Black Monday arrived right on schedule across the NFL, with three franchises making immediate head-coaching changes as soon as the regular season ended.
By Monday afternoon, the Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Atlanta Falcons had all moved on from their head coaches.
Different seasons led to the same outcome. Poor records, unclear directio,n and growing pressure left each organisation ready to reset rather than wait.
Raiders cut ties with Pete Carroll after one season
The Las Vegas Raiders parted ways with Pete Carroll after just one season in charge.
Carroll came out of retirement last spring to take on the job in Las Vegas, bringing with him a Hall of Fame résumé and a Super Bowl title from his long run in Seattle. On the field, though, the results never followed.
The Raiders managed just three wins all season and finished bottom of the league. The collapse leaves them holding the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
With the season over, Las Vegas moved quickly. Attention now turns to a coaching search that will shape the direction of a roster in need of major change.
Browns finally move on from Kevin Stefanski
The Cleveland Browns dismissed Kevin Stefanski on Monday morning, ending a six-year spell marked by brief highs and long stretches of frustration.
Cleveland finished the 2025 season 5–12, extending a downward trend that ownership could no longer overlook.
Stefanski led the Browns to two playoff appearances during his tenure, including a memorable postseason win early on. However, recent seasons stalled amid quarterback instability, injuries and a lack of clear progress.
This decision signals a full reset rather than another short-term adjustment. The Browns now head into an offseason defined by major choices, starting with who leads the next rebuild.
Falcons act early on Raheem Morris
The Atlanta Falcons did not wait for Monday. They dismissed Raheem Morris on Sunday night, hours after the regular-season finale.
Atlanta finished 8–9 under Morris, who spent two seasons in charge but never pushed the team into serious playoff contention.
While the record remained competitive, the organisation opted for change before the wider Black Monday rush. The move allows the Falcons to enter the coaching market immediately.
Across the league, Black Monday has become an annual checkpoint rather than a shock. Expectations remain high, patience remains short, and respectable records no longer guarantee job security.
With the playoffs set to begin this weekend, coaching searches now run alongside draft planning and front-office decisions. For the Raiders, Browns and Falcons, the work on 2026 has already started.
