NFL Coaching Carousel Gets Bigger With Peter Carroll Departure

 Who knew that the Black Monday would stretch all the way out to Black Wednesday, but that is the world we live in now. 

Two more coaches have been fired by their respective organizations, and they are both big names: Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans and Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks. 

They join a growing list of coaches who have hit the unemployment line as seven teams are now looking for a head coach. That number could expand to eight when the New England Patriots do what many expect them to do, and that is release Bill Belichick from his remaining year of his contract. 

And watch out for Dallas and Philadelphia. Rumblings on social media have indicated that Mike McCarthy and Nick Siriani aren't exactly safe if either the Cowboys or Eagles are eliminated this weekend in the Wild Card round. 

There is even a report that Steelers coach Mike Tomlin could step away if the Steelers lose to Buffalo on Sunday. 

It's pretty wild. 

Carroll's departure is somewhat surprising. There was never an indication that he was on the Hot Seat, even after a disappointing 9-8 season where Seattle just barely missed the playoffs. 

However after Caroll met with team ownership the decision was made to move in another direction. It was reported he could move into an advisory role. 

It is expected that Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn could head back to Seattle as its new Head Coach. Quinn was an assistant under Carroll from 2009-10 and again as his Defensive Coordinator in 2013-14 when Seattle won the Super Bowl. 

After taking the Falcons to the Super Bowl in 2017, Quinn became Dallas' D.C. in 2021 and has managed one of the NFL's best units. He would be an easy fit in Seattle. 

Meanwhile Vrabel's departure from Tennessee is interesting, and it could also impact New England. 

Vrabel was reportedly interested in the Patriots job, and was inducted into their team Hall of Fame this past October. He would be the most logical replacement for Bill Belichick. Of all the Belichick disciples, Vrabel has been the most successful with a 54-45 record as a head coach. 

We shall see, because Belichick is still operating as if nothing is going to happen up in Foxboro.