NFL Black Monday Live: Colts Give Coach Chuck Pagano Contract Extension

by

Jan 4, 2016

11:30 p.m.: Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia apparently has caught the eye of the Cleveland Browns.

10:38 p.m.: FOX Sports’ Mike Garafolo reports the length of Pagano’s deal.

Four years is quite a commitment for a man whose team seemed set on firing him.

9:50 p.m.: It looks like Colts GM Ryan Grigson, the terrible meddler, will be staying as well.

9:40 p.m.: The Chuck Pagano saga has seemingly found an end.

8:45 p.m.: Frank Reich isn’t the only coach being fired by the Chargers.

6:37 p.m.: NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport has some updates on a few coaching meetings around the league.

6:24 p.m.: Though the Colts aren’t saying anything, NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport is reporting some optimism.

6:10 p.m.: The Colts made an announcement saying that they aren’t making an announcement on Chuck Pagano’s status with the team. Riveting stuff.

5:13 p.m.: The Detroit Lions are compiling a list of GM candidates and reportedly have received permission to interview someone in the Patriots organization.

5:05 p.m.: If Saints coach Sean Payton leaves New Orleans, expect the now-vacant Giants job to be at the top of his wish list.

The 49ers certainly are interested in Payton, too, but they appear to have a backup plan.

4:45 p.m.: Tom Coughlin no longer is coaching the Giants, but apparently he isn’t officially retiring.

4:30 p.m.: The Chargers reportedly have fired their offensive coordinator, though offense didn’t really seem to be their issue this season. Weird.

3:43 p.m.: The Miami Herald is reporting the Dolphins’ first interview will be … former Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith. The veteran head coach was out of the league this season after being let go by the Falcons following the 2014 season.

2:30 p.m.: From a little earlier, ESPN’s Adam Schefter says the Dolphins could look toward the Patriots in order to fill their head coaching vacancy.

2:24 p.m.: More on Tom Coughlin from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who’s saying Coughlin stepped down.

2:15 p.m.: Tom Coughlin’s time with the New York Giants is over, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

2 p.m.: San Diego Chargers head coach Mike McCoy isn’t going anywhere, even as the team readies for a possible move to Los Angeles.

1:50 p.m.: San Francisco CEO Jed York has been the object of plenty of criticism for how he’s handled the team, especially in the last year or so. However, he’s looking for help to turn things around.

Additionally, York said general manager Trent Baalke is staying with the team.

12:02 p.m.: Here’s an important detail on Chuck Pagano and the Colts, per NFL Media’s Albert Breer.

11:45 a.m.: The Miami Dolphins’ front office overhaul continued Monday. The Dolphins hired Chris Grier to be their new general manager, the team announced.

11:28 a.m.: It doesn’t sound like John Harbaugh is interested in leaving Baltimore, despite reports of the Eagles’ interest.

11:14 a.m.: No one really knows for sure what the Tom Coughlin situation is, but it sounds like we’ll know soon enough. A report on Sunday indicated Coughlin was ready to ride off into the sunset. But not so fast, according to ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio. He reported Sunday that Coughlin didn’t plan on resigning, and if Coughlin is out, that’s going to be the team’s decision.

ESPN’s Dan Granziano reported Monday morning that the Giants and Coughlin will meet at 1 p.m.

11:05 a.m.: A lot of the Black Monday rumors are swirling around the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that fired its head coach even before Week 17 began. We’ve kept you updated with all of the rumors so far, but here’s a real doozy from ESPN’s Ed Werder, who says Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh could be the top target in Philly.

10:45 a.m.: It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the Philadelphia Eagles figure to be real busy in their search for a new coach.

9:15 a.m.: If you’re a team looking to pry Sean Payton from New Orleans, you’re reportedly going to have to pay a pretty price. NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport says the discussion begins with a second-round draft pick as compensation.

One team to keep an eye on in regards to Payton could be the Philadelphia Eagles, according to Paul Domowitch of the Philadelphia Daily News.

Coincidentally, the Eagles don’t have a 2016 second-round draft pick. They traded it as part of the trade that brought Sam Bradford to Philly. Whoops.

8:38 a.m.: Apparently this Mike Shanahan/Dolphins thing has been in the works for a few weeks now, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

8:33 a.m.: The Dolphins seem hellbent on leaving no stone unturned.

8:28 a.m.: Mike Shanahan — remember him? — could be in line to become the next head coach of the Miami Dolphins. According to multiple reports, Shanahan is going to interview with the Dolphins this week.

It’s going to be a busy week for the Dolphins, as interim head coach Dan Campbell will also get a chance to interview and state his case to stay on as the long-term coach.

Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Teryl Austin reportedly also will interview with the Fins.

8:15 a.m.: Chip Kelly doesn’t want to wait around in the unemployment line, it seems. He’s reportedly reached out to the San Francisco 49ers in regards to their coaching vacancy, which we’ll remind you, didn’t become a vacancy until Sunday night. Kelly’s wasting no time.

Of course, Kelly’s name is going to be linked to multiple teams, even a team like Cleveland, as Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio mentioned Sunday morning.

There are also plenty who have made a clear connection between Kelly and the Tennessee Titans. If the Titans part ways with interim coach Mike Mularkey, there’s an obvious Kelly connection in Nashville, as Marcus Mariota played for Kelly at the University of Oregon.

8 a.m.: One situation that we’ll certainly be monitoring all day is Chuck Pagano in Indianapolis. According to reports, Pagano is scheduled to meet with Colts owner Jim Irsay on Monday morning, which is where the head coach will learn his fate.

Pagano certainly has acted and spoken like someone who knows there’s a legitimate chance he’s fired. The head coach acknowledged the crowd on his way out of Lucas Oil Stadium after a win over Tennessee on Sunday and delivered a passionate speech to his team after the game.

If the players had any say in the matter, Pagano would definitely be back. Robert Mathis gave an emotional tribute to his head coach before handing Pagano the game ball after the win over Tennessee.

There also was this from NFL Media’s Albert Breer.

Regardless, someone might end up having to fall on the sword, whether it’s Pagano or general manager Ryan Grigson, especially after the Colts missed the playoffs with an 8-8 record in one of the NFL’s worst divisions.

7:30 a.m. ET: Get your quarters ready, the NFL head coaching carousel has begun.

The Monday following Week 17 in the NFL is casually (and somewhat sadistically) referred to as Black Monday, as underachieving teams often cut bait with unsuccessful head coaches in what’s the first day of the offseason for teams failing to reach the playoffs.

This season, though, things were a little bit different, as some teams couldn’t even wait until Monday to send their head coach packing. The Cleveland Browns got the ball rolling by relieving head coach Mike Pettine and general manager Ray Farmer of their duties. Not long after that, the San Francisco 49ers struck, giving first-year head coach Jim Tomsula the ax.

Both of those are moves are in addition to the Philadelphia Eagles firing head coach Chip Kelly ahead of Week 17, meaning there currently are three head coaching vacancies, four, if you include the Miami Dolphins who finished 6-10 after Dan Campbell took over for Joe Philbin during the season.

More dominoes figure to fall on Black Monday, and we’ll have all of the latest news and rumors, so be sure to check our Black Monday live blog throughout the day.

Thumbnail photo via Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports Images

Previous Article

Report: Johnny Manziel Wore Blonde Wig, Fake Mustache Out In Las Vegas

Next Article

AFC Wild Card Playoff Odds: Chiefs, Steelers Road Favorites In Round One

Picked For You