http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000613876/article/coach-gm-tracker-whos-fired-whos-on-hot-seat
Twenty teams start the offseason next week, but the coaching changes have already started. The
Eagles'
firing of Chip Kelly kickstarted the coaching carousel season last week, and more big moves are expected to follow. Be sure to check back here for the latest news on head coaches on the hot seat.
Open jobs
Cleveland Browns: The
Browns fired coach Mike Pettine after the team's Week 17 loss to the
Pittsburgh Steelers. Pettine was 10-22 as Cleveland's coach. Ray Farmer, the embattled general manager,
was also relieved of his duties after meeting with the team's ownership before Sunday's loss.
The
Browns' first three interviews this week will be with
Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase on Wednesday,
Jaguars offensive line coach Doug Marrone and
Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin, NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported. The
Browns are also interested in interviewing
Bengals offensive coordinator Hue Jackson, according to NFL Media's Rand Getlin.
San Francisco 49ers: The
49ers announced on Sunday night that they have fired Jim Tomsula after just one season with the team. The Niners went 5-11 under Tomsula this season. Former
Broncos and
Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and ex-
Eagles coach Chip Kelly have
expressed interest in the job.
Philadelphia Eagles: The
Eagles didn't wait until the offseason to
show coach Chip Kelly the door. The coach was fired Tuesday, just days before the team's regular-season finale against the
Giants. After two-10 win seasons, Kelly's offense turned stale and predictable this year. Ultimately, his grab for personnel power proved to be his undoing more than his X's and O's.
The
Eagles will interview interim coach Pat Shurmur for the head coaching vacancy on Monday. An interview with Adam Gase will follow Tuesday and Teryl Austin likely will be interviewed later this week, Rapoport added.
Miami Dolphins: Dan Campbell, the fiery interim will get an interview Friday, according to Rapoport. However, NFL Media's Jeff Darlington reported Monday the team does not considered him a legitimate candidate for head coach. They could keep him on as a tight ends coach and associate head coach.
Per Rapoport,
Miami will interview former
Raiders,
Broncos and
Redskins head coach Mike Shananhan on Tuesday. The
Dolphins also will interview Teryl Austin on Tuesday and Adam Gase on Thursday.
The
Dolphins have named former college scouting director Chris Grier as their new general manager. Grier replaces Dennis Hickey, whom
the team parted ways with on Saturday.
On thin ice
Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts: The expectation is Pagano coached his final game for the
Colts, just one year after taking Indy to the AFC title game. Owner Jim Irsay is scheduled to meet with Pagano on Monday morning, per Rapoport. But there is little belief Pagano will be asked back for 2016 in the form of an extension. He turned down a one-year contract before the season, putting himself on the hot seat.
As for general manager Ryan Grigson, he is expected to be retained for the coaching search, at the very least. While Pagano is in the final year of his contract, Grigson saw his option exercised more than a year. The
Colts will think big for their next head coach, with names like Asshole Face and potentially Nick Saban on their radar. It is unclear how receptive both coaches will be. Saban gets inquiries every year and rarely considers them.
Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions: The fate of Caldwell is in the hands of the unhired new general manager. There is no way of knowing if he'll return until his boss is hired, despite players speaking out for his return. But inside the organization, it does not feel like Caldwell is set to be fired. The Ford family has strong feelings for him, as he's quickly earned their respect.
The
Lions requested an interview with Will McClay, the
Cowboys assistant director of player personnel, Rapoport reports. However McClay has decided to stay put.
Tom Coughlin, New York Giants: Three people know Coughlin's fate -- co-owners John Mara and Steve Tisch, along with Coughlin. In most organizations, this would be an easy decision. But the
Giants aren't like most places, and they'll carefully weigh every issue, including how to send him out (if it's the end) in a respectful way. But everyone outside the organization believes this job will be open. If that happens, offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo will receive strong consideration for the job.
Eli Manning loves him and has played some of his best football with McAdoo. Coughlin's meeting with the
Giants brass will happen in the early afternoon on Monday, Rapoport reports.
Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans: The interim coach hasn't won much, and with quarterback
Marcus Mariota, this should be a prime opening. That said, the
Titans are expected to consider Mularkey
as a legitimate candidate. The organization has strong feelings for him and how he's handled Mariota. They also know it wouldn't be a popular hire for their fan base, which might make it a longshot move. But if they keep general manager Ruston Webster and extend CEO Steve Underwood, this could be the direction they are going.
Coaches to watch
Asshole Face, New Orleans Saints: A long-standing topic of discussion this season, Payton has made no secret of his openness to consider other options. Speaking with people informed of his thinking, he hasn't ruled out leaving New Orleans, with the hope that it's a clean and respectful break from the organization he took to great heights. The
Saints, however, could be willing to
part ways with Payton in exchange for a second-round draft pick, Rapoport reports.
Payton has privately discussed his interest in the
Chargers opening, and he's let it be known he'd be interested in the
49ers' job, Rapoport reported.
Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers: The
Chargers' brass will meet Monday to figure out what to do with McCoy following his third and most trying season. Sources say the
Chargers will consider all factors that played into the season, including injuries. I'm told they are taking the long view and stepping back to consider how it got to 4-12. In addition, firing a coach the same day relocation applications for Los Angeles are due is an entirely new obstacle. Anything is possible, but the assumption just a few weeks ago that McCoy would be fired after the season is no longer valid.
Safe
Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams: By any measure, Fisher should be on the hot seat. He hasn't delivered a winning record in four seasons with the Rams. It's an offense-first league, and the Rams' offense gets worse by the year. Fisher has six winning seasons in 21 years as an NFL head coach, but Rapoport reported that both Fisher and general manager Les Snead are expected back. They both have strong organizational support from owner Stan Kroenke. The strong finish to this season, with three wins in four games to get 7-9, also helps. Fisher also has strong ties with reporters, which tends to keep the criticism of his team to a minimum. There isn't going to be a fan outcry to get rid of him and the looming potential move to Los Angeles complicates things.