With the regular season complete, coaches on the hot seat are now receiving the news most of them dreaded to hear, with their respective team deciding to move on in a different direction going forward.

The first coach to receive such news this morning was Eric Mangini, who’s officially out as the head coach in Cleveland, leaving the door wide open for team executive Mike Holmgren to bring in someone of his own choosing to run the team next season. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen confirmed the firing earlier this morning.

Potential candidates to take Mangini’s place on the sideline include ESPN analyst and former Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden, Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, and to a lesser extent former 49ers and Lions head coach Steve Mariucci.

Gruden has been linked to just about every opening headed into the off-season, and while it would take a significant chunk of money to snag him, there’s little doubt that he’d enjoy having the opportunity to develop Colt McCoy into a NFL quarterback, given remarks he’s made throughout the year regarding the rookie QB.

Other posts you may enjoy:

1. 49ers dump Singletary after playoff elimination
2. Opportunity at the U piquing Gruden’s interest?
3. 49ers to hire Baalke to handle GM duties
4. Broncos mercifully end McDaniels era in Denver