Ravens-Steelers face big questions in Week 18
USAT’s Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaka break down Lamar Jackson’s status and DK Metcalf’s suspension as the Steelers and Ravens battle it out for the AFC North.
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- “Black Monday” is a term used to refer to the day after the end of the NFL regular season when multiple head coaches are often fired.
- The Tennessee Titans and New York Giants have already fired their head coaches ahead of the 2026 offseason.
“Black Monday,” figuratively the worst day on the NFL calendar, is less than 24 hours away. On a day when 18 teams are packing up their collective lockers for the offseason that’s weeks away, several head coaches, along with their assistants and even their families, will also be packing up in preparation for a permanent change of address.
Two teams, the Tennessee Titans and New York Giants, decided a few weeks ago to go in a new direction in 2026, pre-emptively pulling the plug on Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll, respectively, rather than needlessly twisting them before the inevitable ax falls. Will their firing portend a larger HC bloodletting?
Here are some Black Monday predictions before it’s official.
Black Monday has a moderate gray hue
Since the 1966 season, the beginning of the Super Bowl era, an average of six to seven head coaching positions have been realized each year. As mentioned earlier, two teams have already started the search. But if I were to set an over/under of, say, 3 1/2 more shots in 2026, I would be inclined to choose the under. While some coaches have certainly fallen short of expectations this season, many have fallen victim to circumstances beyond their control, whether it’s injuries, a weak roster, poor quarterback play or some combination thereof.
It is also notable that very few organizations are waiting for a decision on Black Monday itself. Teams like the Giants and Titans are increasingly cutting the cord when it’s clearly the appropriate course of action. Some teams are making announcements hours after the final regular-season game, rather than forcing coaches to endure a process that doesn’t need to last an additional day. Also, in some cases, a cooling off period may be required before a club or coach decides whether to part ways.
What’s the guess here? Most pink slips will be issued by the end of Sunday – or maybe not until the end of the week… just don’t expect too many.
Coaches who participate in the playoffs will not be on the team in 2026.
It’s not that unusual for a Hedman to leave his post even after reaching the postseason. This is especially true for headmen who are stuck in a rut that is good but not so good. This is not an accusation or suggestion that any of the men below have a problem. But sometimes a franchise ends up deciding to take a step back in order to (theoretically) finally move forward, even if it means parting ways with proven winners like Todd Bowles, Matt LaFleur, or even John Harbaugh. Just to let you know, Black Monday can sometimes arrive a week late.
Mike McDaniel remains in Miami
Widely seen as a rising star after the Dolphins finished a disappointing 8-9 season in 2024, can he somehow survive another 7- or 8-win season? In a break from the typical pattern under coach McDaniel, who is completing his fourth season, the Fins have recovered to nearly break-even after a 1-6 start. That includes losing dynamic wide receiver Tyreek Hill at the end of the season. It’s also worth noting that McDaniel stayed on midway through the season, when owner Stephen Ross and former GM Chris Grier parted ways.
The Dolphins will obviously find a replacement for Grier (thanks, Troy Aikman). They will likely be contractually tied to QB Tua Tagovailoa, who had considerable success under McDaniel, for at least another year before being benched late in the season. But even if the next general manager decides to take it easy financially by firing Tagovailoa, which would cause near nine-figure salary cap pain, it’s unlikely the team will be able to find a replacement with the qualities to be the face of the franchise anytime soon. Given those options, it probably makes sense to keep McDaniel — whether he returns to work under Tua or continues to coach rookie Quinn Ewers, potentially delaying the head coach’s decision for a year. While it’s certainly ideal for a new GM and coach to come on board together and be aligned on philosophy, etc., it’s equally common for new HR executives to spend a year on-site training before deciding whether to continue with the program or completely reset it. Similar reboots have occurred recently in Nashville and Chicago.
Browns keep Kevin Stefanski
This guy was named the league’s coach of the year – twice From 2020. in cleveland. Even if they didn’t say it, it was clear the Browns were thinking long-term, Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry, the moment they traded away their 2025 No. 2 pick and didn’t acquire a quarterback like Jackson Dart or Tyler Shaw early in the game. What Cleveland did was stack up on young talent – DT Mason Graham, LB Carson Schwezinger, TE Harold Fannin Jr., WR Isaiah Bond, RB Quinshon Judkins, Dylan Sampson, and – maybe? – QBs Shedur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel. This is a very young core, even if the latter two aren’t worth the long-term investment. And don’t forget, the Browns have two first-round picks in this year’s draft and/or the option of finding another veteran stopgap as they continue to look for a long-term answer behind center.
Either way, course owner Jimmy Haslam seems to suggest the coach can and should remain part of the grander plan, not to mention Stefanski has often performed well in recent years, even when he was saddled with quarterback albatross Deshaun Watson.
Mike Tomlin’s future depends on Mike Tomlin
We hear from you, Pittsburgh Steelers fans. you are annoyed. Winning a championship every year is fine, but not winning the Super Bowl every year is a problem. There’s no doubt that Tomlin and this organization want to do more than just advance once the playoffs begin. There’s no doubt that Tomlin and this organization want a long-term answer at quarterback. There’s no doubt that Tomlin and the organization are hoping to complete the construction of the long-awaited “Stairway to the Seven” by dwelling on a league-record six Lombardi Trophies (as a franchise, anyway) since he, Ben Roethlisberger and others won Super Bowl XLIII to close out the 2008 season.
But Tomlin, who had 19 undefeated seasons and 200 wins (including playoffs) (one of three coaches the ever-stable Steelers have hired since 1969), won’t be forced out of Pittsburgh. If that’s what he chooses, he’ll just jump at it and probably get a great job like the Giants. But don’t hold your breath, you ungrateful and spoiled insers.
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