Some NFL players are built for greatness, others are built for chaos—and sometimes, they’re one and the same. While talent is crucial, being coachable can make or break a career, and these players definitely leaned more toward break.
From locker room clashes to flat-out ignoring playbooks, these guys made their coaches earn every penny. Whether it was ego, effort, or just pure stubbornness, these players were as uncoachable as it gets.
19. Johnny Manziel
Manziel treated every playbook like a coaster and every curfew like a suggestion. He was more invested in nightlife than any game plan.
18. Albert Haynesworth
Haynesworth got his big payday and decided that effort was optional. Coaches begged him to try—he chose to nap instead.
17. Antonio Brown
At one point, AB was the best receiver in football… and still completely unmanageable. His spiral of chaos made coaching him basically impossible.
16. Vince Young
Vince Young didn’t just clash with coaches—he shut them out completely. He wanted to do things his way, even if it meant derailing his career.
15. Jay Cutler
Cutler had a cannon arm and a body language coach’s worst nightmare. His indifference was legendary, and he made it clear he wasn’t interested in being molded.
14. Jalen Ramsey (early career)
Ramsey’s early years were full of talent and tension. If he didn’t respect the coach, he wasn’t pretending otherwise.
13. Percy Harvin
Harvin could be electric when he wasn’t feuding with coaches or teammates. His refusal to fall in line wore out every welcome.
12. Jeff George
George had all the arm talent in the world and zero interest in coaching input. He thought he knew better, and he made sure everyone knew it.
11. Richie Incognito
When Incognito wasn’t getting suspended, he was driving coaches nuts with his volatility. His unpredictability made him impossible to manage.
10. Randy Gregory
Gregory had endless potential but seemed allergic to rules. Coaching him was a roller coaster, mostly downhill.
9. Le’Veon Bell (late career)
Once a top-tier back, Bell became resistant to coaching after leaving Pittsburgh. He bounced around teams, each one getting the same frustrating experience.
8. Josh Gordon
Gordon’s immense talent never came with reliability. Coaches constantly hoped he’d buy in, but he never really did.
7. Terrell Owens
TO was a Hall of Famer who made every coaching staff sweat. If he wasn’t dominating on the field, he was dominating the drama.
6. Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants era)
OBJ could make circus catches look easy and sideline meltdowns even easier. Coaches struggled to keep him focused for more than a week at a time.
5. JaMarcus Russell
Russell showed up late, out of shape, and uninterested. Coaches eventually stopped trying to reach him because he was never listening.
4. Martavis Bryant
Insanely gifted but allergic to structure, Martavis Bryant was a constant headache. Coaches couldn’t trust him to stay eligible, let alone follow directions.
3. Cam Newton (late career)
Cam’s refusal to adapt his game or take direction toward the end frustrated more than one staff member. He still wanted to be the MVP version—coaches knew he wasn’t.
Read More: 15 NFL Players Who Destroyed Their Reputations
2. Aaron Rodgers (Packers exit)
Rodgers is a football savant, but his relationship with coaches soured hard in Green Bay. He ran his own offense at times, with or without permission.
Read More: 10 Quarterbacks Who Thought They Were Smarter Than Their Coach
1. Randy Moss (Raiders era)
Moss straight-up admitted he played when he wanted to. Coaches in Oakland found out the hard way that desire wasn’t included in the contract.
Read More: 20 NFL Stars Who Were All Vibes, No Accountability
