The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears showed their coaches the door. Bruce Arians of the Cardinals found it himself. And Vance Joseph of the Broncos remained gainfully employed despite enduring the sort of season that doesn't go down well in Denver.
What is traditionally the NFL's biggest day for firings, "Black Monday," started with a flurry when Detroit canned Jim Caldwell and Chicago did the same to John Fox, both before noon.
"Today is the tough part of our results-oriented business," said Fox, whose team went 14-34 and finished last in all three of his seasons in Chicago.
He and Caldwell, who went 36-28 in four seasons but didn't win a playoff game, joined Jack Del Rio of the Raiders and Chuck Pagano of the Colts, whose owners didn't even wait until the calendar turned, choosing to sack them after their games Sunday.
Lions owner Martha Firestone Ford called Caldwell "one of the finest leaders we've ever had as our head coach."
"Not only did he guide us on the field to three winning seasons, but he also set a standard of excellence off the field that had a tremendous impact on everyone in our organization and our entire community," Ford said.
That was it as far as firings.
Arians, who has been dealing with health problems, including a bout with kidney cancer, announced he was leaving Arizona, though that was widely expected.
