here are four head coaches who could (and should) see early Black Mondays under the new rule.
