This is a day in Football that I don’t like at all. That day is called Black Monday. Especially as it is a time where coaches and managers lose their jobs in the NFL. It is not easy writing and discussing about people losing jobs, but the NFL is a business and moves like this have to be made. I hope those that lost their jobs get another one in the NFL. In this article let’s see who has lost their jobs on Black Monday in 2024.
Head Coaches
Arthur Smith – Atlanta Falcons (2021-2023)
Well, the Atlanta Falcons wasted no time on Black Monday. At 12:01 am, the Atlanta Falcons announced the firing of Arthur Smith as the head coach. Nobody should be surprised by this move, as there were rumors that Atlanta would make changes following a hard collapse. Well, it did happen, and the Falcons didn’t hesitate.
Examining how much draft capital Atlanta invested in the offense, especially in the first round, Smith did a poor job utilizing that talent. He favored Jonnu Smith at tight end over Kyle Pitts. He even gave touches to Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson over Bijan Robinson. Smith also had difficulty properly utilizing Drake London.
Remember when he ridiculed the public and reporters for questioning the potential benching of Desmond Ridder? It was bizarre, as Ridder was struggling, and it was evident that Taylor Heinicke was the better QB overall. Similar head-scratching decisions were evident in his adjustments and play calling during games he coached.
He had the NFC South title within reach, but a collapse at the end of the season cost him. Losing four of their last five games really sealed his fate. Their latest embarrassing loss to the New Orleans Saints was the killing blow and Arthur Smith knew it. It was clear Arthur Smith knew his time was up when he confronted Dennis Allen at the end of the game. I guess he wanted to leave in style, which he kind of did.
Regarding Arthur Smith’s future, he’ll likely resurface in another coaching role in football. He was a solid offensive coordinator in Tennessee and could return to such a position. Perhaps he’ll rejoin Mike Vrabel’s coaching staff in Tennessee, given their close working relationship. He should easily land on his feet, and this won’t be the last time we see Arthur Smith in the NFL.
Ron Rivera – Washington Commanders (2020-2023)
This firing was pretty clear was going to happen halfway through the season. In fact it was an obvious that this move would be done on NFL Black Monday. It was no longer an if, but when Ron Rivera was going to be fired. Did you know that in his entire time coaching in Washington that he never got an above .500 record and throughout his 15 year coaching career only having 3 winning seasons? Yeah, he made the playoffs in 2020, but the only reason why was how terrible the NFC East was at that time.
To be honest, Rivera should have been fired last season when he straight up admitted that he did not realize the Commanders could be eliminated when he started Carson Wentz. Spoiler Alert, they were. Then again he probably wasn’t at that time, because Rivera was the only ethical person in that building when the absolute Disgrace known as Dan Snyder use to own the team. When Snyder sold, that pretty much meant Rivera’s time was ticking.
Despite claims that Rivera “changed the culture,” visible frustration among players like Chase Young, Montez Sweat, and particularly Jonathan Allen suggests otherwise. Clearly, a segment of the locker room lacked faith in Rivera’s leadership. His exit was just a matter of time, and the Commanders allowed him the dignity to finish the season. It remains intriguing to see what lies ahead for Rivera, but it wouldn’t be surprising if this marked his final appearance as a head coach in the National Football League, but I don’t think it will be the end of Rivera as he will likely get an advisory role as a coach.
Mike Vrabel – Tennessee Titans (2018-2023)
Wait, Huh? Why did the Titans fire Mike Vrabel? I get that he has had back to back disappointing years, but the Titans have been derailed by injuries the past few seasons. Vrabel legit has been the best coach this franchise has ever had since Jeff Fisher and this is such a head scratching move.
Vrabel had 4 straight winning seasons when he showed up. Multiple playoff wins, getting the #1 seed, and even was Coach of the Year in 2022. He did this all with an average quarterback and little offensive talent excluding Derrick Henry. You can thank former GM Jon Robinson making the brilliant move to trading AJ Brown for 5 cents on the dollar and wasting that pick on Treylon Burks who has lacked consistency or can’t stay healthy. There aren’t many coaches around the league who have gotten more out of what they were given with than Vrabel.
Teams will be pushing and shoving to get Vrabel into the doors of there organization. He’ll surely land elsewhere as a head coach this offseason and it would be stunning if he doesn’t. As for the Titans, it is pretty clear that the team is going to blow it all up this offseason. The next few seasons are going to be really tough for Titans fans.
General Manager
Scott Fitterer – Carolina Panthers (2021-2023)
Was it really a surprise when news broke that the Panthers decided to fire Scott Fitterer as the General Manager? His time in Carolina was pretty much over the moment Frank Reich got fired. While many blame David Tepper for the Panthers’ current state, many decisions made by Fitterer haven’t helped either. Although Tepper may have influenced the Bryce Young pick, Fitterer’s overall drafting record has been lackluster. Opting for Jaycee Horn over Patrick Surtain and reaching for players like Jonathan Mingo in the draft are examples of his questionable decisions. Reviewing his entire 2022 NFL Draft class, except for Ikem Ekwonu, the other selections appeared wasted.
Furthermore, there were numerous missed trade opportunities that could have significantly benefited Carolina. Rejecting a deal that involved trading Brian Burns to the Rams for two first-round picks. That is a ton of value that could have helped the Panthers. While the Christian McCaffery deal made some sense and brought in multiple picks, it felt like they undersold him. The biggest mistake trade wise was trading a premium for Sam Darnold. Givig 3 draft picks for a QB who was ruined thanks to Adam Gase, was a costly misstep. Additionally, Fitterer’s free-agent signings often proved to be poor scheme fits, adding to the team’s struggles and were often gross overpayments.
Irrespective of opinions on David Tepper, attributing 100% of the blame to him isn’t fair. Fitterer’s decisions have undeniably set the Panthers back for years, potentially hindering the team’s progress for the next half-decade due to his numerous mistakes. The GM change was inevitable, especially considering the season’s setbacks. Fitterer’s future remains uncertain, but a return to the Seattle Seahawks, given his close ties with GM John Schneider, wouldn’t be surprising.
In total, there have been three new head coaching vacancies and one general manager position added. For those who lost their jobs in the NFL, hopefully, they will find another opportunity and position within the National Football League. Thus concludes another difficult day on the 2024 NFL Black Monday.
