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Before we find out officially, here are a few Black Monday predictions:<\/p>\n
1 \/ 4<\/p>\n
Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n
Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown<\/a> against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.<\/p>\n 1 \/ 4<\/p>\n Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: Detroit Lions wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa (18) makes a catch for a touchdown<\/a> against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field. The play was originally ruled an incomplete pass, but the call was overturned. Despite TeSlaa’s effort, the Packers won the game 27-13.<\/p>\n 2 \/ 4<\/p>\n Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: The New England Patriots’ Robert Spillane (14) and Christian Elliss (53) tackle Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer (87) during the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Raiders won the game, 20-13.<\/p>\n 3 \/ 4<\/p>\n Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: New York Giants quarterback Russell Wilson (3) fumbles the ball on a tackle by Washington Commanders safety Will Harris (3) during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. It was a rough Giants debut for Wilson (17 of 37 passing for 168 yards) as the Commanders won the game, 21-6.<\/p>\n 4 \/ 4<\/p>\n Best images of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: Fireworks go off before the NFL Kickoff Game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles opened the season with a 24-20 victory over their longtime NFC East rivals.<\/p>\n Black Monday will be moderate shade of gray<\/p>\n Since the start of the Super Bowl era \u2013 the 1966 season \u2013 six to seven head coaching openings, on average, materialize each year. As previously mentioned, two teams have already begun their searches. But if one were to set an over\/under of, say, 3\u00bd more firings in 2026, I\u2019d be inclined to take the under. Several coaches this season have certainly fallen short of expectations, though quite a few have been victimized by circumstances largely beyond their control \u2013 whether they be injuries, weak rosters, poor quarterback play or maybe a combination thereof.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n It\u2019s also worth noting that very few organizations wait anymore to render a decision on Black Monday itself. Increasingly, teams like the Giants<\/a> and Titans<\/a> cut the cord when it\u2019s clearly the proper course of action. Others will make an announcement in the hours after the regular-season finale rather than make a coach endure a process that need not last an additional day. And, sometimes, a club and\/or coach need a cooling-off period before deciding whether a break-up is in order.<\/p>\n The guess here? Most pink slips will be issued by Sunday\u2019s end \u2013 or maybe not until week\u2019s end \u2026 just don\u2019t expect all that many.<\/p>\n A coach in the playoffs won\u2019t remain with his team in 2026<\/p>\n It\u2019s not all that unusual to see a head man depart his post even after reaching the postseason \u2013 especially one who\u2019s gotten into something of a good-but-not-great rut. This isn\u2019t an indictment or suggestion any of the following men are in trouble, per se. But franchises sometimes wind up deciding to take a step back in order to (theoretically) eventually move forward \u2013 even if it means parting with a proven winner like Todd Bowles or Matt LaFleur or even John Harbaugh. Just saying \u2013 sometimes Black Monday arrives a week late.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n NFL hot seat rankings: Which coaches are in most trouble ahead of Week 18?<\/a><\/p>\n Mike McDaniel will stay in Miami<\/p>\n Widely identified as a man on the hot seat<\/a> in the aftermath of the Dolphins<\/a>\u2019 disappointing 8-9 finish in 2024, could he somehow survive what\u2019s shaping up as another seven- or eight-win campaign? In a break from their typical pattern under McDaniel, who\u2019s wrapping up his fourth season at the helm, the Fins have nearly gotten back to break even after a 1-6 start \u2013 one that included the season-ending loss of dynamic WR Tyreek Hill<\/a>. It\u2019s also worth noting that McDaniel was retained at midseason when owner Stephen Ross and former GM Chris Grier mutually parted ways<\/a>.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n The Dolphins will obviously find a replacement for Grier (thanks, Troy Aikman<\/a>). They\u2019re also probably contractually stuck with QB Tua Tagovailoa<\/a>, who\u2019d had quite a bit of success under McDaniel before being benched late in the season, for at least another year. But even if the next GM decides to take a financial bath by cutting Tagovailoa, a move that would trigger something in the neighborhood of of nine-figure salary-cap pain, the team isn\u2019t likely to find an immediate replacement who’s face-of-the-franchise-caliber. Given those options, it probably makes sense to retain McDaniel \u2013 whether he goes back to work with Tua or continues shepherding rookie Quinn Ewers, and kick the HC decision can down the road for a year. While it\u2019s certainly ideal to have a new GM and coach enter the building together, philosophically aligned and such, it\u2019s nearly as common for a new personnel boss to take the lay of the land for a year before deciding whether to stick with a program or fully reset it \u2013 recent examples of similar reboots transpiring in Nashville and Chicago.<\/p>\n 1 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the “Monday Night Football” game against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders wore their all-black alternate uniforms for the game.<\/p>\n 1 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Washington Commanders wide receiver Chris Moore (19) celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown during the “Monday Night Football” game against the Chicago Bears at Northwest Stadium. The Commanders wore their all-black alternate uniforms for the game.<\/p>\n 2 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier (25) carries the ball for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Falcons played the game while sporting throwback uniforms that harken back to the team’s inaugural season of 1966.<\/p>\n 3 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen operates at the line of scrimmage before a play against the Atlanta Falcons during a “Monday Night Football” game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Bills wore throwback uniforms reminiscent of the team’s look from 1962-1973 during the game.<\/p>\n 4 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 6: Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young looks for a receiver against the Dallas Cowboys at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore this uniform combination for the first time in the 30-27 win.<\/p>\n 5 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season 6 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray makes a throw during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at State Farm Stadium. The Cardinals wore their all-black uniforms, but were defeated 22-21.<\/p>\n 7 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield awaits the snap against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field. Both teams wore throwback uniforms in the Buccaneers’ 38-35 win. The Buccaneers and Seahawks entered the NFL together as expansion teams in 1976.<\/p>\n 8 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tory Horton (15) is congratulated by teammate AJ Barner (88) after catching a touchdown pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Lumen Field. The Seahawks wore throwback uniforms harkening back to the team’s original look from 1976-2001.<\/p>\n 9 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: Los Angeles Chargers running back Omarion Hampton (8) runs against the Washington Commanders during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium. The Chargers wore monochrome powder blue uniform pants and jerseys for the first time.<\/p>\n 10 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: New York Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson (5) is tackled by the Dallas Cowboys’ Trevon Diggs (7) and Juanyeh Thomas (2) during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Cowboys wore their “Arctic White” uniforms for the 37-22 win.<\/p>\n 11 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 5: New York Jets quarterback Justin Fields stands in the pocket against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Jets wore their all-black uniforms in the 37-22 loss.<\/p>\n 12 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 4: Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) hands the ball off to running back J.K. Dobbins during the “Monday Night Football”<\/a> game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Empower Field at Mile High. The Broncos wore their “Midnight Navy” uniforms for the 28-3 win<\/a>.<\/p>\n 13 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season 14 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season 15 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Baltimore Ravens tight end Charlie Kolar (88) makes a catch during his team’s “Monday Night Football” game against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium. The Ravens wore their all-black uniforms for the game dubbed, “Darkness Falls.” Despite the fancy marketing moniker, the Ravens were defeated, 38-30.<\/p>\n 16 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: New Orleans Saints running back Kendre Miller (5) stiff arms Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrice Knight (48) during the second quarter at Lumen Field. The Saints wore their all-white uniform and helmet combo for the first time in the 44-13 loss.<\/p>\n 17 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey carries the ball against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi’s Stadium. The 49ers wore throwback jerseys – an homage to the team’s 1950s look, as well as its 1994 Super Bowl-winning season – in the 16-15 win against the Cardinals.<\/p>\n 18 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: New England Patriots tight end Hunter Henry (85) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. New England brought out its iconic “Pat Patriot” throwback in the 21-14 defeat.<\/p>\n 19 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Rachaad White (1) runs with the ball as New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner attempts to make the tackle during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. The Buccaneers wore their famous “Creamsicle” throwback uniforms in the 29-27 win.<\/p>\n 20 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Cleveland Browns running back Quinshon Judkins celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. The Browns debuted their “Alpha Dawg” alternate uniform for the 13-10 win.<\/p>\n 21 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Jourdan Lewis (2) celebrates after making an interception in the fourth quarter against the Houston Texans at EverBank Stadium. The Jaguars wore their “Prowler Throwbacks” – an homage to the team’s late-1990s heyday – for the 17-10 win.<\/p>\n 22 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 3: Carolina Panthers tight end JaTavion Saunders runs with the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers wore their special black helmets in the 30-0 win.<\/p>\n 23 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 2: Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) runs the ball against the Atlanta Falcons at U.S. Bank Stadium. Sporting “The Vikings Classic” throwback uniform inspired by the team’s look during the 1960s and ’70s, Minnesota was defeated, 22-6.<\/p>\n 24 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 2: The Green Bay Packers’ Micah Parsons (1) reacts during a “Thursday Night Football” game against the Washington Commanders at Lambeau Field. The Packers wore their “Winter Warning” uniforms for the 27-18 win.<\/p>\n 25 \/ 25<\/p>\n Can’t-miss alternate and throwback uniforms of the 2025 NFL season<\/p>\n Week 1: New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals at Caesars Superdome. The Saints wore their reimagined “Gameday Gold” uniforms for their season opener, marking the first time the team wore gold jerseys since the 2002 season. The Cardinals defeated the Saints, 20-13.<\/p>\n Browns<\/a> keep Kevin Stefanski<\/p>\n The dude has been the league\u2019s Coach of the Year \u2013 twice since 2020. In Cleveland. If unspoken, it was fairly apparent that the Browns were thinking long term \u2013 meaning with Stefanski and GM Andrew Berry \u2013 the moment they traded away the No. 2 pick of the 2025 draft and didn\u2019t reach for a quarterback like Jaxson Dart or Tyler Shough early in the proceedings. What Cleveland did do was load up on young talent \u2013 DT Mason Graham, LB Carson Schwesinger, TE Harold Fannin Jr., WR Isaiah Bond, RBs Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson and \u2013 maybe? \u2013 QBs Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. It’s quite a young core \u2212 even if neither of the latter two prove worthy of a long-term investment. And, don’t forget, the Browns have two first-round picks in this year\u2019s draft and\/or the option of finding another veteran stopgap as they continue to seek a long-term answer behind center.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Regardless, the course owner Jimmy Haslam has charted \u2013 not to mention the often positive results in recent years, even when Stefanski was saddled with the quarterbacking albatross that is Deshaun Watson \u2013 would seem to suggest the coach could and should remain part of the grander plan.<\/p>\n PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – OCTOBER 12: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers talks with head coach Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns before the game at Acrisure Stadium on October 12, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Mike Tomlin’s future is up to Mike Tomlin<\/p>\n We hear you, Pittsburgh Steelers fans. You’re frustrated. Winning annually is fine, but not winning Super Bowls annually isn’t. There’s no doubt Tomlin and this organization want to do better than one-and-done \u2212 if they make it that far \u2212 when the playoffs roll around. There’s no doubt Tomlin and this organization want a long-term answer at quarterback. There’s no doubt Tomlin and this organization want to finish constructing that long-awaited Stairway to Seven, stuck on a league-record six Lombardi Trophies \u2212 for one franchise anyway \u2212 since he, Ben Roethlisberger and Co. won Super Bowl 43 to cap the 2008 season.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n But after 19 non-losing seasons and 200 wins (including playoffs), Tomlin \u2212 one of three coaches the ever-stable Steelers have employed since 1969 \u2212 won’t be pushed out of Pittsburgh. He’ll only jump, and likely to a plum job opening like the Giants’, if that’s what he chooses to do. But don’t hold your collective breath, you ungrateful and spoiled Yinzers.<\/p>\n All NFL news on and off the field.\u00a0Sign up<\/a>\u00a0for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/ece3b009de0e7aba961c9dfc2585f6aa.jpeg\"\/)
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