The National Football League’s (NFL) “Black Monday” has already struck twice: the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons have parted ways with their head coaches the day after the main round final

In Washington, the cooperation with Ron Rivera, whose team only managed four wins and 13 defeats in the past season, has come to an end. Rivera was hired by the Commanders in 2019 and the team from the US capital only made the play-offs in the first season under the head coach.

Rivera’s time in Washington was characterized by special circumstances: The 62-year-old was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2020 and was on the sidelines for every game despite ongoing treatment. Rivera has been considered cured since January 2021.

The Atlanta Falcons had already announced the dismissal of Arthur Smith that night; in the three seasons with the head coach, they failed to make the play-offs or achieve a positive season record. At the end of the season, Atlanta went down 17:48 to the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, losing the second half 0:31.

“Decisions like this are never easy and they never feel good,” club owner Arthur M. Blank said. While Smith has “helped build a good culture on our football team,” the results have not met the franchise’s expectations.