The first Monday following the final game of the NFL season is usually a dark day for head coaches. Owners looking to make a statement heading into next season will make a move following a disappointing year, while others will make a change if they feel the team needs a new voice at the top.
The end of the 2012 season has already seen a number of coaches let go, as Andy Reid of the Philadelphia Eagles, Chan Gailey of the Buffalo Bills, Pat Shurmur of the Cleveland Browns and Romeo Crennel of the Kansas City Chiefs were all fired on Black Monday.
Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears despite going 10-6 this season, while Norv Turner of the San Diego Chargers was fired on Monday along with general manager A.J. Smith. This year was one of the hardest hitting Black Monday's in recent memory with so many coaches getting the axe from their teams.
Andy Reid was the longest tenured head coach in the NFL after joining the Eagles in 1999, but he was let go by owner Jeffery Lurie after a disappointing 4-12 season. The team finished the year with a 42-7 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday and lost 11 of the last 12 games of the season.
"Andy Reid won the most games of any head coach in Eagles history and he is someone I respect greatly and will remain friends with for many years to come," owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement, according to ESPN.com. "But, it is time for the Eagles to move in a new direction. Coach Reid leaves us with a winning tradition that we can build upon. And we are very excited about the future."
Reid was set to make $6 million in 2013, but was let go with one year left on his contract. The Eagles have been disappointing over the past two seasons and haven't won a playoff game since 2008. Last year the team finished 8-8 and Lurie said prior to the 2012 season that changes would come if the Eagles didn't improve on that record.
During his 14 seasons with the Eagles, Reid went 130-93-1 and won 10 postseason games while going to the playoffs nine times. He led the team to five NFC championship games, including four consecutive appearances from 2001-2004, and to Super Bowl XXXIX in 2004.
Things did not go as planned for the Eagles this season, as the team dealt with injuries to Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson. The Eagles started 3-1, but lost the following eight games in a row, including a 31-6 defeat against the Washington Redskins. Vick suffered a concussion and was benched for rookie Nick Foles.
Philadelphia had issues on both sides of the ball this season and finished ranked 23rd in the league in rushing defense while allowing 27 points per game. The 54-year-old will be a sought after coaching candidate around the league and could end up back with the San Diego Chargers in California, which is where Reid grew up.
Speaking of the Chargers, the team dismissed head coach Norv Turner and general manager A.J. Smith on Monday after a stretch of disappointing seasons that saw the San Diego miss the playoffs.
The team has already hired former Packers general manager Ron Wolf to help them in their search for a new general manager and head coach.
"I thank A.J. and Norv for the determination and integrity they brought to the Chargers each and every day," team president Dean Spanos said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. "Both Norv and A.J. are consummate NFL professionals, and they understand that in this league, the bottom line is winning. My only goal is the Super Bowl, and that is why I have decided to move in a new direction with both our head coach and general manager positions. I am committed to our great fans, and we will do whatever we possibly can to achieve that goal."
Turner was let go with one year and $3 million left on his contract. He went 55-40 in seven seasons as head coach, but missed the playoffs for the third straight season after going 7-9 in 2012.
Smith added many talented players to the Chargers over the years, including quarterback Philip Rivers, Nate Kaeding, Shawne Merriman and Antonio Gates, but the roster never turned into a Super Bowl contender. Although the team had its first losing season since 2003, the team hasn't made the playoffs for three straight seasons.
Lovie Smith was the most surprising firing of Black Monday, after leading the Bears to a 10-6 record this year. The team had a chance at making the playoffs after defeating the Detroit Lions on Sunday, but fell short when the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Green Bay Packers.
The team announced the firing and said that general manager Phil Emery will hold a news conference on Tuesday to discuss the change. The Bears missed the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons since making the Super Bowl in 2006.
"I think it's going to be a sad day at Halas Hall," quarterback Jay Cutler said, according to ESPNChicago.com. "I have a lot of respect for the guy. He's made friends with a lot of the players. He's a players' coach. I think right now I'm a little surprised, a little sad. Wish I could have done more offensively to help him out."
Smith had 81-63 record and was 3-3 in the playoffs over eight regular seasons, but never could turn the Bears into a consistent offensive team. He had a good combination this year with Cutler, wide receiver Brandon Marshall and running back Matt Forte, but the team still was ranked 28th in the league in total offense.
Although the Bears finished with 10 wins this season, Smith went just 17-19 over the month of December during his nine seasons with the team.
Other coaches that were let go on Monday included Romeo Crennel with the Chiefs, Pat Shurmur of the Cleveland Browns and Chan Gailey of the Buffalo Bills.
Gailey missed the playoffs for the third staright season after leading the Bills to a 6-10 record, while new Browns owner Jimmy Haslam dismissed Shurmur after going 5-11 in his second season with the team. Crennel's Kansas City team sent five players to the Pro Bowl this year, but the Chiefs decided to dismiss the head coach after going 2-14 in 2012.
The Arizona Cardinals also dismissed coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves after going 5-11 in 2012. The team went through a nine game winning streak and was one of the worst offensive teams in the league.
