Which coaches will be victims of “Black Monday” in the NFL?

New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin watches from the sideline during the first quarter in their NFL football game against the Washington Redskins in Landover, Maryland January 2, 2011. REUTERS/Molly Riley (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

Today is “Black Monday” in the NFL, otherwise known as it’ll-be-interesting-to-see-if-I-still-have-a-job-by-the-end-of-the-day…day.

Below is a look at the coaches who are on the hot seat and what the latest rumors are about their job status with their respective team.

Tom Coughlin, Giants
Giants fans hoping that their team would drop-kick Coughlin and hire either Bill Cowher or former defensive coordinator John Fox might not see their wish granted. CEO John Mara was adamant Sunday night that Coughlin would return as the team’s head coach in 2011. The Giants have missed the playoffs the past two seasons but under Coughlin, they’ve made the postseason four times in the last six years. I would venture to say that Coughlin has one more year left before his Super Bowl credit runs out.

Jeff Fisher, Titans
Owner Bud Adams will meet with Jeff Fisher on Monday to discuss his future with the team. This one could get tricky, as Adams loves Vince Young but Fisher would rather stick his fingers down a garbage disposal than have to suffer another year with Young in his locker room. If Adams sides with VY, then Fisher will likely walk. If Adams sticks with Fisher, then Young’s time in Tennessee is over. The NFL Network reported today that if Fisher does leave Tennessee, then he might join the broadcast booth for a year so he can weigh his options.

Eric Mangini, Browns
Mangini had one year to wow Mike Holmgren and that didn’t happen. Holmgren was hoping that the momentum the Browns built at the end of last season would carry over into 2010 under Mangini but it didn’t. The team appears to be ready to move in another direction and word is that Fox is at the top of Holmgren’s wish list. Apparently Holmgren wants to turn Cleveland into the Carolina of the North, so Browns fans should be prepared for another season of Jake Delhomme. (I’m kidding! I’m sure Fox has gotten over his Jake Delhomme obsession by now…)

Tom Cable, Raiders
Here’s a shock: Al Davis might be ready to make a coaching change. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday that Cable is “unlikely” to return as Oakland’s head coach next year. There’s speculation that offensive coordinator Hue Jackson could be promoted, although don’t expect Davis to make a quick decision (or a sane one). After all, Cable’s job status was left hanging in the balance well into February last year before Davis announced that he was bringing the head coach back for another season. There have been rumors that Davis is intrigued by Josh McDaniels and really, why wouldn’t he be? McDaniels only botched every decision he made in Denver, so naturally Davis thinks highly of him.

Tony Sparano, Dolphins
The thought before Sunday’s game was that Sparano’s job was safe for at least one more season. Then the Dolphins never got off the plane in New England and were waxed by the Patriots in Week 17. Now his job status is up in the air again. After he took Miami to the playoffs in his first year, the team has regressed since. I took a more detailed look at his situation with the Dolphins here.

Marvin Lewis, Bengals
Lewis will meet with ownership soon to discuss his future in Cincinnati. There’s no guarantee that he’ll be back with the Bengals next year and there’s a possibility he doesn’t want to return either. Both parties may want to part ways and go in different directions in 2011.

Gary Kubiak, Texans
Kubiak will meet with owner Bob McNair on Monday but it appears as though his job is safe for now. The majority of fans want him gone but McNair has grown attached to the fourth-year head coach, even though the Texans continue to underachieve. The plan is to retain Kubiak for his offense and hire Wade Phillips to coach the defense.

Leslie Frazier, Vikings
Frazier has shown owner Zygi Wilf enough to earn the Vikings’ head coaching job. The news hasn’t become official yet, but there have been reports that Frazier has already accepted the position. After Wilf fired Brad Childress in late November, the team went 3-3 under Frazier, with its signature win coming against the Eagles in Philadelphia last Tuesday night.

Jim Harbaugh, Stanford
Peter King reports that Harbaugh will choose between the 49ers and the University of Michigan for his next job. The Panthers are also interested in Harbaugh and they have the first pick in April’s drat, so maybe they could pair him up with quarterback Andrew Luck (if the redshirt sophomore enters the draft, that is). Stanford plays in the Orange Bowl Monday night so a decision by Harbaugh could be forthcoming.

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