The National Football League's annual day of reckoning, known as 'Black Monday,' has delivered a seismic shakeup across the league. Mere hours after the conclusion of the 2025 regular season, multiple franchises initiated sweeping changes, dismissing head coaches in a clear signal of resets, rebuilds, and a transformative offseason ahead.
List of Coaches Dismissed on Black Monday
With ownership groups eager to get a head start on the competitive hiring cycle, four head coaches were relieved of their duties on the first day of the offseason. The moves highlight the relentless pursuit of success and the impatience with prolonged mediocrity in the high-stakes NFL environment.
Cleveland Browns Part Ways with Kevin Stefanski
The Cleveland Browns have fired head coach Kevin Stefanski after a six-season tenure that was a rollercoaster of notable achievements and deep frustrations. Despite the remarkable feat of winning the NFL Coach of the Year award twice during his stint, Stefanski's final campaign ended with a disappointing 5–12 record. Team leadership ultimately concluded that the franchise lacked sustained progress, citing persistent issues with quarterback instability, significant injuries, and inconsistent performances. The decision marks the end of an era and a search for a new direction.
Las Vegas Raiders Cut Ties with Pete Carroll After One Season
In one of the most abrupt exits of Black Monday, the Las Vegas Raiders have dismissed Pete Carroll after just a single season. Carroll, who signed a three-year deal before the 2025 season, saw the experiment collapse rapidly. The Raiders finished with a league-worst 3–14 record, tying for the poorest performance in the NFL. This disastrous outcome prompted the Raiders' ownership to trigger a complete reset, leaving major questions unanswered at the quarterback position and across the entire roster as they embark on yet another coaching search.
Arizona Cardinals Move On from Jonathan Gannon
The Arizona Cardinals have severed ties with head coach Jonathan Gannon following three difficult seasons. The franchise closed the 2025 season with an identical 3–14 record, extending a painful streak of losing years. Despite visible efforts to reshape and rebuild the team's roster, the on-field results failed to materialize. This lack of tangible improvement led the Cardinals' management to decide that a different leadership voice is necessary to accelerate player development and restore a competitive edge to the franchise.
Atlanta Falcons Fire Raheem Morris
The Atlanta Falcons have fired head coach Raheem Morris after back-to-back seasons finishing with an 8–9 record, missing the playoffs on both occasions. While the team showed intermittent flashes of potential under Morris, the inability to secure a winning record or break through in the highly competitive NFC South proved decisive. Reports indicate the Falcons' leadership believes their roster is capable of competing at a higher level and requires a fresh strategic approach to unlock that potential, propelling them into the bustling coaching market.
NFL Coaching Carousel Officially in Motion
With these four openings now confirmed, the NFL's annual coaching carousel is spinning at full speed. The coming days and weeks will see a flurry of activity as teams begin formally requesting interviews with coordinators from playoff-bound staffs, reevaluating former head coaches, and even considering top candidates from the college football ranks. The primary goal for every franchise is the same: to identify and secure the right leader to steer their program forward.
More changes could still be on the horizon as teams continue their comprehensive postseason evaluations. Black Monday has set the stage for a long, dramatic, and unpredictable NFL offseason defined by change and new beginnings.
