Hiring the right head coach is one of the most important decisions an NFL franchise can make. A great coach can turn a team into a dynasty, but a terrible hire can set a franchise back for years.
From bizarre hires to legendary flops, these are the 15 worst NFL coaching hires of all time.
15. Cam Cameron – Miami Dolphins (2007)
Cameron’s lone season in Miami was a complete disaster, as the Dolphins finished with a miserable 1-15 record. His most memorable moment was probably telling the media that the team would “fail forward fast,” which was at least half true.
14. Steve Spurrier – Washington (2002-2003)
Spurrier dominated college football, but his fun-and-gun offense never translated to the NFL. After two seasons of disorganized practices, lackluster play, and a 12-20 record, he returned to college, where he actually knew how to win.
13. Dave Shula – Cincinnati Bengals (1992-1996)
Shula had the famous last name but not much else when it came to coaching success. In five seasons with the Bengals, he racked up a brutal 19-52 record, proving that legendary genes don’t always equal coaching greatness.
12. Joe Judge – New York Giants (2020-2021)
The Giants thought they were getting a no-nonsense leader, but instead, they got a coach whose offense looked like it was running in reverse. Judge’s tenure ended with one of the most embarrassing moments in NFL history, when he called consecutive quarterback sneaks on third and long just to avoid a turnover.
11. Adam Gase – New York Jets (2019-2020)
Gase was hired because of his so-called “quarterback whisperer” abilities, but the only thing he whispered to Sam Darnold was how to see ghosts. His tenure was filled with strange press conferences, head-scratching play-calling, and a record of 9-23 that Jets fans would rather forget.
10. Rich Kotite – New York Jets (1995-1996)
Kotite’s time with the Jets was so bad that he voluntarily announced he was stepping down before the season even ended. He finished with a 4-28 record, proving that just because you can coach in Philadelphia doesn’t mean you can do it in New York.
9. Rod Marinelli – Detroit Lions (2006-2008)
Marinelli will forever be remembered for leading the Lions to the first 0-16 season in NFL history. His postgame press conferences were filled with bizarre motivational speeches, but unfortunately for him, inspiration alone doesn’t win football games.
8. Urban Meyer – Jacksonville Jaguars (2021)
Meyer’s tenure in Jacksonville was so bad that it felt like a reality TV show gone wrong. From reported locker room chaos to kicking his own kicker and a viral bar incident, he lasted just 13 games before getting the boot.
7. Lou Holtz – New York Jets (1976)
Holtz is a college football legend, but his time in the NFL was an unmitigated disaster. He resigned before his first season even finished, proving that some coaches are just meant to stay on campus.
6. Bobby Petrino – Atlanta Falcons (2007)
Petrino didn’t even make it through his first season before bailing on the Falcons for a college job at Arkansas. He famously left a note in the players’ lockers announcing his resignation, making him one of the most cowardly coaching hires in NFL history.
5. Mike Singletary – San Francisco 49ers (2008-2010)
Singletary is best known for dropping his pants in the locker room to prove a point and sending players off the field mid-game. His motivational tactics were legendary, but his coaching skills were not, and the 49ers quickly moved on.
4. Marty Mornhinweg – Detroit Lions (2001-2002)
Mornhinweg once won a coin toss in overtime and decided to kick the ball instead of receiving, leading to an immediate loss. That moment perfectly summed up his Lions tenure, which ended with a 5-27 record.
3. Hue Jackson – Cleveland Browns (2016-2018)
Jackson’s Browns went an abysmal 3-36-1, including a winless 0-16 season that made history for all the wrong reasons. Despite all the losing, he kept insisting he knew how to turn things around, but the only thing he turned was the Browns into a bigger joke.
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2. Gus Bradley – Jacksonville Jaguars (2013-2016)
Bradley somehow managed to keep his job for nearly four full seasons despite posting a 14-48 record. His time in Jacksonville was defined by empty promises of improvement, but the only thing that improved was his career loss total.
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1. Freddie Kitchens – Cleveland Browns (2019)
Kitchens went from a surprise coaching hire to a disaster in record time, showing he was completely out of his depth. His one season as head coach featured questionable play-calling, lack of discipline, and a team that completely fell apart despite its talent.
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