JUST IN: 2024 NFL head-coaching tracker: Patriots part with long-time coach Bill Belichick.

After the last NFL regular season games of the year, head coaches and general managers who are under pressure find out their fates on that gloomy January day.

The Cardinals in Arizona, led by first-year head coach Jonathan Gannon and company, have hope. Even though Arizona lost to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday because to a few missed field goals, they go into 2024 with a strong draft pick, faith in quarterback Kyler Murray, and a revitalized culture that has shown in the players’ effort and attitude despite a string of 13 losses.

Here are the most recent front-office and head-coaching changes in the NFL as of Monday.

Which coaches in the NFL were let go?
Patriots and longtime coach Bill Belichick part ways
Foxboro, Massachusetts (AP) – After 24 years as the mastermind of the most illustrious dynasty in the league’s Super Bowl era, six-time NFL champion Bill Belichick decided to step down as the coach of the New England Patriots on Thursday. This information was provided to The Associated Press by an anonymous source because the decision has not yet been made official.

Later in the day, Belichick and team owner Robert Kraft will discuss the decision during a news conference.

Pete Carroll leaves the Seahawks after 14 seasons.
Pete Carroll has been fired as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, the team announced on Wednesday.

In a statement announcing the change, Seahawks chair Jody Allen thanked Carroll for his 14 years in the position. Carroll will “remain with the organization as an advisor,” according to Allen’s statement.

On Wednesday at 1 p.m., Carroll and the Seahawks will conduct a press conference.

Seattle defeated Arizona 21–20 on Sunday to wrap up the regular season. With Carroll at the helm, the Seahawks had an opportunity to make the playoffs for the eleventh time going into the last two weeks of the regular season, but a defeat to Pittsburgh in Week 17 left Seattle in need of assistance.

OUT for the Tennessee Titans is Mike Vrabe

According to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, Mike Vrabel was fired by the Tennessee Titans on Tuesday after his future remained unclear for a full day after the season ended on Sunday.

With a 6-11 record at the end of Vrabel’s sixth season, the Titans concluded his first campaign as general manager under Ran Carthon. They defeated Jacksonville 28–20 on Sunday to prevent their oldest division opponent from winning the AFC South for a second time in a row. In the season finale, that was the first time Vrabel’s Titans weren’t competing for a postseason spot.

A few weeks after being inducted into the Patriots Hall of Fame in November, Vrabel’s future has been the subject of widespread conjecture. As a linebacker in New England and three-time Super Bowl champion, Vrabel.

The coach with a 56-48 record refrained from speaking with reporters on Monday while the Titans emptied lockers. This is the first time the head coach hasn’t been available on the same day as players since the team relocated to Tennessee in 1997. Vrabel, though, is expected to comment later this week.

In 2024, Vrabel declared this week that he “of course he wants to be here.”

After taking over for seasoned quarterback Ryan Tannehill, youngster Will Levis went 3-6 in his first season. He has heard some of the conjecture. The Kentucky native who was selected 33rd overall expressed his wish that nothing changes so the Titans can advance.

Regarding Vrabel, Levis stated, “He’s going to get in touch with us as soon as he knows.”

Washington Commanders dismiss Ron Rivera as head coach.

ASHBURN, Virginia (AP) – As they imprinted their mark on the NFL team they purchased last year, the Washington Commanders sacked coach Ron Rivera on Monday. This was the first of several anticipated actions by the new owners.

The season-ending 38-10 home loss to division opponent Dallas by the Commanders was the day before the decision was made.

Controlling owner Josh Harris issued a statement saying, “As we look ahead, we recognize the results this season were not good enough and a strategic shift in leadership and approach is necessary.”

In addition to former NBA executive Bob Myers and former Minnesota general manager Rick Spielman, Harris said he has invited co-owners Mitch Rales, Magic Johnson, and David Blitzer to assist him in his hunt for a head of football personnel and coach. Rivera was hired by Dan Snyder to do both roles four years ago, but now ownership is dividing those duties.

Myers served as president of basketball operations and GM of the Golden State Warriors when they won four championships, and he was voted the league’s executive of the year twice.

Less than six months after purchasing the company, Harris and his other owners are anticipated to start reshaping it, which includes the departure of general manager Martin Mayhew as well as much of the front office and coaching staff.

During Rivera’s four seasons leading Washington’s football operations, the team earned one postseason appearance, winning a very weak NFC East at 7-9 in 2020. He never enjoyed a successful season.

Belichick is amenable to adjustments if he stays Coach of the New England Patriots
Foxboro, Massachusetts (AP) – If Bill Belichick stays with the New England Patriots, he’s willing to delegate personnel responsibilities to someone else.

The Patriots coach also affirmed that he is still under contract on Monday during his season-ending press conference; however, he did not provide the duration of the present terms.

Following Sunday’s 17-3 loss to the New York Jets, the Patriots finished with a 4-13 record, which marks Belichick’s lowest finish in his 29-year NFL head coaching career. He has left it for the upcoming season.

During the video conference on Monday, Belichick stated, “I’m for whatever collectively we decide as an organization is the best thing to help our football team.” “I have a contract. I will continue to come in every day and work as hard as I can to support the team in any manner that I can. Thus, I shall persist in doing that.

Belichick’s contract’s specifics have never been made public.

The 71-year-old Belichick stated he is open to relinquishing his position as the team’s de facto general manager, who has the last say in personnel decisions, provided it serves the interests of the company.

GM Scott Fitterer is fired by the Carolina Panthers
AP CHARLOTTE, N.C. General manager Scott has been let go by the Carolina Panthers.

In a statement released on Monday, Panthers owner David Tepper said, “I have decided that Scott Fitterer will no longer serve as our general manager as we move forward with the new direction for our franchise.” “I’m grateful for Scott’s efforts and send my best wishes to him and his family.”

Since Fitterer joined the Panthers in 2021, they have a 14-37 record. Previously, Tepper dismissed head coach Frank Reich after the squad had a 1-10 start, just 11 games into Reich’s debut season.

Head coach of the Atlanta Falcons Arthur Smith was sacked.
ATLANTA (AP) — After finishing his third consecutive losing season, Arthur Smith—who took over a rebuilding project in his first NFL head coaching position and was unable to end Atlanta’s playoff drought—was dismissed late on Sunday night.

Smith, 41, who is the son of FedEx pioneer Fred Smith, had a 21-30 record at the end. Every year, he traveled 7–10.

Smith was fired following a 48-17 loss to New Orleans, which was his second-worst performance of the season and was only surpassed by a 43-3 blowout at Dallas in 2021. The Falcons have lost their previous four games and both of Smith’s final two outings—37-17 at Chicago one week ago—have seen them completely outclassed.

Since the Falcons’ previous postseason participation in 2017, they have had six straight losing seasons.

Smith had a meeting with CEO Rich McKay and owner Arthur Blank following the team’s return to Atlanta. The announcement of the dismissal came just after midnight.

“It’s never easy to make decisions like this, and it never feels good,” stated 81-year-old Falcons owner Blank, who is currently starting the process of finding the team’s sixth full-time head coach in his more than two decades in ownership.