NFL Black Monday: Jaguars Coach Doug Pederson Out Plus Other Scenarios Around The League

Doug Pederson walked off the field at Indianapolis on Sunday afternoon after his Jacksonville Jaguars lost their 13th game of the season and NFL sources say it will be the coach's final game with the franchise.

Pederson, who two years ago seemed to be turning around a franchise that struggled to be consistently playoff-relevant over the previous two decades, missed the playoffs for the second consecutive time this season.

Jan 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts head coach Doug Pederson smiles while looking up at the video board during the first quarter against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Jaguars Regressed Under Pederson

And 2024 was not just a year out of the postseason, but one in which the football team, including quarterback Trevor Lawrence, regressed. This despite owner Shad Khan relating his high expectations during the preseason when he said, "all the ingredients that go in [to winning] are here. We have to demonstrate that by winning."

That tone changed on Monday.

"I had a difficult time this morning of informing Doug Pederson of my intention to hire a new head coach," Khan said in a statement. "I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago. I will collaborate with general manager Trent Baalke and others, with and close to our organization, to hire a leader who shares my ambition and is ready to seize the extraordinary opportunity we will offer in Jacksonville."

Pederson's fate is not the only one at stake on Monday – the day now commonly known as Black Monday because it's the first day after the regular season and the time many coaches or general managers are fired.

There are multiple coaches at risk starting Monday.

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 10: Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy reacts during the second half of the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on November 10, 2024 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images)

Cowboys Have Decision To Make On McCarthy Deal

Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy is on an expiring contract and will meet with owner Jerry Jones this week as the two men decide if the coach will sign an extension or not, thus becoming a coaching free agent.

Tennessee Titans coach Brian Callahan, not expected to win any title but also not expected to have a season so terrible the club will have the No. 1 overall pick in the April draft, is at risk of being one-and-done, per sources.

Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce is at risk of losing his job.

All this follows a day in which the New England Patriots fired first-year head coach Jerod Mayo and the Indianapolis Colts and Miami Dolphins both made announcements they're retaining their head coaches and general managers.

Early Monday the New York Giants similarly announced they're retaining both coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen.

All this follows the fact the New York Jets, New Orleans Saints and Chicago Bears will be searching for new coaches while the Jets also need a new general manager.

(The Jets have been busy conducting their search for both a GM and head coach, lead by owner Woody Johnson, team president Hymie Elhai and consultants Mike Tannenbaum and Rick Spielman.)

So what are league sources saying? What are the rumors?

Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan leaves the field after the game with the Houston Texans at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025.

Callahan Seems Safe In Tennessee

In Tennessee, the expectation is Callahan is leaning safe. 

But everyone in the building has been concerned owner Amy Adams Strunk has been clearly disappointed with this season. And, again, owning the first overall selection in the draft is a two-edged sword.

"It is the one bonus to a season like this," Callahan said after Sunday's loss to a Houston club playing mostly backups. "And, again, not one I ever want to be a part of again. But we are here and can use it to our advantage to improve our team as best we can."

The Titans set a 1:30 (ET) press conference for Callahan on Monday to discuss the end of the season so the assumption is the coach is indeed staying. Last year when Mike Vrabel was dismissed, that presser was not conducted and the following day Vrabel was out.

The coming week will be a big one for NFC East rivals New York and Dallas.

Giants owner John Mara met with general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll on Monday and the team soon afterward released a statement saying both Daboll and Schoen will remain.

Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll of the Buffalo Bills on the field before a game against the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium on October 31, 2021 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images).

Mara Has Confidence In Continuity

"As disappointing as the results of the season have been, Steve (Tisch) and I remain confident in the process that Joe and Brian have implemented and their vision for our team," the statement from Mara reads. 

League sources tell OutKick that Mara disliked the idea of cleaning house only three seasons after hiring both men. He's done it before and didn't really want to repeat the painful exercise.

The final year of McCarthy's contract expires Jan. 14. And although he wants to remain with the Cowboys, he sounded like a pitchman for a coach who might hit the open market in a couple of weeks. 

"I don’t like to talk about myself," McCarthy said after Sunday's loss to Washington, "but I’ll just be clear: I’m a winner. I know how to win. I’ve won a championship. I’ve won a championship in this building. And that’s who I am. We’ll see where it goes."

Jerry Jones ordered to take paternity test. (Credit: Getty Images)

Jones Seems To Be Negotiating

Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones was in no mood to speak his mind on the subject of a coaching change after Sunday's game. It was as if he was playing mind games.

"I don’t know that I am considering making a change," he said.

But then he wouldn't say he was keeping McCarthy, either. 

This sounds like a person getting ready to go into a negotiation with no intention of driving up the price. And that would obviously be good news for McCarthy.

As to the Raiders: Pierce is absolutely not safe despite numerous reports from national media entities that it's leaning in that direction.

Neither the coach nor club owner Mark Davis addressed the coach's future on Sunday. But there was a brief meeting between the men, and another one is possible for Monday morning.

UNCASVILLE, CT - SEPTEMBER 15: Owner, Mark Davis of the Las Vegas Aces smile during Game 3 of the 2022 WNBA Finals on September 15, 2022 at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.  NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2022 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)

Raiders Need Answers On Offense

Pierce is a strong leader of men and has set a culture for the Raiders. But he's not a tactician and failed to hire outstanding tacticians on offense to attack opponents. It's the reason Pierce found the need to make changes on the offensive coaching staff during the season.

It didn't help that Pierce wasn't given a great or even solid starting quarterback to work with this season. He wasn't happy about it before the season began, and privately continued to make that point throughout the season.

It led, at times, to friction between Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco, a source said.

Davis doesn't want to fire his coach or general manager after only one season. But not wanting to do it and actually not doing it are hanging in the balance now.