I’ll list the grades for the hiring and firing of each NFL coach and general manager, as well as most coordinators.
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
Nov. 29 Updates
Bears fire HC Matt Eberflus: A+ Grade
The Bears had never fired a head coach in the middle of the season during the 104-year history of their franchise. That changed today with the front office dismissing Eberflus following his Thanksgiving debacle.
Eberflus’ in-game management has been horrible, but what transpired at the end of the initial Thanksgiving game was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Chicago allowed the entire game clock to expire despite having one more down and one timeout, and Eberflus just stood there, frozen, resembling some kid trying to figure out how to talk to a girl standing on the other side of the room of the seventh-grade dance. It was embarrassing, and I really had no idea how he was going to address the locker room after that horrendous display. I guess he’ll be spared from doing so.
The Bears had to move on from Eberflus, so it makes sense to do it now during the mini-bye week.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
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Nov. 19 Updates
Jets fire GM Joe Douglas: A Grade
The Joe Douglas era wasn’t all bad. Douglas nailed some draft picks outside of the first round, including Breece Hall in the second round, Braelon Allen in the fourth, and Michael Carter II in the fifth. Douglas assembled quality talent on the roster, but didn’t put a very good team together. The Jets were a pitiful 30-64 under his watch.
Douglas, of course, made some horrible blunders as well. He overpaid for Corey Davis and Allen Lazard. He botched the Zach Wilson and Mekhi Becton picks. He selected Olu Fashanu over Brock Bowers even though Bowers would have helped right away. And then there was the entire Aaron Rodgers plan, which blew up in his face.
It makes sense for the Jets to fire Douglas. He wasn’t the worst NFL general manager we’ve seen, but the team can do much better.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
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Nov. 12 Updates
Bears fire OC Shane Waldron: A+ Grade
It would have been shocking had this move not occurred this week. Shane Waldrn nearly got his rookie quarterback killed last week, with Caleb Williams taking nine sacks in a humiliating loss to the Patriots.
Waldron has no business being an offensive coordinator in the NFL. He completely misused all the talent the front office acquired for him this offseason. He was out-coached in nearly every game, and he failed to make any sort of adjustments to the opposition or for injuries to his players. The Bears, and Williams in particular, will be in better hands with Thomas Brown.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
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Nov. 4 Updates
Saints fire HC Dennis Allen: A+ Grade
I hated this hiring from the start. When the Saints hired Dennis Allen, I gave them an “F” grade, stating, “We’ve seen Allen in action already, and he was a failure with the Raiders. His record in Oakland from 2012 to 2014 was 8-28. … Allen did a great job as New Orleans’ defensive coordinator, but he has proven that he’s not up to the task as a head coach.”
I don’t understand why the move was made in the first place, and I don’t get what took so long to fire Allen. He’s an abysmal coach whose teams have always underperformed. He makes poor in-game decisions and adjustments. The camel that broke the straw’s back, to quote a former NFL running back, was the loss to the Panthers in which Carolina won despite being outgained by nearly 200 yards. This has been commonplace for the Saints under Allen, as it was the 11th time the Saints have lost despite outgaining their opponent under their former head coach.
The Saints may lose more often than they would normally moving forward this season under an unprepared interim coach, but that’s OK because New Orleans’ goal should be obtaining the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Check out my 2025 NFL Mock Draft to see which propsects are available.
By the way, I was reminded by Cassandra that I must give a euology to Allen’s ATS record. We won’t get to bet against Allen again, with Allen finishing his head-coaching career with a 32-50 against the spread record. Now, if I may, a moment of silence for this loss.
…
Thank you.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
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Raiders fire OC Luke Getsy, OL Coach James Cregg, QB Coach Rich Scangarello: A+ Grade
Fire them all. This Raiders coaching staff has been a disaster. Every offensive coach should be dismissed. Antonio Pierce should be fired as well, but only after the regular season is over, just so the Raiders aren’t fooled into falling in love with another interim head coach.
Getting rid of all the assistant coaches can’t be good for the Raiders’ chances of winning this year, but that’s a good thing. The Raiders wanted Michael Penix Jr. last April, but the Falcons snatched him away from them. By losing the rest of their games, the Raiders can ensure themselves of Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward, allowing them to properly rebuild with a franchise quarterback.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
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Oct. 8 Updates
Jets fire HC Robert Saleh: A- Grade
There’s been an extensive history of NFL head coaching being fired following disappointing results in London. Robert Saleh is the latest victim, as his loss to the Vikings ended his coaching tenure in New York.
This is a move that had to be made. Saleh failed to prepare his team well for too many games and often made bone-headed in-game coaching decisions. He kicked too many field goals from inside the 5-yard line, for example. It was clear that Saleh was going to find a way to sabotage the Jets at some point this year.
The only reason this grade is not an A+ is because Nathaniel Hackett wasn’t also axed. Hackett is one of the worst offensive coordinators in the NFL, and of all the coaches, he’s most responsible for the Jets’ disappointing 2-3 start. It seems obvious that Aaron Rodgers told management that he wanted Hackett to remain, but firing him would have been the best decision.
Comment on the other coach firings below.
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Click here for previous head coach hiring and firing grades.
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2025 NFL Mock Draft - Dec. 11
NFL Power Rankings - Dec. 9
2026 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 29
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
