NFL rule affects Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions before playoffs
The NFL’s ‘Black Monday’ is upon us and plenty of coaches are on the chopping block. In what has become an annual tradition, the day after the conclusion of the regular season sees plenty of personnel changes. Pederson has been fired by the Jaguars after a disappointing seasonGetty The Jacksonville Jaguars made their decision early, firing head coach Doug Pederson early on Monday morning after a 4-13 season. “Doug is an accomplished football man who will undoubtedly enjoy another chapter in his impressive NFL career, and I will be rooting for Doug and his wife Jeannie when that occasion arrives,” owner Shad Khan said of the ‘difficult’ choice. “I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago.” The New England Patriots moved even earlier, firing Jerod Mayo on Sunday just hours after a shock victory against the Buffalo Bills saw them finish the season with a 4-13 record. A number of other coaches are on the hot seat, and could lose their job at any moment. But as struggling franchises make important decisions on Black Monday, two of the most successful teams in the league could also be impacted due to an NFL rule change. The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions finished as the No.1 seeds in the AFC and NFC – and their performances this season have certainly caught the eye. Those teams in search of a new head coach – including some that finished the season with an interim – have been watching particularly closely. Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are both attractive options heading into 2025, as are Chiefs OC Matt Nagy and DC Steve Spagnuolo. Under a new rule in place from this season, each of those names can field interviews over the next week. Lions coordinator Johnson is likely to be a top head coach choice959244232 Chiefs DC Spagnuolo has been instrumental in the Chiefs’ recent successGetty Those discussions must be virtual and take place between Wednesday, January 8 and Monday, January 13 – ahead of the divisional round of the playoffs. Some, if not the majority, of head coaching openings in the past were usually filled by or shortly after the divisional round. But now, the NFL is not even allowing in-person interviews until after that round is completed. Teams with open head-coaching positions were able to begin requesting interviews with candidates from other teams on Monday. No second interviews will be allowed until January 27, the bye week for Super Bowl coaches, and if they do take place, they must be concluded by February 2. Non-playoff coaches, meanwhile, can interview for head coaching jobs three days after their regular season ends. Good Morning Football pundit Peter Schrager discussed the new rules – which impact the Lions and the Chiefs – in a post on X. “New coaching hire cycle rules,” he wrote. “As the coordinators from the No.1-seeded team, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn can interview with teams starting Wednesday. Nagy and (Spagnuolo) can, too. “They’ve all got to be virtual and they must be completed by Monday, Jan. 13.” According to reports, the Chicago Bears have already requested to interview both of Detroit’s coordinators. The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, are expected to request an interview with Glenn, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter. With the futures of their coaches a hot topic, the Lions will match up against the winner of the No.5 seed Minnesota Vikings and No.4 seed Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field in the NFC Divisional Round. The Chiefs, meanwhile, will face off against the winner of the No.5 seed Los Angeles Chargers and No.4 seed Houston Texans in an AFC Divisional Round game at Arrowhead Stadium. We’ are just a month away from Super Bowl 59 and talkSPORT will be live from New Orleans for build-up and live coverage talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio and this weekend the NFL Playoffs get underway with 5 exclusive commentaries on talkSPORT2. On Saturday evening, we have full live commentary as the best in the NFL go head-to-head, knowing they’re just three wins away from the biggest game in all of American sports. For more details head to talkSPORT.com and join the team this Saturday evening from 9 pm for Chargers @ Texans to kick start the weekend. LIVE ON TALKSPORT2 Saturday 11th January 21:30 Los Angeles Chargers v Houston Texans 01:00 Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens Sunday 12th January 18:00 Denver Broncos v Buffalo Bills 01:00 Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers Monday 13th January 01:00 Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams And subscribe to our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘talkSPORT End Zone’ where will will have news, views, interviews and build up as we count down to the biggest game of the year
The NFL’s ‘Black Monday’ is upon us and plenty of coaches are on the chopping block.
In what has become an annual tradition, the day after the conclusion of the regular season sees plenty of personnel changes.
The Jacksonville Jaguars made their decision early, firing head coach Doug Pederson early on Monday morning after a 4-13 season.
“Doug is an accomplished football man who will undoubtedly enjoy another chapter in his impressive NFL career, and I will be rooting for Doug and his wife Jeannie when that occasion arrives,” owner Shad Khan said of the ‘difficult’ choice.
“I strongly believe it is possible next season to restore the winning environment we had here not long ago.”
The New England Patriots moved even earlier, firing Jerod Mayo on Sunday just hours after a shock victory against the Buffalo Bills saw them finish the season with a 4-13 record.
A number of other coaches are on the hot seat, and could lose their job at any moment.
But as struggling franchises make important decisions on Black Monday, two of the most successful teams in the league could also be impacted due to an NFL rule change.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions finished as the No.1 seeds in the AFC and NFC – and their performances this season have certainly caught the eye.
Those teams in search of a new head coach – including some that finished the season with an interim – have been watching particularly closely.
Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn are both attractive options heading into 2025, as are Chiefs OC Matt Nagy and DC Steve Spagnuolo.
Under a new rule in place from this season, each of those names can field interviews over the next week.
Those discussions must be virtual and take place between Wednesday, January 8 and Monday, January 13 – ahead of the divisional round of the playoffs.
Some, if not the majority, of head coaching openings in the past were usually filled by or shortly after the divisional round.
But now, the NFL is not even allowing in-person interviews until after that round is completed.
Teams with open head-coaching positions were able to begin requesting interviews with candidates from other teams on Monday.
No second interviews will be allowed until January 27, the bye week for Super Bowl coaches, and if they do take place, they must be concluded by February 2.
Non-playoff coaches, meanwhile, can interview for head coaching jobs three days after their regular season ends.
Good Morning Football pundit Peter Schrager discussed the new rules – which impact the Lions and the Chiefs – in a post on X.
“New coaching hire cycle rules,” he wrote.
“As the coordinators from the No.1-seeded team, Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn can interview with teams starting Wednesday. Nagy and (Spagnuolo) can, too.
“They’ve all got to be virtual and they must be completed by Monday, Jan. 13.”
According to reports, the Chicago Bears have already requested to interview both of Detroit’s coordinators.
The New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, meanwhile, are expected to request an interview with Glenn, according to NFL insider Adam Schefter.
With the futures of their coaches a hot topic, the Lions will match up against the winner of the No.5 seed Minnesota Vikings and No.4 seed Los Angeles Rams at Ford Field in the NFC Divisional Round.
The Chiefs, meanwhile, will face off against the winner of the No.5 seed Los Angeles Chargers and No.4 seed Houston Texans in an AFC Divisional Round game at Arrowhead Stadium.
We’ are just a month away from Super Bowl 59 and talkSPORT will be live from New Orleans for build-up and live coverage
talkSPORT is your home of the NFL on UK radio and this weekend the NFL Playoffs get underway with 5 exclusive commentaries on talkSPORT2.
On Saturday evening, we have full live commentary as the best in the NFL go head-to-head, knowing they’re just three wins away from the biggest game in all of American sports.
For more details head to talkSPORT.com and join the team this Saturday evening from 9 pm for Chargers @ Texans to kick start the weekend.
LIVE ON TALKSPORT2
Saturday 11th January
21:30 Los Angeles Chargers v Houston Texans
01:00 Pittsburgh Steelers v Baltimore Ravens
Sunday 12th January
18:00 Denver Broncos v Buffalo Bills
01:00 Washington Commanders v Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Monday 13th January
01:00 Minnesota Vikings v Los Angeles Rams
And subscribe to our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘talkSPORT End Zone’ where will will have news, views, interviews and build up as we count down to the biggest game of the year
