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Black Monday Rumors: Which coaches are likely to be hired, fired?

Black Monday has arrived. Here is a look at the teams most likely to clean house in their coaching staffs and front offices in preparation for the 2016 season. 

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Black Monday Rumors: Which coaches are likely to be hired, fired?
Black Monday Rumors: Which coaches are likely to be hired, fired? /

Week 17 of the NFL season has concluded, and “Black Monday” has arrived. Many teams have or are expected to part ways with coaches and general managers after subpar seasons. Here are the latest rumors on who is staying and who is going.

Cleveland Browns

  • The Cleveland Browns have fired head coach Mike Pettine, the team announced Sunday. General manager Ray Farmer has also been let go.
  • On Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported owner Jimmy Haslam had already made calls in search of a new coach. Teryl Austin, Adam Gase and Doug Marrone are expected to be among the coaches in play for the job.
  • Chip Kelly is also expected to be a candidate, reports Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk.
  • Former Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz is another name on the list of candidates for the Browns, reports Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot.
  • Cleveland has been granted permission to interview Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 

Detroit Lions

  • Lions owner Martha Ford plans to retain head coach Jim Caldwell, but will let the new general manager make the final decision, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN. The Lions fired general manager Martin Mayhew in early November.
  • Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin will interview for the head coaching vacancies with the Browns and Dolphins, ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports.
  • Detroit was interested in interviewing Will McClay, Cowboys assistant director of player personnel, for their general manager position, reports Rapoport, but McClay has decided to stay in Dallas.
  • Vikings assistant general manager George Paton also declined an interview for the general manager job, reports Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Indianapolis Colts

  • Chuck Pagano is discussing his future with the Colts, and the two parties are “evaluating the possibility of working together moving forward,” according to Rand Getlin of NFL.com.
  • Earlier in the day, Rapoport reported that Pagano is likely to part ways with the team following the season despite posting a 40–23 record as the head coach of the Colts the last four seasons.
  • The Colts are looking at Alabama coach Nick Saban as a potential replacement, according to multiplereports.
  • Stanford coach David Shaw reportedly won’t be lured from his current position by an offer from the Colts or the 49ers, reports Rapoport.

Miami Dolphins

  • Miami fired general manager Dennis Hickey on Sunday.
  • Interim head coach Dan Campbell will not be hired on a permanent basis, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King reports. The Dolphins beat the Patriots in their season finale on Sunday to finish the year at 6–10 and 5–7 under Campbell.
  • Campbell will have the opportunity to state his case for being retained in an interview on Friday, though the chances he stays are slim, Rapoport reports.
  • Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase is the Dolphins’ top candidate for their head coaching job, according to multiplereports. Teryl Austin’s interview is scheduled for Tuesday, Rapoport reports.
  • Schefter reports former Redskins coach Mike Shanahan will also interview with the Dolphins on Tuesday in his second interview with the team.
  • The Dolphins will also interview Jaguars assistant coach Doug Marrone, who will also interview for the head coaching position with the Browns, reports Rand Getlin of the NFL Network.

New Orleans Saints

  • Coach Sean Payton is under contract with the Saints, but could be a candidate for other openings via trade. The Colts are expected to pursue Payton if they fire Pagano, reports Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports.
  • The Saints would demand a second-round draft pick in a trade for Payton, Rapoport reports.
  • If Payton is fired, former Saints offensive coordinator Doug Marrone is expected to be a top target for the head coach job, reports Pro Football Talk.

New York Giants

  • Giants co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch will meet Monday with head coach Tom Coughlin to discuss his future with the team, reports Rapoport. On Friday, Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports reported that Coughlin is likely to resign on Monday.
  • Coughlin met with his players on Monday, but did not address the status of his job, reportsNew York Post’s Paul Schwartz. The coach told his players if Monday happens to be his last day, he wishes them luck in the future, reportsNewsday’s Jim Baumbach.
  • Quarterback Eli Manning and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. both expressed their support of Coughlin when talking to media members on Monday.

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Kansas City chiefs offensive coordinator Doug Pederson is the leading candidate for the Philadelphia Eagles head coaching job, Schefter reports. The team fired coach Chip Kelly prior to Week 17.
  • Kelly has been linked to openings with the San Francisco 49ers or Cleveland Browns, according to multiple reports.
  • Pat Shurmur, who served as the Eagles’ interim head coach after Kelly was fired, will interview for the permanent position on Monday, the team announced. Shurmur coached Philadelphia to a 35–30 win over the Giants in the regular-season finale.
  • Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is reportedly favored by the Eagles for the coaching vacancy, ESPN’s Ed Werder reports. However, Harbaugh is unlikely to leave Baltimore, where he is still under contract and happy with his circumstances.

San Francisco 49ers

  • After a disappointing season that ended with the 49ers’ first losing record since 2010, the team fired first-year head coach Jim Tomsula. However, even with the failure of the coach hand-picked to replace Jim Harbaugh, general manager Trent Baalke is expected to be back next season.
  • Chip Kelly is under “strong consideration” to replace Tomsula, reports La Canfora. Kelly reached out to the 49ers himself to express interest in their head coaching job, reports Michael Silver of NFL.com.
  • The 49ers “are expected to explore” hiring Saints head coach Sean Peyton, ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen report.
  • Baakle will meet with all assistant coaches on Monday to discuss their futures with the team, Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reports.
  • He said that the team does not have any in-house coaching candidates, which means defensive coordinator Eric Mangini is not a candidate.

Dallas Cowboys

  • Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says head coach Jason Garrett’s job is safe.

Atlanta Falcons

  • Owner Arthur Blake says no decisions have been made about retaining or firing general manager Thomas Dimitroff, reports Vaugh McClure of ESPN. The Falcons have missed the playoffs three seasons in a row, but Dimitroff reportedly has a good relationship with coach Dan Quinn.

San Diego Chargers

  • The Chargers will retain third-year coach Mike McCoy, the team announced on Monday. San Diego finished 4–12 this season and are 22–26 under McCoy.
  • Defensive coordinator John Pagano, who has been with the Chargers since 2012, could be fired amid staff reshuffling, reports Rapoport.

Tennessee Titans

  • The Titans announced on Monday that interim coach Mike Mularkey will be interviewed as a candidate for the permanent position. Mularkey was named interim head coach on Nov. 3 when Ken Wisenhunt was fired. The Titans went 3–13 this season and 2–7 under Mularkey.
  • The team also fired general manager Ruston Webster and removed the interim title on president and CEO Steve Underwood on Monday.
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