The regular season is over, the playoff participants for the 2022 NFL season have been determined.
The franchises that will miss the postseason and, after a disappointing season, can already start planning for the coming season on Monday are also certain.
The first Monday after the end of the regular season, which is known as “Black Monday”, is therefore a day when things are traditionally busy and some coaches of the unsuccessful teams are fired.
ran summarizes the current events in the live ticker.
+++ January 12, 9:46 a.m .: Sean Payton probably not to the Colts or the Panthers +++
Where does Sean Payton stand on the sidelines next season? The head coach, who is still under contract with the New Orleans Saints until 2024, can hold talks with interested teams after the upcoming wild card weekend from January 17th. The Saints are said to want at least one first-round pick for Payton, possibly more
All five franchises that are currently without a head coach are said to be loud Saints-Beatwriter Nick Underhill have registered their interest with Payton. The Carolina Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts are apparently already out of the race.
According to Underhill, Payton should turn down a trade to the Colts because of the chaotic season and owner Jim Irsay. The Panthers, on the other hand, are out of the question for the Saints as a division rival. That leaves the Houston Texans, the Denver Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals, with whom Payton will hold talks starting next week.
However, Payton is far from the only candidate for the Broncos: As “ESPN” reports, the Broncos not only spoke to Jim Caldwell, but also to David Shaw. The 50-year-old resigned as head coach at the end of November after twelve years at Stanford College.
It can also not be ruled out that other teams will not enter the campaign for Payton. For example, the question arises as to what will happen to Sean McVay at the Los Angeles Rams. The 36-year-old recently fueled rumors of a resignation from the Rams with a meaningful action.
According to “ESPN”, he should apparently not stand in the way of any of his employees from the coaching staff looking for another opportunity and allow possible job talks with other teams. He also told his staff in a meeting that he didn’t know what he was going to do next season.
I’m willing to say all five teams with coach openings have called on Sean Payton and three have passed through so far.
— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) January 12, 2023
+++ January 12, 07:17: Jets apparently separate from LaFleur +++
The chair back in the NFL after the regular season continues.
As “ESPN” reports, the New York Jets parted ways with offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur on Wednesday.
This decision comes as no surprise. It was above all the offensive around the disappointing quarterback Zach Wilson that prevented the Jets from making the playoffs.
La Fleur, the brother of Packers coach Matt LaFleur, is unlikely to be out of a job for long. According to “ESPN”, numerous teams have already asked about the offensive coordinator.
The search for LaFleur’s successor with the Jets therefore begins on Thursday.
+++ January 10, 10:13 p.m.: Washington Commanders fire offensive coordinator Scott Turner +++
The Washington Commanders have fired their offensive coordinator, Scott Turner. This is reported by NFL insider Tom Pelissero via Twitter.
Turner has been in charge of the NFC East team’s offense since 2020, but during his tenure the Commanders’ attack was rarely really effective:
In the 2020 season, the Washington Offense ranked 25th out of 32 teams league-wide, in 2021 the team was 23rd. And in the current season, the Commanders averaged only 18.9 points per game on the scoreboard – ranked 24th in the league-wide comparison.
+++ January 10, 4:59 p.m .: Jeff Saturday probably has a chance of being head coach for the Colts +++
Jeff Saturday, currently still the interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, has hopes of keeping the job. At least that’s what NFL journalist Ari Meirov reports. Accordingly, Chris Ballard, general manager of the franchise, said that Saturday was in the inner circle of the candidates.
#Colts GM Chris Ballard says Jeff Saturday will be a candidate for the full-time HC position.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 10, 2023
The 47-year-old took over the post of head coach from Frank Reich in early November after he had been fired. In eight games under Saturday, however, the Colts only managed one win.
+++ January 10, 8:31 a.m .: Bill Belichick also in 2023 Head Coach of the Patriots +++
Bill Belichick will remain the New England Patriots’ head coach in 2023. The 70-year-old confirmed this on Monday. “No one is happy with this season and we will work to improve that next season,” said the head coach, who will be entering his 24th season. With 329 wins, he has the second most in NFL history.
Whether his coordinators will return, however, remains to be seen. While Jerod Mayo isn’t the official defensive coordinator, he shares the defense with Steve Belichick and is popular with other teams. Offensive playcallers Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have come under fire after both quarterback Mac Jones and the entire offense took a step back. Bill O’Brien is traded there as a successor.
As head coach and de facto general manager, Belichick has full control over contracts, coaching staff and the roster.
+++ January 10th, 6:18 am: Panthers interested in Frank Reich +++
While current Carolina Panthers interim coach Steve Wilks is due for an interview with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, the franchise also plans to interview Frank Reich. This is reported by NFL insider Tom Pelissero.
Reich was released after week ten of the current season with the Indianapolis Colts. In addition to Reich, offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey (Buffalo Bills), Ben Johnson (Detroit Lions) and Shane Steichen (Philadelphia Eagles) are invited to the interview. They are also very popular with the Indianapolis Colts and Houston Texans.
+++ January 9th, 11:12 p.m.: Tennessee Titans release four coaches +++
The Tennessee Titans have fired four coaches after the end of the regular season and their most recent seven losses. In addition to offensive coordinator Todd Downing, O-line coach Keith Carter, secondary coach Anthony Midget and offensive skill assistant Erik Frazier also have to resign.
#Titans part ways with OC Todd Downing, OL coach Keith Carter, secondary coach Anthony Midget and offensive skill assistant Erik Frazier
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 9, 2023
Downing joined the Titans in 2019 and served as tight end coach for the first two years before being promoted to OC in 2021. It is not yet clear who will follow Downing and Co.
In a statement, Head Coach Mike Vrabel thanked his former colleagues: “I would like to thank Todd, Keith, Anthony and Erik for their service and dedication to our team during their time here in Tennessee. Each of them has shaped our organization, has been committed and a loyal member of our coaching staff.”
+++ January 9, 10:01 p.m.: Are the Texans getting a former player as head coach? +++
The Houston Texans are looking for their next head coach after Lovie Smith was fired. According to several NFL reporters, three names in particular are now in the running: DeMeco Ryans, the defensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers and former Texans player, Eagles DC Jonathan Gannon, who was traded as a candidate in Houston last year, and Broncos DC Ejiro Evero.
The Houston Texans are said to have obtained the permission of the respective teams for all three in order to be allowed to interview them in the next few days. It is still unclear who is the favorite for the post.
+++ January 9, 5:55 p.m.: Cardinals dismiss Kingsbury – GM Keim resigns +++
The Arizona Cardinals are stepping down from head coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim. The Cardinals confirmed this a day after the end of the regular season.
Kingsbury, who only signed a contract extension to 2027 around ten months ago, ended the season with a record of four wins and 13 losses. He has been the Cardinals’ head coach since 2019.
Keim has held the position of general manager since 2013 and now wants to focus on his health. The 50-year-old had already distanced himself from the team during the season. At that time, health problems were cited as reasons.
+++ January 9, 4:00 p.m.: Broncos dredging in Quinn +++
Dan Quinn was a top pick for the Denver Broncos last year. And that’s the current defensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys this year as well. So the Broncos officially asked the Cowboys if they could talk to Quinn. NFL insider Ian Rapoport reports.
Quinn was the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2020, with whom he reached the Super Bowl once. In 2021 he was hired by the Cowboys.
+++ January 9th, 7:00 a.m.: Houston Texans fired head coach Lovie Smith +++
As the Houston Texans have officially confirmed, head coach Lovie Smith has been fired. Several insiders had previously reported that there will probably be a separation of both parties.
Smith, who was released as head coach after just one season, still managed to win the Texans 32:31 against the Indianapolis Colts on the last day of the game, but still ended the season with a record of three wins, 13 losses and one Draw.
At the end of last season, Smith succeeded David Culley, who was also released after one season with the Texans. The 64-year-old had three years left on his contract in Houston.
Shortly after the dismissal, the first successors are already being traded. Jonathan Gannon (defensive coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles) and DeMeco Ryans (defensive coordinator, San Francisco 49ers) are candidates, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport.
+++ January 8th, 11:00 p.m.: Evero talks to the Broncos +++
This is a conversation of short distances: Ejiro Evero will speak to the Denver Broncos about the vacant job as head coach. As reported by KUSA, the current defensive coordinator is the first candidate the franchise will interview. The conversation is scheduled to take place this week.
Evero joined DC this season with the Broncos, who will also be in talks with Jim Harbaugh and Sean Payton.
+++ January 8th, 8:00 p.m.: Panthers talk to Caldwell and Reich +++
The Carolina Panthers want to plan their future in the position of head coach after the end of the regular season. According to Fox, they are speaking to Jim Caldwell and Frank Reich for this.
The Panthers parted ways with Matt Rhule after five games, after which Steve Wilks took over on an interim basis. It is also being traded as a possible long-term solution.
+++ January 8, 7:00 p.m.: Are the Texans cleaning up? +++
Are the Houston Texans completely reorganizing? As Fox reports, General Manager Nick Caserio’s chair wobbles alarmingly. But coach Lovie Smith also has to worry about his job, they say. Ergo: everything is possible. Smith gone, Caserio gone or even both – we should know more on Monday.
+++ January 8, 6:15 p.m.: ran-Prediction: It’s going to be wild! +++
With a number of teams, the head coach wobbles. For the Houston Texans, Lovie Smith’s sacking seems almost inevitable after a season of just two wins. But Kliff Kingsbury is also shaking with the Arizona Cardinals, Josh McDaniels (Las Vegas Raiders), Ron Rivera (Washington Commanders) and Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns) also have to worry about their jobs.
On the other hand, the Denver Broncos, for example, are looking for a head coach after Nathaniel Hackett was fired after Week 16. Among other things, Jim Harbaugh is traded here.
