The Firings Keep On! (The NFL Coach/Coordinator Cycle, Part Two!)

Black Monday has swiftly come and gone! We saw the Cardinals, Raiders, Browns, and Falcons all fire their head coach 24 hours removed from their season finale. (Along with the Colts and Giants committing to their General Managers.) I must admit I didn’t expect to make this a two-parter. Since my last writing, a few more releases have been made around the league. Ravens legendary coach John Harbaugh is sadly the cherry on top. Much like yesterday, it’s time to see who’s gone and look into what remains for everyone else. Let’s get into it!

Cincinnati Bengals – Keep Zac Taylor

With this news breaking on Monday; I should’ve had this passage in the previous article. That is an oversight I take full accountability for. However I saw no realm of possibility Taylor was let go. Even if the fanbase has called for it, the seven-year vet has more recent success than anyone that’s been discussed. Zac Taylor is currently 52-63-1 in his Bengals career. Take away his first year with a struggling Andy Dalton, and his second year with a rookie/injured Joe Burrow. Once you do, you’ll see the man’s 46-38. He led this squad to being four points away from a Super Bowl 56 victory and another four points from returning for Super Bowl 57.

Transitioning from a top five team for two years in a row, to 9-8 twice and now 6-11 is certainly upsetting. Yes, the Bengals had a down year. They often didn’t look like themselves whether Joe Burrow was healthy or not. Coming into 2025, two things were certain. The defense had zero money invested into it, and the Bengals would start off slow. And what happened? Burrow’s Bengals beat the Browns by one, then Jake Browning and Joe Flacco would garnish two more wins before the bye week. (Don’t worry. The defense statistically lived up to their bottom-three reputation.)

Frankly, Zac Taylor getting another chance is warranted. Despite the negatives, Running Back Chase Brown and Wide Receiver Ja’marr Chase each compiled 1,400 scrimmage yards. Fellow receiver Tee Higgins quietly tied Amon-Ra St. Brown in touchdowns this year. The team as a whole still destroyed the likes of Arizona and Miami, while remaining in close games with New England and Buffalo. It’s no secret the defensive side needs constant attention. Although defensive fumbles and interceptions were both middle of the league’s pack, the Bengals gave up the most points in franchise history. At least Safety Jordan Battle broke out with four defensive picks. Cincy knows what they need to fix, and can start with pick ten at the draft. Taylor’s job likely depends on how or if they can.

Dallas Cowboys – DC Matt Eberflus Is Gone

From one horrendous defense to the next, eh? Also allowing the most points in *their* franchise, the Cowboys moved on from the former Bears head coach after one year. (The margins for Dallas and Cincy are too high to factor in the extra game, by the way. These were their worst defenses to date.) A moderately successful defensive coordinator for the Colts in the past, Eberflus subsequently set the Bears back a few years. Another defense looking bleak after the Micah Parsons trade, the DC’s job looked rough from the start.

Once a fearful squad, the Cowboys turned into Swiss cheese in 2024 and haven’t looked back. Knowing this, how much is Eberflus really to blame for all of this? *He* didn’t trade Micah Parsons, and wasn’t around for the dramatic “falloff” last year. 2023 first round pick Mazi Smith was a bust way before he arrived. He even proved Defensive End Jadeveon Clowney still had something left in the tank with a team-leading eight and a half sacks. Quinnen Williams at Nose Tackle led to a Pro Bowl appearance as well. But the Cowboys tied second to last in defensive interceptions. Clowney was the only Cowboy to reach six sacks. Cornerback Trevon Diggs is no longer on the team after a rocket start to his career.

Regardless of opinion, the offense put 76 more points than last year with the additions of WR George Pickens and RB Javonte Williams. The defense gave up 43 more points than 2024, which was already the second most points allowed coming into this year. A situation genuinely similar to the Bengals, except the offense has a newer identity. With this year at an end, Dallas needs a new direction to stop the opposition. Quarterback Dak Prescott isn’t getting any younger, so perhaps the Cowboys weren’t willing to risk a second year with Eberflus. While I can’t say I blame them, I wouldn’t be fully surprised if a team gives him a call to interview for DC. The Cowboys’ defense was far worst than what Eberflus walked into for the Colts. On the other hand, maybe the reputation he’s left the last four years is permanent enough. Dallas picks twelfth in the NFL Draft this year, and surely has to start patching this.

Detroit Lions – OC John Morton Is Out

12 months removed from losing the great Ben Johnson to Chicago, Detroit’s on the hunt to find that magic again. Morton has spent time with multiple franchises in offensive contribution. His most notable would be as the Broncos’ passing game coordinator working with a first-year Bo Nix. Coming into 2025, the offense looked like themselves averaging 30.7 points and standing 5-2 at their bye week. This average increased to 31.4 over the next two games, before a contest against Philadelphia changed it all. After only putting up nine points, (the least scored they’ve scored in a regular season since Week 7, 2023) head coach Dan Campbell had seen enough and took over play calling duties until the year’s end. He would average exactly 27 points over these seven games and only win thrice.

Under coach Campbell; the Lions’ Cinderella story in 2023 was a beautiful thing proving them legit. 2024’s offense was the most in franchise history by *83* points and easily the best in the league. Although they ended the year 9-8, this was the franchise’s greatest scoring offense to not make the playoffs. (And is still top three in points per game in their history.) With an upset loss in last year’s divisional round, Detroit was expected to show ravenous hunger given the same offense was returning from 2024. Now they have pick 17 of the draft. Hm. Excusing Tight End Sam LaPorta for missing half the season, every Lions skill player was consistent to last year. Consistent that someone looks at their stat lines and thinks “they *should* be in the playoffs right now.”

While Detroit’s defense wasn’t anything special this year, they still managed 25 sacks between DE Aidan Hutchinson and Al-Quadin Muhammad alone. Safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph lead this squad when healthy. The Lions get bit by the injury bug often, but didn’t let this affect 2024’s 15-2 record. For this, Morton being dismissed is likely an alright call. It’d be foolish of Campbell to expect ‘Ben Johnson’ results right away. But the inability to comeback in close games again Minnesota and Philly weeks seven and nine are a bitter taste. In fact, the Lions were swept by both division rival Vikings and Packers. Being in the league every year since 2019, we likely haven’t seen the last of Morton. His offensive results were better than half the league. Surely he could contribute more than a coach like Jonathan Gannon for example.

Washington Commanders – A Trifecta Of Exits

And now from one Cinderella story to the next, eh? Head coach Dan Quinn and the Commanders have officially moved on from Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Defensive Coordinator Joe Whitt Jr, and offensive line coach Bobby Johnson. Yikes. In the league since 2001, the defensive guru worked with many teams including Seattle’s Legion of Boom. Then as former head coach of the Falcons, Quinn led Atlanta to a 2016 Super Bowl appearance in the infamous “28-3” game. His whole tenure finished 42-43 after being fired early into 2020. Hired by Washington in 2024, Dan Quinn had to turn a 4-12 team around starting with #2 pick: QB Jayden Daniels. His results? The team’s best finish since 2012 with one game away from Super Bowl 59.

OC Kliff Kingsbury ends his only year in Washington 5-12, known mostly for his time as head coach of Arizona in a non-stellar four seasons from 2018 to 2022. Despite stars Terry Mclaurin and the aforementioned Daniels missing a combined full season for the Commanders, the offense couldn’t get going with what they had. QB Marcus Mariota continued his backup phase while the RB duo of Bill Croskey-Merritt and Chris Rodriguez Jr proved to be fine on the ground with no receiving contributions. While Deebo Samuel and Zach Ertz played their parts: they combined for 1,200 yards, missed five total games, and the latter is 35 years old. Much like his time with the Cardinals, there just wasn’t much to write home about here.

DC Joe Whitt Jr. also managed to last one year in D.C after his defense gave up the most points since 2013. Losing play-calling duties to coach Quinn after giving up 44 to Detroit, Whitt’s only real boast is holding the Chargers to 10 points in a 17 point win. His ten games under command resulted in 29.0 points allowed per game, to Quinn’s 24.4 when he took over. Linebacker Von Miller showed life with nine sacks while CB Mike Sainristil seems to be a solidified starter with four picks. Otherwise, this team was dead last in yards allowed. Involved in the NFL’s passing game or secondary since 2009, it almost seemed like a coin flip which side of Whitt we would see. Thus, Washington goes into next year with sweeping changes.

Proving coordinator to be a tough job, Kingsbury and Whitt likely won’t return to a similar position. Needing a fully healthy team again, Quinn seems to have a better direction on defense. Meanwhile the offense is already pretty well developed if either RB can breakout in 2026. Picking early again at seven come the draft, Washington gets a great rebound opportunity.

Baltimore Ravens – Fire John Harbuagh

A legendary coach of Baltimore, Harbaugh is out after being hired back in 2008. Only the third coach in the franchise’s history, there was clearly a lot to live up to. The future champion would do so immediately with playoff appearances in six of his first seven years, including the Lombardi hoist above in 2012. Harbaugh’s first season under .500 wouldn’t come until 2015, when a struggling Joe Flacco at QB would be shut down with injury in Week 11. The bright side is this being his only season below .500 until the 2020’s. Once Flacco’s time was up in Baltimore, the franchise made the right move to draft Lamar Jackson as the next QB of the future. So far, the results have been two MVP awards with another five playoff appearances.

So, let’s talk about what happened this year. Off a successful prior 23’/24’, Baltimore looked for more of the same with a little more “foot on the gas.” The Ravens instead witnessed a 1-3 start before losing Jackson to injury. When the all-star came back, he seemed to lack the rushing upside that makes him so dynamic. Losing some ugly games against juggernauts, Baltimore looked to bounce back with Lamar’s return. While this did happen, Harbaugh’s guys were still swept by Pittsburgh including the season-ending kick. (I hope Tyler Loop is doing alright.)

Another harsh game came against the Patriots. Derrick Henry was sat during the 4th quarter in which he had a line of 18-128-2. With Jackson leaving *this* game to injury as well and New England not stopping the run, the future Hall of Famer had little reason to sit. This would be another close game Baltimore would lose. Although one could argue the Ravens should have the #4 seed right now, and only the kick stopped them; we still need to be realistic. This team wasn’t the same in 2025. Henry again proved he is ageless, but only Zay Flowers surpassed 500 receiving yards. The defense was bottom half in most stats with nobody reaching six sacks. Star power is still very present with Jackson, Henry, and Zay Flowers. Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, and Marlon Humphrey still lead the way on the other side of the ball. Whoever steps into this coaching job will easily be set up the best of any team during these last few days.

As for Harbaugh: we’ll never know if that missed field goal would’ve continued his time or not. (In an alternate timeline, Mike Tomlin is being contacted by several teams right now.) However it isn’t a question of if he’s hired, but by whom. Reports have arrived he already has seven teams in touch, and he’ll have plenty of time to decide where he wants to go. Harbaugh finishes his time in Baltimore coaching 60% of the franchise’s regular season games, winning 180 of them. 12 postseason appearances, and the ability to have two franchise quarterbacks during his entire tenure. Only finishing last in the AFC North once and just three seasons with a negative point differential; Harbaugh has done Baltimore well. As with a lot of people, this man was a big part of my childhood. I look forward to seeing where he goes, and how much of a test he’ll be given.