How Many Nfl Head Coaches Were Fired This Year

Grab your foam finger and a consolation beer, folks, because we’re about to dive into the NFL’s annual bloodbath—otherwise known as “Black Monday.” You know, that lovely January tradition where team owners realize their $100 million quarterback can’t throw a spiral without a GPS, and instead of firing themselves, they sack the guy in the headset. So, how many head coaches got the boot this year? Buckle up; the number might shock you more than a missed extra point.

The Numbers Game: A Revolving Door of Despair

This season, a whopping eight NFL head coaches were fired—that’s roughly a quarter of the league’s sideline generals shown the door. To put that in perspective, that’s more firings than in the last three seasons combined, and it’s the highest total since the league went to a 32-team format. It’s like a reality TV show where the prize is a migraine and a buyout check.

Among the unlucky eight were names like Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears), Robert Saleh (New York Jets), and Dennis Allen (New Orleans Saints). But here’s the kicker: four of these guys were canned during the season, not even waiting for the traditional January firing frenzy. That’s like getting sacked at halftime of your own birthday party.

Why So Many? Blame the Spreadsheets and the Hot Seat

Why the carnage? Owners are getting impatient—and imagine being so rich you can fire someone just because your team stinks, and still owe them millions. The modern NFL is a “what have you done for me in the last quarter?” league. One bad press conference, one blown fourth-quarter lead, and boom—you’re updating your LinkedIn to “Currently available for Monday morning meetings.”

Surprising fact: the average tenure of these fired coaches was just under three years. That’s less time than most people keep their New Year’s resolution to go to the gym. And get this: five of the eight had winning records at some point in their careers. But in the NFL, “winning record” is like a participation trophy—it gets you a pat on the back, then a pink slip.

Which NFL coaches were fired? Black Monday sees three dismissals

The Weirdest Firing Story

Let’s spotlight Matt Eberflus of the Bears, who was fired after a game where his team had a lead with 30 seconds left. The Bears lost due to a hilarious sequence of clock management errors, including a delay-of-game penalty that made the internet laugh so hard, servers crashed. Eberflus didn’t just lose the game; he lost his job faster than a quarterback can get sacked by Micah Parsons. The Bears fired him the next day, breaking their own season-long losing streak of poor decisions.

Then there’s Robert Saleh, who got the ax from the Jets after a 2-3 start. The weird part? He was fired by his own owner, Woody Johnson, while Saleh was on a Zoom call with his staff. Imagine getting the boot mid-sentence: “And on defense, we need to—wait, what? I’m fired? But I’m holding the clicker!” Jets fans celebrated like they’d won the Super Bowl, which is their equivalent of winning the lottery with a scratch-off that says “Congratulations, here’s another losing season.”

The Cost of Chaos: Money, Madness, and Memes

Here’s the jaw-dropper: the combined remaining salary of these eight fired coaches is about $75 million. That’s enough to buy a small island, or, you know, pay a quarterback who can actually complete a pass on third down. Teams are essentially dumping money into a shredder and calling it a “reorganization.” The New Orleans Saints still owe Dennis Allen over $10 million, which is more than most people earn in a lifetime, and he’s currently sitting on his couch eating Doritos.

Which NFL Coaches Hired In 2025 Will Be Fired First And Which Will Last

And the funniest stat? Seven of the eight fired coaches were defensive coordinators before getting the top job. So teams hired guys who built defenses, then wondered why their offenses looked like a middle school flag football team. It’s like hiring a plumber to fix your roof and being shocked when it still leaks.

What This Means for You (and Your Fantasy Team)

For fans, this chaos is pure gold. It means more insane press conferences, more coordinators promoted to head coach mid-season (hello, Antonio Pierce and Jerod Mayo’s awkward transition), and more owner apologies that sound like they’re reading from a hostage note. The average coaching vacancy now gets filled by some young offensive guru with a beard and a playbook written on a napkin. And you know what? It might actually work—until next year, when the cycle starts again.

So, next time your team’s coach blows a 10-point lead, remember: he’s not just losing a game. He’s losing a job, a pension, and the respect of his dog. But hey, at least there’s always next year—until Black Monday 2025, when about eight more poor souls get to update their résumés. Pass the popcorn; the NFL’s firing spree is the only drama that never disappoints.