Black Monday Starts Early as Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets Fire Head Coaches
By Alan Zlotorzynski, Senior Editor // December 30, 2018
5-7 More Coaches could be fired
ABOVE VIDEO: Following a 5-11 season and finishing in last place in the NFC South division this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced a short time ago that they have relieved head coach Dirk Koetter of his duties after three seasons at the helm.
TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA– Black Monday arrived early for two NFL head coaches following their team’s loss in the final week of the regular season on Sunday.
Following a 5-11 season and finishing in last place in the NFC South division this season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced a short time ago that they have relieved head coach Dirk Koetter of his duties after three seasons at the helm.
The search will now begin for the 12th head coach in franchise history.
“We sincerely appreciate the hard work and commitment shown by Dirk over the past several years,” said Buccaneers Owner/Co-Chairman Joel Glazer.
“Working with Dirk has been a pleasure and we wish him and his family all the best in the future. Our search for a new head coach will begin immediately and will be conducted by General Manager Jason Licht.”
Koetter was named head coach on January 15, 2016. He succeeded Lovie Smith, for whom he had served as the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator in 2015.
The Buccaneers compiled a 19-29 record during Koetter’s tenure, including a 5-11 mark in 2018. Tampa Bay’s best season under Koetter’s direction was 2016 when the team finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs on a tiebreaker.
Buccaneers Head Coach Dirk Koetter relieved of duties.https://t.co/r7TkXOZ0Zc
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) December 31, 2018
A short time ago, the New York Jets Chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson informed Todd Bowles he will not be returning in 2019.
Bowles was hired to replace Rex Ryan in 2015 and began his Jets career with a 10-win season back in 2015, but the Jets have won five games or less in each of the last three years and he finishes with a mark of 24-40.
Last season there were seven head coaching vacancies in the NFL. The firing of Koetter and Bowles already brings the total to four even before Black Monday arrives.
The Cleveland Browns fired Hue Jackson back on Oct.29 following Cleveland’s disastrous 3-36-1 record in two-and-a-half-years under Jackson and the Green Bay Packers parted ways with Mike McCarthy on Dec. 2.
McCarthy guided the Packers to a Super Bowl championship in 2010 and three other trips to NFC Championship Games during his 12-year tenure in which he won 125 games, including 18 in the playoffs.
Tomorrow is known as ‘Black Monday” across the league as many NFL front offices fire their head coach following the regular season which concluded today.
As many as five to seven more head coaches could join Koetter, Bowles, Jackson, and McCarthy once Black Monday is completed.
One coach who will be returning is the Jacksonville Jaguars, Doug Marone. Owner Shad Khan announced on Sunday that the jobs of Marrone and general manager Dave Caldwell are safe.
Statement from owner Shad Khan. pic.twitter.com/ZVozbEcR26
— #DUUUVAL (@Jaguars) December 30, 2018
After coming within three minutes of playing in last years Super Bowl, the Jaguars finished last in the AFC South this season with a 5-11 record. They have gone from worst to first and back to worst in a three-season span.
Other head coaches that are very much on the hot seat include Vance Joseph (Denver Broncos), Steve Wilks (Arizona Cardinals), Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati Bengals), Ron Rivera (Carolina Panthers) and Adam Gase (Miami Dolphins).
The possibility also exists that Mike Tomlin of Pittsburgh Steelers could also be fired.
The Steelers missed the playoffs this season and rumors persist that Tomlin’s message no longer resonates in the locker room.
Stay Tuned to Space Coast Daily for all news regarding NFL coaching changes and the upcoming playoffs.
CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS
