Niners Nation - Black Monday 2017: Which head coaches & general managers are fired, and who will replace them?"We're the San Francisco 49ers, we can do whatever we want."https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47865/ninersnation_f.png2017-01-02T04:55:01-08:00http://www.ninersnation.com/rss/stream/139031952017-01-02T04:55:01-08:002017-01-02T04:55:01-08:00What playoff schedule means for HC interviews
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The NFL playoff bracket is officially set. We look at who gets a bye, and what it means for the coaching search.</p> <p id="8DySo6">The 2017 NFL playoff bracket is officially set, and it provides some actually pertinent information for San Francisco 49ers fans. Candidates for head coach and general manager positions that are currently involved in the playoffs have certain rules about who can interview when.</p>
<p id="zWIj7q">For GMs, it is quite simple. A year ago, NFL PR person Greg Aiello <a href="http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2014/12/what_are_the_nfl_rules_for_jets_upcoming_contact_with_coach_general_manager_candidates.html">explained GM interview rules</a> as follows. “Non-high level” means anybody not in a GM, president, or other equivalent role:</p>
<blockquote><p id="a0x1R1">"A team may request permission with such a non-high level employee of a team in the playoffs. The playoff team may grant permission and the interview or interviews may be conducted at a time and place that is convenient for the employer club. There is no limitation on the number of times that an individual may be interviewed by the same club, provided that in each instance permission has been received from the employer club."</p></blockquote>
<p id="jXfOgQ">The rules are significantly more sticky with regard to interviewing candidates for head coach positions. If a coach’s team is not in the postseason (or has subsequently been eliminated), they can interview at any time. Additionally, it is mandatory for assistants to be given permission to interview for a head coach opportunity.</p>
<p id="9BbMVL">For teams in the playoffs, bye weeks play into the situation (<a href="http://www.prostarcoaching.net/library/NFL_Contact_Rules.pdf">pdf here</a>). If an assistant coach wants to interview, there can only be one interview, and it must be held in the assistant coach’s home team city. If a team has earned a bye during the Wild Card weekend, the interviews of its coaches must be conducted before the end of the Wild Card games. For assistant coaches who play in the wild card weekend and win their game, the interviews must be held after the Wild Card game, and before the Divisional game. No interviews may be requested or granted after the divisional weekend for any assistant coach whose team is still playing in the postseason. However, if a first interview was held, a follow-up is allowed for one of the two Super Bowl teams during the bye week after the conference championship weekend.</p>
<p id="wRDuYK">The playoff bracket is set up as follows. The Cowboys, Falcons, Patriots, and Chiefs all have first round byes. Most notably, this group includes Falcons OC Kyle Shanahan, Patriots OC Josh McDaniels, Cowboys OC Scott Linehan, and Patriots DC Matt Patricia. Shanahan and McDaniels are the two most likely to get interviews this week.</p>
<h4 id="ct6Dcm">NFC<br>
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<p id="lapFFa">1. Cowboys<br>2. Falcons</p>
<p id="ondDgw">3. Seahawks<br>4. Packers<br>5. Giants<br>6. Lions</p>
<h4 id="5jKXZJ">AFC<br>
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<p id="qPDeJF">1. Patriots<br>2. Chiefs</p>
<p id="7Og79e">3. Steelers<br>4. Texans<br>5. Raiders<br>6. Dolphins</p>
https://www.ninersnation.com/2017/1/2/14142512/nfl-playoff-bracket-2017-schedule-head-coach-interview-permissionDavid Fucillo2017-01-01T17:51:01-08:002017-01-01T17:51:01-08:00Chargers fire McCoy, Kubiak announces he’s leaving Broncos
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<figcaption>Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>There would appear to be five job openings, with a sixth likely soon. The 49ers have their work cut out for them.</p> <p id="4KEPes">The NFL coaching carousel has two more openings, with another expected to follow soon. We entered Week 17 Sunday with three openings in Buffalo, Los Angeles, and Jacksonville. Since the end of the afternoon action, San Diego has announced Mike McCoy has been fired, and Gary Kubiak <a href="https://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/815721336911888384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">told Denver</a> he is stepping away because of health and stress issues.</p>
<p id="fWoTpH">All of this comes amidst rumors Saturday reports that San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly would be fired along with general manager Trent Baalke. Baalke confirmed his own firing on Sunday, but Kelly said he was not aware of any firing, and was set to meet with Jed York after the game.</p>
<p id="Jyc699">More than likely if Kelly does in fact get fired, some kind of announcement will happen late tonight. It could drag into Black Monday, but the last two firings were announced pretty quickly. And considering there are already at least five other openings, and the potential for more on Black Monday, the 49ers cannot afford to fall behind the eight ball in the interview process. They already have to figure out their general manager first, so there is no time to be wasted.</p>
https://www.ninersnation.com/2017/1/1/14142014/nfl-head-coach-rumors-chargers-fire-mike-mccoy-gary-kubiak-retirementDavid Fucillo2016-12-27T10:20:01-08:002016-12-27T10:20:01-08:00Bills fire head coach Rex Ryan; is 49ers’ Chip Kelly next?
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<figcaption>Photo by Rich Barnes/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Rex Ryan is out in Buffalo. Will the 49ers be making a head coaching change in the near future?</p> <p id="8WiXWb">The Buffalo Bills didn’t wait until Black Monday to axe head coach Rex Ryan, instead making his ousting official in the late morning on Tuesday. Rex is gone, as is his brother, Rob Ryan, who was serving as the team’s assistant head coach and defensive coordinator.</p>
<p id="2Nx6SD">In the interim, the Bills promoted offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn to serve as head coach for the final game of the year. Lynn is in an interesting position, given his elevation to offensive coordinator early in the season seemed like a scapegoat move by Ryan, who fired his previous offensive coordinator after several <em>defensive</em> collapses.</p>
<p id="FTQw4X">But Lynn did run a mildly successful offense, and it’s unclear at this point if he has a chance to earn the full job going forward. For Ryan, it’s another failed shot at being a head coach and it’s likely he’ll either need to hit the broadcast booth or resume his life as a defensive coordinator if he wants to be employed in 2017.</p>
<p id="tQ1DtR">So why does this matter to us here at Niners Nation?</p>
<p id="yIgzu1">Well, it doesn’t specifically, but any and all head coach movement should be worth noting at the very least. The San Francisco 49ers will likely make some serious changes this offseason, possibly including parting ways with general manager Trent Baalke and head coach Chip Kelly.</p>
<p id="dh5V8Z">There have been various reports, but the general consensus seems to be that if Baalke is gone, then whoever the next general manager is will wind up deciding Kelly’s fate. Kelly has said that the 49ers haven’t discussed his future with the team, and he’s said these conversations won’t occur until after Week 17.</p>
<p id="6SPSkj">So there are a few possible reasons for this. One is that Kelly has a legitimate shot at returning next season. One is that the 49ers see no real point in making a change even if Kelly is going soon, as there are no interim options currently on the coaching staff worth giving a one-game audition to. </p>
<p id="CYr5EK">One is that Jed York is in charge and trying to predict his whims and where they’re going to take him is a fool’s errand.</p>
<p id="wscV0i">Let’s see where this all goes.</p>
https://www.ninersnation.com/2016/12/27/14090798/rex-ryan-fired-bills-2016-49ers-chip-kelly-jed-yorkJames Brady2016-12-18T15:01:05-08:002016-12-18T15:01:05-08:00Jaguars fire head coach Gus Bradley
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<figcaption>Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The second firing has happened.</p> <p id="w388dC">After weeks of Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan saying he would not fire Gus Bradley, things have changed. The team announced on Sunday that Bradley has been fired with two games remaining on the schedule. The Jaguars had an upset of the Houston Texans in hand, only to blow a 20-8 third quarter lead and lose 21-20. That was the last straw.</p>
<p id="B5njf7">Jacksonville joins the Los Angeles Rams in firing their head coach with games left to play. The Buffalo Bills are expected to fire Rex Ryan as well, but that has not happened yet. The Cincinnati Bengals may give Marvin Lewis another season, but I don’t think anybody would be stunned to see a change there. The Chicago Bears will probably make some kind of changes. And of course, we still don’t know Chip Kelly’s future with the 49ers.</p>
<p id="w33Ejs">What will be interesting is where Gus Bradley and potentially Rex Ryan end up next year. Both have extensive history coaching defenses, and I imagine could land a defensive coordinator role relatively easily. They also very well might want to wait a year, enjoy getting a paid vacation, and then figure out something for the 2018 season. January will provide all we need to know.</p>
https://www.ninersnation.com/2016/12/18/14001002/jaguars-fire-head-coach-gus-bradleyDavid Fucillo2016-12-12T11:48:53-08:002016-12-12T11:48:53-08:00Rams fire Jeff Fisher
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<figcaption>Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Wow. Just, wow.</p> <p id="E4RSNR">So apparently he is not an immortal! The Los Angeles Rams announced on Monday that head coach Fisher has been let go. This news comes not long after word that he had agreed to a contract extension earlier this year.</p>
<p id="vkqsaz">The Rams are 4-9 and have stumbled through Jared Goff’s first year with the team. They have lost four straight and eight of nine and have shown nothing to indicate they were making some kind of progress. They are the first team to fire a head coach this year, but they will most certainly not be the last.</p>
<p id="YCc4Ik">Given how this season has gone, the Rams probably should have fired Fisher after the 49ers spanked his Rams on national television. Given how bad the 49ers are, that 28-0 win is certainly something else. And now, the two teams will meet up again in Week 16 with an interim coach in LA, and the 49ers facing plenty of their own questions. It’s going to be a miserable Christmas Eve affair.</p>
https://www.ninersnation.com/2016/12/12/13924942/rams-fire-jeff-fisherDavid Fucillo