NFL coaches are supposed to lead their teams with strategy, discipline, and integrity—but sometimes, things go off the rails. From secret videotaping to outright cheating, these coaching scandals left fans stunned and, in some cases, changed the league forever.
Here are the 15 biggest NFL coaching scandals of all time, ranked from shocking to downright unbelievable.
15. Josh McDaniels’ Broncos Disaster (2010)
McDaniels came into Denver as the next Bill Belichick but ended up in the middle of a cheating scandal. His staff was caught illegally videotaping an opponent’s practice, and combined with his overall disastrous tenure, he was fired before the season even ended.
14. Urban Meyer’s Short-Lived Jaguars Disaster (2021)
Urban Meyer’s brief stint in Jacksonville was a disaster for all the wrong reasons. From skipping team flights to kicking his own kicker, Meyer’s tenure was a scandalous mess that lasted less than a full season.
13. Jon Gruden’s Leaked Emails (2021)
Gruden’s second stint with the Raiders ended in disgrace after leaked emails revealed racist, sexist, and homophobic comments. The scandal rocked the NFL and forced him to resign, leaving his coaching career in shambles.
12. Jim Tomsula’s One-Season Mess (2015)
Tomsula wasn’t involved in a major scandal, but his one season as 49ers head coach was so bad that it almost felt criminal. From bizarre press conferences to looking completely unprepared, his time in San Francisco remains a running joke.
11. Jack Del Rio’s Twitter Controversy (2022)
Del Rio, serving as Washington’s defensive coordinator, made headlines when he referred to the January 6th insurrection as a “dust-up.” His comments led to massive backlash, a hefty fine, and questions about whether he should remain in the league.
10. Sean Payton’s BountyGate Suspension (2012)
Payton became the first NFL head coach to be suspended for an entire season after the Saints’ BountyGate scandal. Paying players to injure opponents isn’t exactly part of the rulebook, and the fallout put a stain on the Saints’ Super Bowl legacy.
9. Bill Belichick’s DeflateGate Connection (2015)
While Tom Brady took the most heat for DeflateGate, there was no way Belichick wasn’t at least aware of what was going on. The scandal led to endless debates about football PSI levels, science experiments, and another black mark on the Patriots dynasty.
8. George Allen’s Spy Games (1970s)
Long before Spygate, Washington’s head coach George Allen had a reputation for being obsessed with gathering intelligence on opponents. From secret film sessions to elaborate sign-stealing tactics, Allen pushed the boundaries of old-school cheating.
7. Mike Ditka’s Ricky Williams Trade (1999)
Ditka didn’t break any rules, but trading an entire draft class to land one player (Ricky Williams) was scandalous enough on its own. The move was a total disaster, ending Ditka’s Saints career and making him look completely out of touch.
6. Pete Carroll Leaves USC Right Before NCAA Sanctions (2009)
Carroll conveniently bolted for the Seahawks just as USC got hammered with sanctions for improper benefits to Reggie Bush. While he avoided punishment, many believe he left the Trojans to take the fall while he rebuilt his career in the NFL.
5. Hue Jackson’s Tanking Accusations (2022)
Jackson claimed that Browns ownership incentivized him to intentionally lose games, similar to what Brian Flores later accused the Dolphins of doing. Whether or not it was true, it added fuel to the fire regarding the ethics of tanking in the NFL.
4. Bill Belichick’s Spygate (2007)
The Patriots were caught illegally videotaping the Jets’ defensive signals, and the NFL came down hard. Belichick was fined $500,000, the team lost draft picks, and the scandal only fueled the perception that the Patriots’ dynasty had an asterisk.
3. Gregg Williams’ BountyGate (2012)
The mastermind behind the Saints’ bounty scandal, Williams encouraged players to take out opponents for cash rewards. The league’s investigation led to multiple suspensions, including his own indefinite ban, which was later lifted.
Read More: The 15 Biggest Tanking Controversies in Sports
2. Brian Flores’ Racial Discrimination Lawsuit (2022)
Flores accused the Dolphins of trying to bribe him to tank and also sued the NFL over its hiring practices for Black coaches. The lawsuit was a bombshell, leading to major discussions about systemic issues in the league.
Read More: 16 Scandals That Shook the World of Professional Sports
1. Art Briles and Baylor’s Scandal (2010s, Impacting NFL Hires)
While Briles never coached in the NFL, his horrific scandal at Baylor loomed over every potential hire. His failure to address sexual assault cases within the program led to massive backlash anytime an NFL team considered bringing him in.
Read More: The 20 Most Shocking College Basketball Recruiting Scandals
