2025 NFL Black Monday Tracker: Coaches fired and changes

Now that the 2024 NFL regular season has ended, the coaching carousel is in full spin.

Let’s take a look at who’s staying and who’s going, and for those teams with vacancies across the league, who they have their eyes on early in the process.

Hirings

Atlanta Falcons (DC)

• Jeff Ulbrich is heading to Atlanta to become the Falcons’ defensive coordinator. Ulbrich served as the Jets’ defensive coordinator for much of the past four seasons, then became their interim head coach when Robert Saleh was fired in October. New York went 3-9 with Ulbrich in charge, but that came after he helped coordinate one of the league’s best defenses over the past four seasons. The Jets finished third in total defense in 2024, marking the third straight season they had a top-five defense. The Falcons fired defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake after his first season, in which Atlanta ranked 23rd in yards and points allowed.

Chicago Bears (HC, OC, DC)

• Ben Johnson is officially the next head coach of the Chicago Bears. The Lions offensive coordinator has become a coaching commodity over the last couple of years because of his work in Detroit, transforming his unit to one of the best in the league after his promotion in 2022. He also helped revive Jared Goff’s career, helping him become a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback again, as he was among the league’s top passers in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Now, Johnson will look to do the same with Caleb Williams, who the Bears took with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams’ rookie season didn’t go the way the Bears would’ve liked, stumbling down the stretch after a 4-2 start to finish the year 5-12. They fired Matt Eberflus a day after their Thanksgiving Day loss to the Lions.
• Ben Johnson wasted little time in starting to build out his staff. The Bears reportedly are hiring former Saints head coach Dennis Allen as defensive coordinator. And on the other side of the ball, Broncos TE coach Declan Doyle has been tapped as Chicago’s new offensive coordinator.

Cincinnati Bengals (DC, OL)

• Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden is heading to the pros, accepting an offer to become the Bengals’ defensive coordinator, NFL Media reported. Golden has served as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator for the last three seasons, helping the Fighting Irish hold one of the best defensive units in the country over that span and reach the national championship game in 2024. Golden was the Bengals’ linebackers coach for two seasons prior to that, working on their staff in their run to the Super Bowl in 2021. He was also the head coach of Temple and Miami (Fla.) in the past. He’ll take over for former defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who was let go at the end of the 2024 season after the Bengals finished 25th in total offense.
• Former Patriots offensive line coach Scott Peters has been hired for the same role with the Bengals, the team announced. The Bengals also hired Michael McCarthy to be their assistant offensive line coach. Peters, who also worked as the Browns’ assistant offensive line coach, will work to fix a Bengals front that struggled to protect Joe Burrow in 2024. The starting QB was sacked 48 times, as the team gave up the fourth-most sacks in the league. As a result, former offensive line coach Frank Pollack was let go at the end of the season.

Cleveland Browns (OC, OL)

• The Browns are promoting Tommy Rees to offensive coordinator, the team announced on Jan. 15. Rees, 32, has quickly risen up the coaching ranks over the last few years. Before serving as the Browns’ pass game specialist and tight ends coach in 2024, he was Alabama’s offensive coordinator in 2023 and Notre Dame’s offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach for three seasons (2020-23).
• The Browns have hired Mike Bloomgren as the new offensive line coach, the team announced on Jan. 8. Bloomgren first coached in the NFL in 2007, joining the Jets as an offensive quality control coach for two seasons. He then moved into an offensive assistant role in 2009 and, in 2010, served as an assistant offensive coordinator. Bloomgren is returning to the NFL after a lengthy stint in the collegiate ranks from 2011-2024 at Stanford and Rice.

Dallas Cowboys (HC) 

• The Cowboys promoted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who is now their 10th head coach in franchise history. The team did not have many formal interviews in its search to replace Mike McCarthy, with former Jets head coach Robert Saleh, Seahawks assistant head coach/former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier and Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore as its other confirmed interviews. Jerry Jones also spoke to Colorado head coach Deion Sanders and recently hired Raiders head coach Pete Carroll on an informal basis.

Detroit Lions (DC)

• The Lions are promoting linebackers coach Kelvin Sheppard to defensive coordinator, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Sheppard, 37, had been Detroit’s linebackers coach since 2022 and was its outside linebackers coach in 2021. The defensive coordinator position became vacant for the Lions when Aaron Glenn left to become the head coach of the Jets. Sheppard played linebacker in the NFL from 2011-18.

Indianapolis Colts (DC)

• The Colts are hiring Lou Anarumo to be their next defensive coordinator, NFL Media reported. Anarumo, a long-time defensive assistant, spent the last six seasons as the Bengals’ defensive coordinator. He helped Cincinnati reach the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC Championship Game in 2022, earning him some head coaching buzz as the unit shined. But after the Bengals finished 25th in total defense in 2024, the team fired him. But Anarumo found another defensive coordinator gig just two weeks later, replacing Gus Bradley. The Colts’ defense finished 29th in yards allowed this past season.

Jacksonville Jaguars (HC)

• Liam Coen will be the next head coach of the Jaguars after several twists and turns. The Bucs OC had agreed to re-up with Tampa for the 2025 season, opting to pull out of consideration for the Jaguars’ opening, ESPN reported Wednesday. However, Coen was soon back in the mix for the Jacksonville job, one day after the team parted ways with GM Trent Baalke. Coen was team owner Shad Khan’s “favorite” candidate and the Jags did “everything they can to get him to reconsider,” according to FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz. The team interviewed 10 candidates, including former Jets coach Robert Saleh and Raiders DC Patrick Graham.

Las Vegas Raiders (HC, GM)

• The Las Vegas Raiders have reached an agreement with former Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll to become the team’s next head coach. ESPN was the first to report Friday that a three-year deal with a fourth-year team option had been struck with the Super Bowl-winning coach. According to earlier reports, the Raiders were eyeing Carroll as the replacement for recently fired Antonio Pierce, after a failed first year at the helm. The 73-year-old Carroll boasts a national championship title with USC at the college ranks as well as a Super Bowl with the Seahawks. He stepped down as head coach in Seattle in January 2024 and moved to an advisor role. Others who interviewed for the opening include now-Bears coach Ben Johnson, former Jets head coach Robert Saleh and Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph.
• The Raiders hired Buccaneers assistant general manager John Spytek to be the team’s next general manager, ESPN first reported. Spytek notably has a pair of connections to Raiders minority owner Tom Brady. The two were teammates at Michigan in 1999, where Spytek was a walk-on linebacker. Over two decades later, Brady and Spytek reunited when the quarterback signed with the Buccaneers. Spytek was in his fifth season as the Buccaneers’ director of player personnel when Brady signed in 2020. He was promoted to vice president of player personnel in 2021 before receiving another promotion to assistant general manager in 2023. He replaces Tom Telesco, who was fired after one season after the Raiders went 4-13. Chargers assistant general manager Chad Alexander, Giants assistant general manager Brandon Brown and Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark were among the other candidates for the job.

New England Patriots (HC, OC, DC)

• Mike Vrabel is returning to the Patriots, the same franchise he won three Super Bowls with as a player in the 2000s. Vrabel has been hired as New England’s next head coach, replacing Jerod Mayo. Ben Johnson, Pep Hamilton and Byron Leftwich were also interviewed for the job. This will be Vrabel’s second time as a head coach after he spent six seasons with the Titans from 2018-23. FOX Sports analyst Rob Gronkowski said his former teammate “is going to keep everyone accountable” in New England.

• Josh McDaniels is also returning to New England, but in a role that he’s already held on multiple occasions. McDaniels will be the Patriots’ offensive coordinator again, FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz reported. This marks the third time that McDaniels will serve as the Patriots’ offensive playcaller, enjoying two previously successful stints. He helped Tom Brady set multiple passing records en route to the Patriots’ perfect regular season in 2007. After leaving to become the Broncos’ head coach in 2009, McDaniels re-joined the Patriots as their offensive coordinator again in 2012. He helped New England win three Super Bowls in his second stint, but it was his work with Mac Jones in 2021 that led the Raiders to hire him as their head coach in 2022. Now, the Patriots will hope that McDaniels can help elevate Drake Maye in his second season and beyond.
• Terrell Williams will reunite with Vrabel on the Patriots’ coaching staff. The Lions defensive line coach and run game coordinator will become the Patriots’ defensive coordinator, ESPN reported. Williams previously coached under Vrabel when they were with the Titans, serving as Vrabel’s defensive line coach in all six seasons they were together. Williams will replace DeMarcus Covington as the Patriots’ defensive coordinator. New England’s defensive unit fell from being top-10 in yards allowed to 23rd in 2024.

New York Jets (HC, GM) 

• The Jets are bringing back Aaron Glenn, this time as their new head coach. Glenn was a first-round draft pick of the Jets in 1994 and played eight of his 15 NFL seasons there before transitioning to coaching. He served as a scout for two seasons with New York, then moved on to coaching stints with the Browns, Saints and Lions. Glenn had been the defensive coordinator in Detroit since 2021, with the Lions coming off back-to-back NFC North titles. The Jets interviewed 16 candidates for head coach, including their former HC Rex Ryan, Vikings DC Brian Flores and Chiefs OC Matt Nagy.
• New York is hiring Broncos assistant general manager Darren Mougey to be its next general manager, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. Mougey, 39, had been Denver’s assistant general manager since 2022 and part of its front office since 2012. This will be his first NFL general manager gig. The Jets interviewed 15 candidates for the position, including Packers vice president of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan, Commanders assistant general manager Lance Newmark and Lions special assistant to the president, CEO & chairperson Chris Spielman.

San Francisco 49ers (OC, DC)

• The 49ers will promote Klay Kubiak from offensive passing game specialist to offensive coordinator, Kyle Shanahan said at his end-of-season press conference. Kubiak will be the first official offensive coordinator under Shanahan since Mike McDaniel in 2021, though Shanahan will still call plays.
• San Francisco is bringing back Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator. The former Jets head coach, who was let go after three-plus seasons in New York, started 2-3 and was fired on Oct. 8. Saleh spent the rest of the season as a consultant in Green Bay. In his first stint with the 49ers, Saleh helped the team make the Super Bowl, a 31-20 loss to Pat Mahomes and the Chiefs. He’s replacing Nick Sorensen, who was fired as DC after one season, as the Niners finished 6-11.

Seattle Seahawks (OC)

• Klint Kubiak has been hired to be the team’s next offensive coordinator, the Seahawks announced. Kubiak previously served as the Saints’ offensive coordinator, helping New Orleans’ offense get off to a good start in the 2024 season before a string of injuries hampered its offense. The Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb after one season on Jan. 6. Seattle’s offense ranked 14th in yards and 18th in scoring during the season, but had some struggles in the season’s homestretch. The Seahawks also ranked 28th in rushing.

Tennessee Titans (GM, ST)

• Tennessee is hiring Kansas City assistant general manager Mike Borgonzi to be its next general manager, the team announced. Borgonzi had been with the Chiefs since 2009, serving as administrator of college scouting, manager of football operations, a pro scout, assistant director of pro scouting, director of player personnel and director of football operations before becoming assistant general manager in 2021. The Titans fired general manager Ran Carthon after two seasons last week. Borgonzi will team up with soon-to-be second-year Titans head coach Brian Callahan. Other candidates who interviewed for the job include Browns assistant GM Catherine Hickman, Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray and Packers VP of player personnel Jon-Eric Sullivan.
• The Titans are bringing on longtime NFL special teams coordinator John “Bones” Fassel to try to fix their unit, according to FOX Sports NFL insider Jordan Schultz. Fassel, who had been with the Cowboys since 2020, was allowed to explore other opportunities once Dallas parted ways with Mike McCarthy.

Extensions

Minnesota Vikings (HC)

• Any conversations of the Vikings trading Kevin O’Connell can be put to rest. O’Connell and the Vikings have agreed to an extension, the team announced. O’Connell was set to head into the final season of his contract in 2025, leading to some speculation that teams would inquire the Vikings about possibly trading for him this offseason. But Minnesota quickly moved to extend O’Connell after a 14-3 season, making him the favorite to win Coach of the Year. O’Connell has gone 34-17 in his three seasons as Vikings coach, leading them to the playoffs twice. They lost to the Rams in the opening round of this year’s postseason. Additionally, the Vikings have begun extension talks with general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, NFL Media reported.

Firings

Carolina Panthers (S, OLB, QC)

• The Panthers fired a few assistant coaches after surrendering 534 points, the most in a 17-game season. Safeties coach Bert Watts, outside linebackers coach Tem Lukabu and quality control coach Bobby Maffei are all out, while defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will remain.

Denver Broncos (ST)

• The Broncos fired special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica on Jan. 17. Kotwica spent two years on Sean Payton’s staff only to see his tenure blemished by a breakdown in Week 10 that cost the team a vital victory at K.C.

Green Bay Packers (DL)

• The Packers fired Jason Rebrovich, 46, as defensive line coach less than a week after their loss to Philadelphia in the NFC wild-card playoff round. He spent three seasons working on Matt LaFleur’s Green Bay staff — the outside linebackers coach in 2022, a pass rush specialist in 2023 and defensive line coach this season.

Houston Texans (President, OC, OL)

• The Texans are moving on from offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik after an up-and-down season. Offensive line coach Chris Strausser is also out.
• Houston fired president Greg Grissom, NFL Network reported on Jan. 23. Grissom had been Houston’s president since March 2021, overseeing the management and direction of business operations. The Texans are coming off their second consecutive divisional-round playoff loss.

Jacksonville Jaguars (GM)

• The Jaguars have parted ways with general manager Trent Baalke, making the decision amid the team’s process to find their next head coach, the team announced. “Following several discussions with Trent Baalke this week, we both arrived at the conclusion that it is in our mutual best interests to respectfully separate, effective immediately,” Jaguars owner Shad Khan wrote in a statement. “Trent leaves us with my deepest appreciation for his efforts over the past five seasons. Ethan Waugh will serve as interim general manager and play an important role, with others, as we continue the process of interviewing candidates to serve as our new head coach. I am deeply committed to building a winner here in Jacksonville and look forward to introducing a new head coach who will make that happen for our players and fans alike.”Jacksonville missed the postseason in four of Baalke’s five seasons with the team. The Jaguars were set to interview offensive coordinator Liam Coen for their head coach vacancy a second time on Wednesday, but he pulled out of consideration earlier in the day. After Baalke’s exit, Coen re-emerged as a candidate, per NFL Media.

Miami Dolphins (ST, WR)

• The Dolphins have fired special teams coordinator Danny Crossman and wide receivers coach/pass game specialist Wes Welker. Miami’s special teams unit ranked near the bottom of the league the past three seasons and was heavily penalized in 2024. Welker, a 12-year NFL wide receiver, was hired in 2022 and helped the Dolphins to one of the best passing offenses in the league his first two seasons. Miami’s passing attack took a step back in 2024.

New Orleans Saints (HC)

• The Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen after two-plus seasons on Nov. 4. New Orleans went 18-25 during Allen’s tenure, losing seven straight games to fall to 2-7 before parting ways with its head coach. Saints assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi is serving as the interim coach.

Staying put

Carolina Panthers (DC)

• Head coach Dave Canales said defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero will return next season. Carolina’s defense allowed 31.4 points per game, the sixth-most in league history.

Cleveland Browns (HC, GM)

• Despite finishing last in the AFC North, the Browns are expected to bring back both head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, according to ESPN. Stefanski, a two-time AP Coach of the Year, has brought the Browns to the playoffs twice in his five seasons in Cleveland.

Indianapolis Colts (HC, GM)

• The Colts closed out their season with an overtime win against the Jaguars, finishing with an 8-9 record and missing out on the playoffs for the fourth straight year. Soon after, team owner Jim Irsay affirmed his commitment to head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard. Both will be back next season.

Miami Dolphins (HC, GM)

• The Dolphins will be running it back with their head coach and general manager following a disappointing 8-9 season. Head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier will remain in their roles for the 2025 season, the team announced on Jan. 5.

New York Giants (HC, GM)

• The Giants announced that head coach Brian Daboll and GM Joe Schoen would return for the 2025 season.

Head coach interviews

New Orleans Saints 

• Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore (interviewed)
• Bills offensive coordinator Joe Brady (declined second interview)
• Former Stanford coach/Broncos senior personnel exec David Shaw (interview requested)
• Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn (interviewed)
• Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka (interviewed)
• Broncos QBs coach Davis Webb (interview requested)
• Saints interim coach Darren Rizzi (interviewed)
• Former Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy (will interview)

Coordinator interviews

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OC)

• Vikings assistant offensive coordinator Grant Udinski (interviewed)
• Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady (interviewed)

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]