NFL SACK RACE: Black Monday triple fire as Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears sack head coaches

The Minnesota Vikings (8-9) have parted way with head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman, their NFC North divisional neighbours the Chicago Bears (6-11) have done the same with HC Matt Nagy and GM Ryan Pace, whilst the Miami Dolphins (9-8) say goodbye to HC Brian Flores.

As is often the case, the sackings came yesterday (10th January) on the most notable day of the year for such decisions, ‘Black Monday,’ after the three teams failed to qualify for the postseason playoffs.

The aptly described nickname is given to the first Monday following the final round of NFL matchups before the post season begins. Organizations will sit down and evaluate successes, failures and potential options going forward, hence the fact it often culminates in sackings.

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The parting between the Vikings and Mike Zimmer has received some variation in opinion from many fans of the sport including those of the Minnesota based team themselves, however the general consensus is that it was perhaps the right time for him to move on.

The head coach had been in charge of the Vikings since 2014 and had shared a good few years with the team, boasting an overall record of 74-59-1 (.566) including a 2-3 (.400) record in the playoffs.

Despite finishing 2nd in the NFC North behind Aaron Rodger’s 13-4 (.767) Green Bay Packers this year, Zimmer’s team had failed to reach the postseason in the past two years and ranked the 31st worst defense out of 32 in that time.

Despite this, a section of fans put failures down to GM Rick Spielman, who has also been removed from his position.

Some have argued his drafting abilities and off-season signings, often referencing his tendency to get carried away on draft day and the acquisition of underperforming QB Kirk Cousins, as main examples.

American football fans have taken to twitter to react to the pair’s disposal.

The Chicago Bears share the same division as the Minnesota Vikings and in the 2020/21 season finished second, one place ahead of them, but over the past year the positions of the two have reversed.

In becoming the Bears 16th ever head coach, Matt Nagy entered his first ever head coach role in the NFL, having taken up the position in 2018 leaving behind his role at the Kansas City Chiefs which saw him assist Andy Reid, a coach with the upmost respect for his ex-assistant who he went on to refer to as the “best head-coaching candidate he’s ever had.”

Nagy impressed immediately by all accounts, earning the PFWA accolade coach of the year in his first season in charge, as he impressively orchestrated the transformation of a failing 5-11 (.313) Bears side from 2017/18 to a 12-4 (.750) division winning side in 2018/19.

💥BA-BOOM!!!💥

Matt Nagy has been named Coach of the Year at #NFLHonors. pic.twitter.com/0ArxatFTNh

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) February 2, 2019

After losing the playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles, another of his previous teams, by the tight scoreline of 16-15, Nagy and the Bears missed out on the postseason in 2019/20 entirely as they finished with a record of 8-8 (.500) and the 29th worst ranked offence in the league

Despite the same 8-8 record in 2020/21 and the continuation in offensive struggles, Nagy guided the Bears to the postseason after defeating the Arizona Cardinals in a tie-breaker.

It wasn’t to be however.

Their postseason woes returned as they lost in the wild card round for the second time in three years when the Saints eased through them with the scoreline 21-9.

In 2021/22 and for the third consecutive season, Nagy’s Bears finished with the same 8-8 record, and just like the first time it wasn’t enough for a postseason spot, as signs of a rut began to set in.

The final straw for the Bears and Nagy, as well as GM Pace who has also departed, came as the team appeared to revert this season, with a record of 6-11 (.353) and little sign of improvement, media chat quickly turned to and spent a number of weeks predicting the somewhat inevitable sacking.

Nagy has departed the Bears with good sentiments from fans of the Chicago-based team, as memories of the largely successful yet unfortunate outlier season in 2018/19, live positively in their minds.

It remains to be seen whether the head coach will look to replicate the success from that season again with another franchise, or even if he can, but the inexperienced coach has just that on his side with a potentially long career still ahead of him.

Brian Flores is perhaps the most surprising name on this list and boasted the best and only positive surplus record of the three HCs this season with 9-8 (.529) at the helm with the Miami Dolphins despite finishing third in the AFC East, arguably one of the most competitive divisions in the league.

Considered by many within the sport as an extremely promising, vastly improving head coach, the circumstances surrounding his sacking have certainly raised questions regarding owner Stephen Ross, especially as tactically motivated reasons seem unlikely.

A number of the possible reasons that have been touted are an ever poor relationship with owner Ross, and the deteriorating ones shared with GM Chris Grier and QB Tua Tagavailoa, as well as unfounded rumours of racial motivation by smaller sections of the community.

His reign started in 2019, and similarly to Matt Nagy it became his first ever head coaching role. Unlike Nagy, however, the start didn’t see a meteoric rise up the division, a 0-7 opening was followed by an improved 5-4 as the Dolphins ultimately finished on a disappointing 5-11 (.313).

Since then, the Dolphins had dived forwards head first and had been amongst the teams with the best winning records through the last two seasons at 19-14 (.577) despite just missing out on the post season each time.

The timing of the decision could be argued for by some given Flores failed to make the playoffs in three years, but others would point out the seemingly clear progress in motion that was made by such a young, inexperienced coach, who plied his trade in a tough division that includes the flying 11-6 (.813) Buffalo Bills and ever reliable 10-7 (.588) New England Patriots.

One thing is for sure, his sacking has caused a stir in the footballing community.