NFL Week 18 Overreactions
Sports Seriously's Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the final regular season games of Week 18.
It didn't take long for the NFL's “Black Monday” to officially begin.
Shortly after midnight Eastern Time, the Atlanta Falcons fired coach Arthur Smith, firing him just hours after a crushing loss to the New Orleans Saints capped his three-year tenure with the franchise.
And that was just the beginning of the action. The Washington Commanders said goodbye to coach Ron Rivera early Monday morning.
The day marks an annual reckoning for coaching staffs and front offices across the league. More moves are sure to follow — although some may not be finalized until later in the week — so stay with USA TODAY Sports for all the moves on layoffs and resignations.
Robert Saleh knew he was safe for next season after receiving a recommendation from Jets owner Woody Johnson. Now the coach is extending the same security to the rest of his staff.
Saleh said Monday he expects all three coordinators to return for 2024.
The coach also said he doesn't expect any significant changes to the coaching staff next season.
The New England Patriots' future with Bill Belichick remains uncertain, but the coach finally addressed his position with the team on Monday.
When asked about the possibility of giving up personnel control to remain with the team, Belichick did not reject the hypothesis.
“Look, I’m in favor of making sure whatever we decide together as an organization is the best thing to help our football team,” Belichick said. “I have multiple roles and rely on many people to help me with these tasks. Someone has to have the last word. I got it. I rely on the help of many other people. Whatever this process is, I am just a part of it.”
However, Belichick didn't give a definitive answer as to whether he would want to coach another team if he doesn't stay with the Patriots.
Shane Steichen appears to be heading into his second year with the Indianapolis Colts.
When asked Monday about possible changes to his staff, Steichen said: “I believe in continuity.”
Steichen reiterated that point when asked about defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, who led a unit that ranked 24th with 349.8 yards rushing.
The one move everyone expected on Monday is now official.
The Commanders decided to move on from Rivera after four seasons, the team announced.
Rivera's fate appeared to have been sealed some time ago, but Washington ended the season with the league's worst eight-game losing streak, finishing 4-13.
According to ESPN, new owner Josh Harris will now begin his first coaching search for the franchise, with former Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers and former Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman hired to help him in the process to support.
Whoever takes over should have the best opportunity to turn the roster around. The Commanders have the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft and are currently only behind the Tennessee Titans in effective cap space for next season.
The Carolina Panthers delayed cleaning Monday morning and fired GM Scott Fitterer, six weeks after head coach Frank Reich was relieved of his duties.
“As we move forward with the new direction of our franchise, I have made the decision that Scott Fitterer will no longer serve as our general manager,” owner David Tepper said in a statement. “I appreciate Scott’s efforts and wish him and his family all the best.”
Despite taking the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 draft and selecting Alabama QB Bryce Young, the Panthers finished with a 2-15 record, the worst in the league. However, they will not be selected first in this year's draft as Fitterer traded that pick along with WR DJ Moore and other capital to the Chicago Bears to acquire Young.
Carolina posted a 14-37 record in three seasons, with Fitterer making moves, some of which didn't pan out – including trades for players like QBs Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold and CB CJ Henderson. Including Young, Fitterer's high-end draft picks — including CB Jaycee Horn, WR Terrace Marshall Jr., LT Ickey Ekwonu and WR Jonathan Mingo — have yet to mature into foundational players.
The New York Giants are making changes to their coaching staff, but not at the top.
According to multiple reports, the team fired special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson.
McGaughey had been with the team for six seasons.
Giants coach Brian Daboll said Monday morning that he expects to retain offensive coordinator Mike Kafka and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale.
After a season-ending debacle against the New Orleans Saints, it didn't take long for the Falcons to part ways with Arthur Smith.
Smith was fired shortly after midnight, and team owner Arthur Blank made it clear he wanted to turn things around after three straight 7-10 seasons.
Blank didn't give Smith a specific assignment as he enters the third grade, but he made it clear that he expects to see progress in the win column. Instead, the Falcons fell short of their first winning season since 2017.