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The most feared day for coaches in the NFL is here: Black Monday.

Which coaches and coordinators will be fired now that the regular season is over?

The Falcons did not waste any time and fired Arthur Smith just after midnight, and Ron Rivera received the axe Monday morning.

Three coaches were canned during the season including Josh McDaniels of the Las Vegas Raiders, Frank Reich of the Carolina Panthers and Brandon Staley from the Los Angeles Chargers.

Who’s on the coaching hot seat today? There have been rumblings coming out of New England that legendary coach Bill Belichick’s future is up in the air.

Follow along with the Post’s live updates of NFL Black Monday below.

Possible Giants defensive coordinator candidates after Wink Martindale resignation

By Paul Schwartz

The Giants are in the market for a new defensive coordinator after the resignation of Wink Martindale.

Here are a few highly regarded candidates:

Antonio Pierce

Will he be hired as the full-time Raiders head coach after going 5-4 as the interim head coach? That is the popular wish in Las Vegas, but it is up to mercurial owner Mark Davis. Pierce, 45, is Giants royalty as the brainy and spirited middle linebacker on the Super Bowl XLII championship team. He has never been a defensive coordinator at any level but is a natural leader. In his debut as the interim head coach in Week 9, Pierce’s team smacked around the Giants 30-6.

Antonio Pierce became the Raiders' interim head coach after Josh McDaniels was fired.
Antonio Pierce became the Raiders' interim head coach after Josh McDaniels was fired. Getty Images

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Another round of Belichick-McDaniels on tap?

By Michael Blinn

Bill Belichick may turn to old pal Josh McDaniels to help his weather the storm in New England.

The Athletic reports that McDaniels is "considered a candidate to return" for a third go-round with the Patriots following his latest disaster head coaching stint with the Raiders this season.

He was fired by Las Vegas in October amid a dreadful campaign.

Now, McDaniels could be part of a dramatically overhauled Patriots team that finished 4-13 and in the basement of the AFC East.

Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels responds to a question after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears
Josh McDaniels could return to the comfort of a Bill Belichick-run team. AP

Of course, that would mean Belichick returns for a 25th season with the Pats following the team's worst season since the 1990s -- if New England owner Bob Kraft isn't sold on a reimagined Belichick team, the coach may have to team up with McDaniels somewhere else.

Changes came for the Jaguars after all

By Michael Blinn

Despite head coach Doug Pederson insinuating there wouldn't be changes to his staff this offseason following a 1-5 finish and missing the playoffs, there was a coaching casualty.

According to Fox sports' Greg Auman, Jacksonville is moving on from defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell.

The Jags struggled on both sides of the ball down the stretch and it cost them a postseason berth, with the defense giving up 28 points or more in four of the final six games.

News in Jacksonville: Defensive coordinator Mike Caldwell is being let go after two years on Doug Pederson’s staff. Defensive overhaul coming there.

— Greg Auman (@gregauman) January 8, 2024

No changes imminent after Jags' late-season collapse

By Michael Blinn

The Jaguars lost five of their last six games and missed out on the playoff after a promising start that had them labelled for a rise.

Still, Jacksonville doesn't seem intent on making any coaching changes this offseason.

“You only get so many windows in this league,” said coach Doug Pederson, who is 19-17 in two seasons in Jacksonville. “And we feel like with the personnel that we have, and we’ll continue to add, our window’s now. We’ve got to make the most of our opportunities. …

“We just can’t have the collapse like we did this year because you feel like now the season’s sort of wasted, right? You had a great opportunity to win the division and we didn’t. So we have to live with that and we have to own it and we got to learn from it. But I still feel like we have the best football ahead of us moving forward.”

There will be some roster decisions, but many of the Jags' top players should be back next season -- and the veterans know its on them to get the team over the hump.

“This has to become part of our story,” tight end Evan Engram said. “It’s happened. It’s the card that we’re dealt. It’s ultimately what we earned. Moving forward, this has to be a part of our story. … The leaders of this team, the foundation of our team, the guys that will be back in here, it’s up to us that we act on it and allow it to never happen again.”

Panthers request to interview Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown

By Justin Tasch

A member of the Giants front office is getting looks from at least one rival team for a GM job.

The Panthers have requested a GM interview with Giants assistant GM Brandon Brown, according to multiple reports.

Brown, 35, just finished his second season with the Giants, having been hired from the Eagles after Joe Schoen took over as Giants GM.

Brown was the Eagles' director of player personnel after being promoted from director of pro scouting.

He previously worked for the Colts and Boston College and was a Jets personnel intern in 2012.

Bill Belichick's fate remains up in the air

By Michael Blinn

No news is good news -- unless you're Bill Belichick.

The Patriots coach, who's future with the team is still being figured out, has no clarity on his job as the NFL's Black Monday winds down.

Belichick has one season left on his contract with New England, though the Patriots could opt to fire him, trade him or reduce his overall control over the roster.

He reportedly met with owner Bob Kraft on Monday -- a day after the team lost to the rival Jets for the first time in 16 tries.

Do not expect an announcement on Bill Belichick‘s future to come today. pic.twitter.com/ZqbzhKxe1Z

— Tom E. Curran (@tomecurran) January 8, 2024

Dennis Allen expects to remain Saints head coach

By Justin Tasch

The Saints, despite their issues on offense, took a slight step forward in Dennis Allen's second season as the team's head coach, but at 9-8 they missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season.

Allen believes he will be returning as New Orleans' head coach for the 2024 season.

"That is my expectation, yes" he told reporters on Monday.

"Obviously it hasn't been good enough," he added"Obviously as the head coach the last two years, 7-10, 9-8, it's not what we aspire to be here. So, I have to do a better job and I accept that responsibility."

Raiders interviewing Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds for GM vacancy

By Justin Tasch

The Raiders are lining up candidates for their general manager vacancy.

Las Vegas is set to interview Colts assistant GM Ed Dodds, according to multiple reports.

The Raiders fired GM Dave Ziegler along with head coach Josh McDaniels on Nov. 1, with Champ Kelly taking over as interim GM and Antonio Pierce becoming interim head coach.

ESPN previously reported the Raiders are requesting to interview 49ers assistant GM Adam Peters.

Commanders request to interview Ravens' Mike Macdonald for head coach job

By Justin Tasch

Add another name to the list of Commanders coaching candidates.

Washington has requested to interview Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald for their new head coach vacancy, according to CBS Sports' Josina Anderson, after firing Ron Rivera Monday morning.

The Commanders have also reportedly requested to interview Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.

I'm told the #Ravens have
received a request from the #Commanders to interview defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald for Washington's head coach vacancy, per source. pic.twitter.com/xc2TSCUjWT

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 8, 2024

Macdonald, 36, was a longtime assistant with the Ravens before leaving to become the University of Michigan's defensive coordinator in 2021.

He returned to Baltimore after just one season, becoming the team's defensive coordinator in 2022.

The Ravens allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL this season (16.5) and the sixth-fewest yards per game (301.4).

Baltimore also was tied for first with the Giants in turnover differential at +12 and led the league in sacks with 60.

Questions surround Mike Tomlin's Steelers future

By Rob Reese

Another name on the rumor mill is Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Despite securing a playoff spot, there's been some speculation among media members that Mike Tomlin could walk away after this season.

"I don't know what Mike Tomlin is gonna do but I can tell you that people out there in the league think after this season he could walk away..

If Pittsburgh didn't want him he would get a job right away" ~ @AdamSchefter#PMSLivepic.twitter.com/Pmtgb20SQn

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) January 8, 2024

On the Pat McAfee show, the panel debated whether or not Tomlin could depart for a different team like the Los Angeles Chargers.

They also brought up Tomlin potentially taking a year off like Sean Payton did before agreeing to coach the Denver Broncos.

In the clip, Adam Schefter mentions that Tomlin could decide to walk away, citing negativity surrounding the Steelers.

If Tomlin does seek a change of scenery, he'll likely have many suitors.

Former Eagles writer calls for Nick Sirianni to be fired

By Rob Reese

Typically on NFL Black Friday, there isn't much negativity surrounding playoff-bound teams.

However, this year's Philadelphia Eagles are an exception to the rule.

Former Eagles writer Les Bowen appeared on JAKIB sports to address their regular-season collapse.

“Replacing Sean Desai with Matt Patricia alone should get a coach fired. It's just ridiculous what they're trying to do, what they look like trying to do it.”

@LesBowenpic.twitter.com/OQUQThvGfL

— JAKIB Sports (@JAKIBSports) January 8, 2024

Bowen ripped the defense and called the unit 'not functional'. He went on to say it's the worst defensive performance he's ever seen.

Les questioned Head Coach Nick Sirianni's decision to replace Sean Desai with Matt Patricia as the defensive coordinator after 13 games.

The host's went on to say that Philly's defense has gotten much worse under Patricia despite having some talent on the unit.

It's too early to say definitively whether or not Sirianni's coaching for his job against Tampa. But the abrupt switch from Desai to Patricia is not helping his case.

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