NFL Coaching Carousel Spins Slower: Only Two Fired Since Sunday

There are now five head coach openings in the NFL, and just one vacant GM position, as this season’s firing and hiring cycle is turning out to be less active than last year—so far, at least.

Last offseason, eight NFL teams made head coaching changes, four of which also hired new GMs (five when including the Patriots promoting Eliot Wolf to EVP of player personnel following Bill Belichick’s departure).

Just two coaches have been fired since the conclusion of the regular season Sunday—Jerod Mayo in New England and Doug Pederson in Jacksonville. But the Patriots are keeping Wolf as the leader of their front office, and the Jaguars are retaining GM Trent Baalke. 

During the season, the Bears fired coach Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29 and retained GM Ryan Poles, and the Saints moved on from Dennis Allen on Nov. 4, while sticking with longtime GM Mickey Loomis.

The Jets fired coach Robert Saleh in October and then GM Joe Douglas in November. New York currently has the league’s only GM opening.

Staying the Course

Owners of the Colts, Dolphins, and Giants each released statements announcing they would not be making any changes at the head coach and GM positions. 

Indianapolis and Miami finished the season 8–9, while New York was 3–14, which is the most losses in a single season in franchise history. “I’ve just about run out of patience,” Giants president and CEO John Mara told the media Monday. 

Still in Limbo

The Raiders (4–13) have not made an official statement on the job status of head coach Antonio Pierce or GM Tom Telesco, both of whom were hired last offseason. When Pierce addressed the media Monday, he was asked whether he had received any clarity and he said, “I haven’t been told anything different.”

Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy’s contract expires Jan. 14 and, on Sunday night, team owner and GM Jerry Jones was fairly cryptic about his plans. “I don’t know that I am considering making a change,” Jones said.

Meanwhile, the Bears have sought permission to interview McCarthy and are awaiting a response from the Cowboys, sources told ESPN.

McCarthy is 49–35 in his five seasons as head coach in Dallas, which missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020 with a 7–10 record this year. Jones will have to negotiate a new contract with his coach if both sides want to stay together.