Mayo, Pederson, and Pierce Were Dismissed as NFL ‘Black Monday’ Concludes

‘Black Monday’ marks the end of the NFL regular season, signaling that certain head coaches will face termination.
On ‘Black Monday’, Doug Pederson and Antonio Pierce were released from their positions by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Las Vegas Raiders, respectively.
The New England Patriots took swift action before ‘Black Monday’, terminating Jerod Mayo just moments after their season finale against the Buffalo Bills.

The NFL experienced a hectic ‘Black Monday’ as three head coaches were released at the conclusion of the regular season. Jerod Mayo, Doug Pederson, and Antonio Pierce were among those let go, with one coach receiving notice as soon as Sunday’s final game concluded.

Jerod Mayo, New England

After just one season in New England, Jerod Mayo was fired by the Patriots.

Finishing with a disappointing 4-13 record placed the Patriots last in the AFC East. Ironically, their final game saw them triumph over the Bills 23-16 in Week 18, yet this victory meant they wouldn’t secure the top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, pushing them down to fourth in the draft order. Mayo's firing occurred less than an hour after their season ended on Sunday.

At times during his inaugural year as an NFL head coach, Mayo appeared to struggle. Previously, he was a celebrated player with an eight-year career in New England, where he secured a Super Bowl ring in 2014 (despite spending most of that season sidelined with injury). Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2008, and a two-time Pro Bowler.

However, his previous success as a player did not translate to a successful coaching season, with the Patriots displaying a lack of coordination for much of the year. Additionally, they didn’t give rookie quarterback Drake Maye a start until Week 6. NFL betting sites There’s speculation that Mike Vrabel, a former New England linebacker, is expected to be a prime candidate to take over Mayo’s position.

From 2018 until 2023, Vrabel served as the head coach of the Tennessee Titans and was highly regarded for his coaching abilities. NFL Coach of the Year Following the conclusion of the 2021 season, he became an attractive prospect for many franchises.

Doug Pederson, Jacksonville

Pederson was near the NFL next coach fired odds Throughout the season, it seemed many anticipated Pederson would be dismissed far earlier. Ultimately, he persevered until after leading the Jaguars to a disappointing 4-13 finish. he was let go Pederson previously coached two teams and brought the Philadelphia Eagles a Super Bowl championship in 2017. His tenure in Jacksonville lasted three seasons, but injuries, particularly to quarterback Trevor Lawrence, took a toll on the team's performance. Even when Lawrence was fit, the Jaguars struggled, hinting that changes were on the horizon.

The Jaguars may be considering Detroit's offensive coordinator Ben Johnson as a strong contender to replace Pederson, given the progress Johnson has made with Jared Goff in Detroit, where he achieved considerable success.

NFL betting lines The team hopes Johnson can replicate that success with Lawrence. Furthermore, the Jaguars are set to have the fifth overall pick in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. already requested an interview Similarly to Mayo, Pierce also had a brief spell as head coach, having taken over after a season underperformed. NFL MVP odds After stepping in for Josh McDaniels, Pierce guided the Raiders to a 5-4 record last season, earning him the permanent position in the off-season. However, this season proved disastrous for the Raiders, who fell to a 4-13 record and now will select sixth in the draft.

Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas

Pierce achieved a Super Bowl victory in 2007 with the New York Giants and was recognized as a Pro Bowler, though his coaching role may have proven too challenging. being fired by the Raiders on “Black Monday”.

Unfortunately, the Raiders faced significant difficulties at quarterback, unable to find reliable leadership with Gardner Minshew and Aiden O’Connell. The new head coach will need to address this pressing issue. 2025 NFL Draft Kellen Moore, the offensive coordinator for Philadelphia, is considered a leading candidate to step in as head coach in Las Vegas.

Finn is a writer with over four years of experience creating articles under the alias Phil Bowman. A lifelong sports fan and betting enthusiast, he enjoys various sports, especially soccer, but also engages with anything involving balls, bats, or boxing gloves! His writing focuses on educating bettors to learn from their missteps and gamble wisely. Finn currently resides in Europe. Online sportsbooks The NFL is anticipated to allow players to compete in the flag football event at the 2028 Olympics.