Today is January 5, 2026, and the NFL front office landscape is undergoing a massive renovation. While “Black Monday” usually focuses on the guys in headsets, the “suits” are also facing the axe as owners look to reset their team cultures from the top down.
Here is the updated breakdown of the coaching and front-office casualties, along with the names to watch for the vacant seats.
The Dismissals: Coaches and GMs Out
The Atlanta Falcons have officially “cleaned house,” while other teams are opting for partial resets, keeping their GMs to lead the search for new coaching talent.
| Team | Personnel Fired | Record / Status | The “Why” |
| Atlanta Falcons | HC Raheem Morris & GM Terry Fontenot | 8–9 (2025) | A total reset. Fontenot’s gamble on a massive Kirk Cousins contract while drafting a first-round QB didn’t yield the playoff results owner Arthur Blank demanded. |
| Miami Dolphins | GM Chris Grier | 82–82 (Tenure) | Grier “stepped down” earlier this season after 10 years. The team is now looking for a new architect to solve the Tua Tagovailoa puzzle, though HC Mike McDaniel is reportedly safe. |
| Cleveland Browns | HC Kevin Stefanski | 5–12 (2025) | Stefanski is out after six seasons, but GM Andrew Berry is staying. Berry will lead the search for the new coach. |
| Arizona Cardinals | HC Jonathan Gannon | 3–14 (2025) | Gannon is gone after a nine-game losing streak, but GM Monti Ossenfort is staying to find his successor. |
| Las Vegas Raiders | HC Pete Carroll | 3–14 (2025) | The one-year experiment failed. GM John Spytek stays and will collaborate with minority owner Tom Brady on the new hire. |
| N.Y. Giants | HC Brian Daboll | 2–8 (Mid-season) | Daboll was fired in November. GM Joe Schoen has been officially retained to lead the new coaching search. |
The GM Candidates: The Rising Architects
With the Dolphins and Falcons actively searching for new General Managers, several “whiz kids” from the league’s most successful front offices are at the top of the list.
1. The San Francisco Pipeline
The 49ers have become a factory for executive talent.
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Tariq Ahmad (VP of Player Personnel): The man credited with finding Brock Purdy is a top target for the Dolphins.
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RJ Gillen (Assistant GM): Another Niners standout who has already received an official interview request from Miami.
2. The Strategy Experts
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Alec Halaby (Assistant GM, Eagles): A Harvard-educated “analytics guru” who has been a key confidant to Howie Roseman during two Super Bowl runs. He is a primary target for the Dolphins.
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Jon-Eric Sullivan (VP of Player Personnel, Packers): A finalist for jobs last year, he is highly respected for his ability to marry scouting with specific coaching systems.
3. The “In-House” Contender
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Champ Kelly (Interim GM, Dolphins): Currently holding the keys in Miami, Kelly has a chance to win the job permanently if he can impress during the interview cycle.
Tracking the Latest Requests
The Dolphins are moving the fastest on the GM front, while the Titans and Falcons are leading the charge for coaches.
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Miami Dolphins (GM Search): Have officially requested interviews with Tariq Ahmad (49ers), Alec Halaby (Eagles), John McKay (Rams), and Jon-Eric Sullivan (Packers). They’ve even brought in Troy Aikman as a consultant for the search.
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Atlanta Falcons (HC Search): Expected to be the first to sit down with Kevin Stefanski, who remains the “beloved free agent” of the coaching market despite his firing in Cleveland.
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Las Vegas Raiders (HC Search): The “Tom Brady Effect” is real. Rumors suggest Brady is looking for a coach who can develop the #1 overall pick they secured under Pete Carroll.
