When an NFL coach gets fired or leaves town, there are two possible scenes: a warm thank-you and a standing ovation… or a smoldering crater where a functional football team used to be. This list is all about the latter—the guys who didn’t just fail, but left the place in worse shape than they found it.
Some coaches tanked the roster, others blew up the locker room, and a few just never had control to begin with. From baffling decisions to vibes that were straight-up cursed, these are the 13 NFL coaches who walked away from a burning mess.
13. Chip Kelly
He came into Philly with innovation and energy, but by the time he left, the roster was gutted. His one-year stint in San Francisco was somehow even worse.
12. Adam Gase
He got hired by the Jets after flaming out in Miami, which should’ve been a red flag. By the end of his tenure, Sam Darnold saw ghosts, and fans saw nightmares.
11. Bobby Petrino
He left the Falcons midseason with a goodbye letter and zero explanation. The locker room hated him, the fans booed him, and honestly, the team needed a full spiritual cleanse.
10. Nathaniel Hackett
The Broncos gave him the keys, and he promptly drove them into a ditch. The Russell Wilson trade was already bad, but Hackett somehow made it look worse.
9. Urban Meyer
From hiring controversial assistants to not flying home with the team, every week was a new PR disaster. Jacksonville needed a full detox when he finally got canned.
8. Mike Singletary
Great linebacker, fiery speeches, but as a head coach? Total chaos. His 49ers teams were undisciplined and constantly at odds with each other.
7. Hue Jackson
A 3-36-1 record with the Browns speaks for itself. He was supposed to be part of the rebuild, but all he did was delay it.
6. Matt Patricia
He tried to install the “Patriot Way” without earning any buy-in. The Lions got worse, the players were miserable, and the defense (his specialty!) collapsed.
5. Steve Spurrier
![Florida Gators legendary head ball coach Steve Spurrier watches practice from a distance during the second open fall practice held at the Sanders Practice Fields on the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, Fla., July 27, 2019. [Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun]](https://thequickreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Untitled-design-2025-06-27T161300.459-1024x658.png)
He treated the NFL like a college spring game and got exposed fast. The Washington locker room was a mess, and nobody took him seriously.
4. Josh McDaniels (Broncos Edition)
He came in like a genius and left like a wrecking ball. From alienating players to bad drafts, Denver was in shambles when he left.
3. Joe Judge
He had no offensive plan and even less accountability. By the end, the Giants were running QB sneaks on 3rd and long from their goal line—pure madness.
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2. Dennis Erickson
He inherited a 49ers team in decline and finished the job with gusto. Two years later, the team was at rock bottom and needed a full reset.
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1. Bill O’Brien
He somehow became head coach and GM, which is like giving someone the matches and the gasoline. After trading away DeAndre Hopkins and gutting the roster, he left Houston in absolute ruins.
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