TOM GOWER joined the FO writing staff in 2009. He has degrees from Georgetown University and the University of Chicago, whose football programs have combined for an Orange Bowl appearance and seven Big Ten Titles but are still trying to find success after Pearl Harbor. His work has also appeared at NBCSports.com, NBC Sports World, ESPN.com, and in ESPN The Magazine. He roots for the Tennessee Titans.
With the end of an NFL season come the inevitable firings. A number of teams made their move during the season, while some waited until the bitter end.
Changing this to a convenient list format...
Few head coach-quarterback pairings have ever been so meaningful to a franchise as Sean Payton and Drew Brees are to the New Orleans Saints. Tom Gower reviews Jeff Duncan's new book on the Payton-Brees relationship and finds insightful revelations about what makes the duo -- particularly Payton -- so effective.
The NFL has announced the 2021 Big Data Bowl, which will be focused on analyzing the performance of defensive backs on passing plays.
It's time to celebrate Jeff Fisher Day! Our look back at the head coach's best players with the Titans and Rams features an MVP quarterback, some of the best defensive linemen you'll ever see, and shockingly limited talent at wide receiver.
The NFL today sent around an email announced their second Big Data Bowl, letting interested parties use Next Gen Stats data.
Friday news dump! The Houston Texans announced they have fired general manager Brian Gaine.
Gaine was hired in January 2018, replacing GM Rick Smith, in what was seen as a win in a power struggle by head coach Bill O'Brien. One division championship and 17 months later, he is out. Nobody is quite sure why. Before hiring Gaine, the Texans attempted to interview Eagles exec Joe Douglas, a candidate for the open New York Jets general manager position, but were blocked. Maybe that's part of it? Maybe letting the Eagles snipe them for Andre Dillard in the first round?
Coming out of the draft, the Texans and Jaguars could still use some big offensive playmakers, Tennessee needs more beef up front, and the Colts need more defensive stars to go along with Darius Leonard and Jabaal Sheard.
Everyone has passing needs down south -- the Jaguars need someone to throw them, the Colts need someone to catch them, the Titans need someone to pressure them, and the Texans need someone to cover them.
Black Monday, the NFL's annual post-season day of coach and/or GM firings, got its start on Sunday, as news broke the Tampa Bay Buccaneers fired head coach Dirk Koetter. The Jets also fired head coach Todd Bowles. Comment on all the firings and non-firings in this thread.
The Jacksonville Jaguars' seven game losing streak claimed a victim Monday morning, as they fired offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett after yesterday's 24-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Hackett, who previously worked for Doug Marrone in Buffalo, was in his third season as offensive coordinator. Prior to this week's games, Blake Bortles had a passing DVOA of -13.4%, down from the 0.3% he had last season but not far off from the -9.9% and -10.0% he posted in 2015 and 2016. In other news, sometimes coaches get fired because you can't fire the players.
