The quarterback-head coach relationship is supposed to be the most important bond in football. But sometimes, instead of mutual respect and trust, it’s all side-eyes, rolled eyes, and passive-aggressive press conferences.
Whether it was clashing egos, offensive schemes gone wrong, or just straight-up personality mismatches, these quarterback-coach pairings turned toxic fast. From icy stares on the sidelines to full-on public meltdowns, here are quarterbacks who clearly couldn’t stand their head coach.
14. Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury
They were supposed to be a dynamic duo, but instead, we got sideline screaming matches and awkward body language. Murray looked frustrated with the offense, and Kingsbury seemed out of ideas.
13. Jay Cutler and Mike Martz
Cutler and Martz had completely different visions of how football should be played—mostly, Cutler preferred not getting hit 20 times a game. Martz called deep drops with a broken O-line, and Cutler’s body language said it all.
12. Derek Carr and Josh McDaniels
Carr gave everything to the Raiders, but McDaniels didn’t seem to care—he benched him before the season was even over. The move felt personal, and the breakup wasn’t exactly mutual.
11. Jeff George and June Jones
George had the arm talent, but also a short fuse—especially when his coach wasn’t on the same page. Things blew up fast in Atlanta, and the feud made headlines long after both had moved on.
10. Donovan McNabb and Mike Shanahan
McNabb came to Washington hoping for a fresh start, but Shanahan had other ideas—like benching him for Rex Grossman. The two never clicked, and it felt like every week brought a new passive-aggressive jab.
9. Tua Tagovailoa and Brian Flores
Flores never really seemed sold on Tua, and that uncertainty showed on the field. Tua played like he was always looking over his shoulder, and the relationship never recovered.
8. Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson
They brought a Super Bowl to Philly (kind of), but things soured fast after that. Wentz reportedly felt undermined and lost faith in Pederson’s play-calling, while Pederson struggled to rein him back in.
7. Robert Griffin III and Mike Shanahan
RG3’s rookie year was electric, but Shanahan pushed him too hard through injury, and the trust was gone. The fallout was messy and set the franchise back years.
6. Deshaun Watson and Bill O’Brien
Watson balled out despite O’Brien’s constant chaos, but things boiled over after questionable roster moves and power grabs. Watson reportedly begged for more input—O’Brien responded by trading DeAndre Hopkins.
5. Vince Young and Jeff Fisher
Young had talent, but Fisher never seemed to believe in him—and the tension turned into full-blown disdain. Things reached a breaking point when Young reportedly threw his pads into the stands and stormed out.
4. Ben Roethlisberger and Todd Haley
Technically, Haley wasn’t the head coach, but the feud felt big enough for this list. Big Ben never hid his annoyance with Haley’s play-calling, and the two never seemed to get along on or off the field.
3. Baker Mayfield and Kevin Stefanski
What started with promise ended in icy pressers and finger-pointing. Mayfield felt Stefanski didn’t have his back, and Stefanski clearly didn’t see Mayfield as the long-term guy.
Read More: 13 Quarterbacks Who Got Exposed the Second They Left Their Coach
2. Russell Wilson and Pete Carroll
They won a Super Bowl together, but egos eventually clashed as Wilson wanted more control and Carroll doubled down on the run game. Things got awkward fast, and Wilson’s exit was inevitable.
Read More: 15 Quarterbacks Who Never Got the Right Coach
1. Tom Brady and Bill Belichick
They won everything together, but behind the rings was a frosty, business-like partnership. Brady wanted more freedom and appreciation, while Belichick just wanted to keep doing things the Patriot Way.
Read More: 15 Quarterbacks Who Treated Coaches Like Background Noise
