Being a head coach of a professional football team might sound like a great job, but it’s not something that comes easily to many. Sure, being the face of an NFL franchise and standing on the sideline for each game might sound appealing, but it’s a heck of a lot harder than some make it look. Don Shula, Bill Belichick and Vince Lombardi are guys we know as some of the best, here are 15 former NFL head coaches who are anything but, as they’re the most disappointing of all-time.
Photo via YouTube
15. Dennis Erickson (Career Record: 40-56)
Never once making the postseason, there has always been something about Dennis Erickson that NFL teams like in a head coaching prospect. Unfortunately, with a career record of just 40-56, he could never be trusted to get the job done. While he was a great leader in the college ranks, Erickson’s ways didn’t catch on with pro players, leading him to a final NFL season with a 2-14 record before getting canned.
Photo via YouTube
14. Buddy Ryan (55-55-1)
Although his overall career coaching record is an even .500, Buddy Ryan’s reign has a head coach isn’t exactly that great—which isn’t good to begin with. Beloved by fans and reporters for his soundbites and personality, Ryan stuck around the league as a head coaching candidate for longer than he should have because of it, yet he never won a playoff game in his entire career.
Photo via YouTube
13. Marion Campbell (Career Record: 34-80-1)
After a three-year run that saw him go just 6-19 with the Atlanta Falcons in his first attempt at leading an NFL team, it’s pretty shocking that Marion Campbell ever got another chance to show he was worthy of a head coaching gig. Yet, for six more years throughout his career—including a second-stint in Atlanta—Campbell continued getting chances. It’s too bad he never once finished with a record better than three games under .500, though, leading him to land on this list as one of the worst ever.
Photo via tradingcarddb.com
12. Butch Davis (Career Record: 24-35)
Following a Sugar Bowl victory with his Miami Hurricanes in 2001, the Cleveland Browns were enamored with the idea of having Butch Davis becoming their next head coach. While Davis did show some promise, leading the Browns to the postseason in 2002, he could never manage a roster or team, and, when his team wasn’t stacked with blue-chippers, he seemed to lose interest.
Photo via YouTube
11. Kevin Gilbride (Career Record: 6-16)
He has always been a respected offensive coordinator, but as a head coach, Kevin Gilbride just couldn’t find the same success. In his 22 games at the helm of the San Diego Chargers, Gilbride prohibited the media from watching practice and limiting the media’s access to players—which isn’t a good way to get on the good side of journalists. Then going on and winning just six off 22 games is another way to get booted from a team, too.
Photo via YouTube
10. Rich Kotite (Career Record: 41-57)
While a lot of these coaches were given numerous opportunities time and time again, former New York Jets head coach Rich Kotite’s fate wasn’t nearly as great, as he just seemed to fall off the face of the earth once the Jets let him go. That’s not just on the NFL level as an assistant or consultant, but on the college or other, B-level pro leagues, too, meaning this guy was probably a pretty bad coach.
Photo via YouTube
9. Bruce Coslet (Career Record: 47-77)
While his 47-77 career coaching record is miserable enough, former head coach Bruce Coslet’s reign ended with the Cincinnati Bengals after just three games into the 2000 season, as the guy pulled the plug after his Bengals got outscored 75-7 in those games. The fact that this guy had two opportunities to lead a team—the first was with the New York Jets—is a little bit absurd.
Photo via YouTube
8. Lou Holtz (Career Record: 3-10)
A hell of a college football coach and legend from his days at Notre Dame, Lou Holtz might best be known as the mumbling analyst on ESPN these days, but in his short time with the New York Jets, he couldn’t seem to get his point across to his players. That’s because he went just 3-10 with the Jets, lasting less than a full season back in 1976 when he quit and saying, “God did not put Lou Holtz on this Earth to coach in the pros.” He proved that.
Photo via YouTube
7. Rod Rust (Career Record: 1-15)
One could make the case that Rod Rust should actually be much higher on this list based off both his record and dysfunction he brought to the New England Patriots during his one season there. Leading the team in 1990, Rust had no quarterback to really choose from, lost control of his players and locker room and, ultimately, got canned after winning his second game and never another one. Yeah, he was pretty awful.
Photo via tradingcarddb.com
6. Les Steckel (Career Record: 3-13)
Lasting just one season—1984 with the Minnesota Vikings—Les Steckel was known for his military-like persona that was expected to whip his players into shape. His style didn’t work at all, as his players were unresponsive, with his defense giving up an average of 40 points per game in their final six games, all losses. Hearing how players reacted once he did get canned only proved that they didn’t like him too much.
Photo via YouTube
5. Steve Spurrier (Career Record: 12-20)
Another case of a successful college coach who thought he could bring the same attitude and style to the NFL, Steve Spurrier is so stubborn and such an egomaniac that he never stood a chance in the pros. That’s because he never wanted to adapt from his aerial attack that brought him success with the Florida Gators. Getting a $5 million deal for five seasons, Spurrier lasted just two, quickly realizing that there are no such thing as a team in the NFL with terrible talent that are just pushovers, like there are in the college game.
Photo via YouTube
4. Bobby Petrino (Career Record: 3-10)
The thing about Bobby Petrino when he was coaching the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 is that he never really seemed interested in the pro game. And if he felt like he needed to prove it, the guy quit his job after 13 games and nursing a 3-10 record, going behind everyone’s backs to take the head gig at the University of Arkansas by telling his players through a letter. Disloyal and coward are just a few safe for work terms people used to describe Petrino.
Photo via YouTube
3. Rod Marinelli (Career Record: 10-38)
Not only did Rod Marinelli go a combined 28 games below .500, but after a 2007 season that saw him go 7-9 and trick Detroit Lions fans into thinking he could turn the beleaguered franchise around, he did the unthinkable—fielded a team that went winless. Yes, Marinelli was at the helm of the only 0-16 team in NFL history, which all but guaranteed a spot in the top-3 of this list as the worst coaches that the league has ever seen.
Photo via YouTube
2. Marty Mornhinweg (Career Record: 5-27)
Between the years of 2001 and 2004, the Detroit Lions proved why they have long been considered to be one of the most dysfunctional organization in sports. Between the terrible draft picks and free-agent signings, the tip of the iceberg was the hiring of Marty Mornhinweg as their head coach. All he did was go a combined 5-27 in his near-three seasons in Motown, with his lasting impression coming during a game against the Chicago Bears where, when heading to sudden-death overtime, Mornhinweg chose the wind and defense rather than the football. His team lost, and Marty, eventually, lost his job.
Photo via YouTube
1. David Shula (Career Record: 19-53)
As the son of legendary head coach Don Shula, one would have thought that David Shula picked up a few things from his old man. It’s too bad that this apple fell far away from the tree, though, with the younger Shula proving to be the worst coach in NFL history. In four-plus seasons at the helm of the Cincinnati Bengals, David Shula went 19-53, losing 50 games faster than any other coach the league had ever seen. He might share the last name with coaching gold, but his talent as one himself wasn’t even worthy of participating in the event.
Photo via Flickr/hiltonnaples
