Simon Grayson began the season as Sunderland manager, following the departure of David Moyes in May 2017.

However, he did not complete the full season, instead being sacked towards the end of October after only one win in his first fifteen league matches saw Sunderland rooted to the bottom of the table.

Sunderland suffered a second successive relegation on 21 April 2018, following a 1–2 home defeat to fellow struggling side Burton Albion, after they had led the match 1–0.

[6][7][8] The events of the season formed the backdrop to the first series of the documentary programme Sunderland 'Til I Die, which was released on Netflix on 14 December 2018.

[50] In the FA Cup, Sunderland entered the competition in the third round and were drawn away to Middlesbrough.