The NFL has arrived at Week 18, and while there are still several meaningful games with playoff spots and seeding up for grabs, there are also several teams facing a major decision when it comes to the future of their head coach on Blake Monday.
Josh McDaniels, Frank Reich, and Brandon Staley have all already been shown the door, and there could be upwards of five more coaches entering the unemployment line and hopping on the coaching carousel when Black Monday arrives on Jan. 8.
Here's a breakdown of the five head coaches likely to be given pink slips on Black Monday.
Ron Rivera, Washington Commanders
With a new ownership group in place, in all likelihood a new general manager to be hired, and Washington in all likelihood limping to a 4-13 finish, expect a new course to be plotted in the nation's capital. Rivera is just 26-39-1, entering Sunday's regular season finale, and with new owners coming in seeming urgent to turn the page and hit the reset button on the franchise, the 62-year-old's dismissal feels like a foregone conclusion. Multiple league sources suggest that Rivera only made it to the end of the regular season because the organization did not have a viable interim candidate on staff.
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
This will be Bill Belichick's most disappointing season as a head coach, and could spark a complete turnover at Patriot Place. New England will be armed with potentially a top-three pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, along with upwards of $72.3 million in cap space next season to jump start a rebuild and begin anew. Given everything that Belichick has accomplished, winning six Super Bowls in nine appearances, there's a decent chance that Monday is framed as a mutual "parting of the ways." But, it is difficult to envision owner Robert Kraft seeing the depths that his franchise has fallen to since Tom Brady's departure in 2020 and accepting that Belichick offers the best path back to prominence.
Arthur Smith, Atlanta Falcons
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Atlanta's roster might be flawed, but it is hard to imagine a head coach mismanaging the explosive players at his disposal more than Smith has with rookie sensation running back Bijan Robinson. Perhaps Smith can save his job by beating the New Orleans Saints and ultimately securing the NFC South crown. However, even then, has Smith done enough to take the offense to the next level, with Atlanta entering Week 18 with the league's 18th ranked offense? The Falcons need to figure out their quarterback situation this offseason, above all else, but it is fair to question if Smith and his scheme should be the guide post for Arthur Blank and Co.
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Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears
Justin Fields might have done enough to secure his Chicago future over the past month, but there have still been many moments throughout the season where it has seemed that this coaching staff hasn't the faintest clue how to maximize Fields' best traits. That can't happen. Whether the Bears opt to plot a new course with Caleb Williams or Drake Maye at quarterback or continue building around Fields, there won't be many opportunities where this job will be as attractive as it is at this moment with the Bears owning two top-10 picks in the draft, and $61.5 million in cap space. Whoever is at quarterback, Ryan Poles and the rest of the organization would be wise to add the brightest offensive mind they can find to lead Chicago into its next phase.
Dennis Allen, New Orleans Saints
Despite how wide open the NFC South is, and projects to be for the foreseeable future, it might take a complete overhaul to position the Saints to take advantage. There might not be a quarterback more miscast for his current scheme and the personnel around him than Derrick Carr, who has woefully disappointed in his first season in New Orleans. The Saints are still paying the piper for the big spending during the Sean Payton era, and are currently projected to be $76 million over the cap in 2024, so bringing in a new voice, a new system, and a new scheme might be the quickest avenue towards meaningfully competing in 2024.
