Wednesday, October 21, 2026

NFL Black Monday Begins With Giants Stunner; Pederson Out

The Giants will keep their GM and head coaching combo together despite a 3–14 season, while Jacksonville fired a former Super Bowl winner.

Jan 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll on the sidelines against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

With 14 teams headed to the NFL playoffs, the other 18 are looking to 2025. The Jets, Bears, and Saints fired their head coaches in season, and two more let their coaches go after 17 games. This post will be updated as news breaks on the NFL’s annual Black Monday; it was most recently updated at 3:39 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

Black Tuesday

In a bizarre series of events, the Raiders fired Antonio Pierce on Tuesday—the day after letting him hold his season-ending news conference. Pierce was asked about his status on Monday and told reporters that “I haven’t been told anything different.” The Raiders went 4–13 in what turned out to be Pierce’s sole season as head coach.

Along with Jerod Mayo, Pierce is one of two Black coaches who was fired after just a single season in charge. How NFL teams handle their openings this winter will be closely monitored, especially after the Titans fired GM Ran Carthon on Tuesday after two seasons. Carthon was among a record-high 11 minority GMs in the league this past season.

Giants Stay the Course

The Giants need a massive overhaul after winning nine games over the last two seasons. On Monday, owner John Mara announced both general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll will return for the 2025 season. 

Mara addressed reporters Monday and called finding “our quarterback of the future” the team’s “No. 1 priority.” He declined to give a timeline for improvement in relation to Daboll’s and Schoen’s job security. 

“It better not take too long, because I’ve just about run out of patience,” Mara said. 

Daboll is 18–32 in three seasons as head coach with a playoff berth and win both coming in his first season. The team released starting quarterback Daniel Jones midway through the season despite signing him to a four-year, $160 million contract extension in 2023. New York will pick third overall in the 2025 NFL Draft. 

Pederson, Mayo Fired 

The Jaguars fired coach Doug Pederson after three seasons Monday morning. Pederson won Super Bowl LII as head coach of the Eagles, but he has struggled to capture playoff success since. The Jaguars went just 3–14 this season after owner Shad Khan called the roster the “best team assembled” in franchise history. 

Similarly to Daboll, Pederson had just one playoff appearance in three seasons with a young quarterback and just a 22–29 record. The Jaguars have lost 18 of their past 23 games. Surprisingly, the team did not fire general manager Trent Baalke, who was named interim GM in November 2020 and retained the full-time position months later. Baalke had also survived a power struggle with Jim Harbaugh in San Francisco.

New England had earlier fired Jerod Mayo on Sunday night after one season.

This Cycle’s Hot Coordinators 

A number of teams have already put in interview requests for their current openings. The Jets requested interviews with Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores and quarterbacks coach Josh McCown, according to ESPN. McCown played for the team from 2017 to 2018. ESPN also reported the team requested interviews with 49ers quarterbacks coach Brian Griese, Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, and Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. The Jets were also one of three teams to request an interview with Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, along with the Bears and Saints. 

For their general manager opening, ESPN reported the Jets have requested interviews with Rams senior personnel executive Ray Farmer, Buccaneers assistant GM Mike Greenberg—a Long Island native and childhood Jets fan—and Chiefs assistant GM Mike Borgonzi. 

More Firings?

There has been no word on Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, who went 7–10 after losing quarterback Dak Prescott to injury halfway through the season. 

According to ESPN, the Seahawks fired offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb while the Bengals fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, both after one season. 

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

NFL Says There Will be ‘Heightened’ Security at Paris Game

The Saints and Steelers are set to play amid civil unrest.

Netflix Releases Q3 Earnings, Preps Big Q4 for Sports

The streaming giant tried to put a hopeful spin on staff cuts.

Adam Silver on LeBron Helicopter: ‘Perfectly Appropriate’

A source tells FOS the league is not investigating the matter.

NFL, Eagles Defend Handling of Jalen Hurts’s Blood Clots

The QB was examined at Cleveland Clinic in London.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/20/26 – Knicks’ $4K Opener, Brewers’ $2,800 World Series, Colts Call Peyton?

0:00

Featured Today

Why Europe Is Pumping Out NBA Superstars

The NBA and NCAA have an increasingly European flavor.
October 15, 2026

College Flag Football Is Outgrowing Its DIY Era

Women have been building the college game themselves at the club level.
Oct 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas arrives at the arena before the Penguins host the Winnipeg Jets at PPG Paints Arena
October 12, 2026

NHL’s New Wave of GMs Is Built Different

“I am in the prediction business,” Devils GM Sunny Mehta tells FOS.
Action Images/Peter Cziborra
October 9, 2026

Is Leicester City’s $264 Million Price Tag Too Rich for Hungry Investors?

After falling from grace, how much is a former top club worth?
Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
October 7, 2026

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Blake Griffin Front Office Sports

Blake Griffin: Clippers Haven’t Honored ‘Lob City’ Team

Griffin said the Clippers releasing Chris Paul was “disappointing.”
Soccer Football - Spain's Football Federation elects a new president - Ciudad del Futbol, Las Rozas, Spain - December 16, 2024 LaLiga president Javier Tebas speaks to the media REUTERS/Isabel Infantes
October 20, 2026

Tebas’s Goebbels Comparison Is Latest Escalation in His Real Madrid Feud

The LaLiga president continues to stand by the analogy.
October 20, 2026

Brewers Fans Could Find Cheaper World Series Tickets in Tampa

The ticket resale market for the event shows two very different situations.
Sponsored

Blake Griffin’s Plan for Media Domination

The former NBA star is building a second act across media & entertainment.
October 19, 2026

Rays Clinch Pennant, Head to Small-Market World Series

The Rays clinched their third American League pennant.
October 19, 2026

5 Biggest Storylines of the NBA Season

The 2026–27 NBA season starts Tuesday.
Oct 4, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) before kick off against the Los Angeles Rams at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
October 19, 2026

Hurts to Miss Rest of Season, Leaving Eagles Without Their $255M QB

Blood clots were found in Hurts’s lungs.
October 18, 2026

The Chiefs’ Revival Has Given the NFL Its Marquee Team Back

With Mahomes back, they’re 5–0.