NFL coaching changes 2024: Latest firings, openings, rumors
We're six weeks away from the end of the2024 regular season, and three teams have already fired their head coaches.
TheJetsmade the first change by parting ways withRobert Salehin early October. TheSaintswaited until after Week 9, following their seventh straight loss, to fireDennis Allen. Most recently, the Bears moved on from Matt Eberflus after losing to the Lions on Thanksgiving. That means three jobs are open, withThomas Brown (Bears), Darren Rizzi (Saints) andJeff Ulbrich (Jets) serving as the interim coaches.
Here's everything you need to know about the latest NFL head coach movement, including the pros and cons of the open jobs.
Jump to an opening:br/>Bears |Saints | Jets
Head-coach openings
Chicago Bears
What happened:The Bears fired coach Matt Eberflus one day after a 23-20 loss to the Lions that ended with the Bears falling victim to clock mismanagement. Eberflus held a news conference via Zoom, saying he was confident he would be coaching the Bears the following week, but hours later, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Eberflus was fired and that interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown would take over on an interim basis. Eberflus' tenure ended amid a six-game losing streak that featured an array of last second-losses. -- Courtney Cronin
New Orleans Saints
What happened:The Saints fired Allen after losing their seventh straight game. Special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was named the interim coach, and he addressed the media by noting it was "a tough day," citing Allen as a close friend.
This is the first midseason firing for the Saints since the late Tom Benson purchased the team in 1985. The last in-season firing occurred when Dick Nolan was ousted after an 0-12 start to his third season in 1980. The team also made an in-season coaching change in 1996 when Jim Mora resigned after a 2-6 start, and New Orleans then went 1-7 under Rick Venturi.
Pros of the New Orleans job:New Orleans has a stable front office with one of the longest tenured general managers in the league in Mickey Loomis. The Saints have also shown a tendency to value continuity -- Sean Payton stayed in New Orleans for 15 years, and the Saints only moved on from Allen (who had a long relationship with the team) after an unprecedented amount of losses. That means they'll likely be patient with their next coach, as well.
Cons of the New Orleans job:The Saints have salary cap issues complicated by their strategy of pushing back cap hits in order to "win now." That means there won't be a lot of money to work with in free agency in 2025, and the next coach might not be able to make a lot of changes to the roster right away. That could complicate things if Derek Carr isn't their preferred quarterback. -- Katherine Terrell
New York Jets
What happened: Upset by the team's 2-3 start, Jets owner Woody Johnson made a stunning and unprecedented move in firing Saleh and naming defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich as the interim head coach.
Johnson, with his first in-season coaching change in 25 years of ownership, said he consulted with general manager Joe Douglas but called it "my decision and mine alone." Woody Johnson and his brother, Christopher Johnson, the vice chairman, broke the news to Saleh in his office at the team facility.
Saleh, who promised multiple championships when he was hired in 2021, finished with a 20-36 record and zero playoff appearances. The Jets have a 13-year playoff drought, the longest active drought in the NFL, but they began the season with Super Bowl expectations, in large part because of quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Pros of the New York job:The roster includes some promising young players, most notably wide receiverGarrett Wilson, cornerbackSauce Gardner and running backBreece Hall. Defensive tackleQuinnen Williamsis also still regarded as one of the better interior linemen. After cuts, they should have about $80 million in cap room. They also have eight draft picks, including two likely top-40 picks.
