NFL Head Coach Firings: Buffalo Bills Have Plenty Of Coaching Competition

The Buffalo Bills have fired head coach Chan Gailey and his entire coaching staff. Unless the team also makes a move with GM Buddy Nix - we've yet to hear anything on that front - their search for a new head coach will begin with haste.

Buffalo will have plenty of competition as that search is conducted. It's barely past noon on the NFL's Black Monday, and including Gailey, seven head coaches have already lost their jobs. At least two more in-limbo coaches may be axed by the close of business tonight, as well.

• The Chicago Bears will be hiring a new head coach after firing Lovie Smith today. They're also moving very quickly in trying to bring in a replacement, as they're already working to interview Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy.
• The Cleveland Browns are starting over after firing GM Tom Heckert and head coach Pat Shurmur. Word out of Cleveland indicates that they're going after a big-name head coach with the promise that they'll hire the coach first, then fill in the front office after the fact.
• No decision has yet been made on GM Scott Pioli, but owner Clark Hunt and the Kansas City Chiefs will be in the market for a new head coach after firing Romeo Crennel this morning.
• The Philadelphia Eagles, as expected, have fired Andy Reid. GM Howie Roseman is staying put, but the Eagles will be coached by a new man for the first time in 14 years.
• Also as expected, the San Diego Chargers have fired not only head coach Norv Turner, but GM A.J. Smith, as well.
• The Arizona Cardinals have fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt as well as GM Rod Graves.

Other head coaches in limbo include Carolina's Ron Rivera and Jacksonville's Mike Mularkey (the Jags fired GM Gene Smith today). That means that the Bills could be in direct competition with at least eight more teams in searching for their next head coach. Game on.