Winning a Super Bowl takes talent, grit, and—most importantly—competent coaching. Unfortunately, some NFL coaches have had championship-ready teams in their hands and still found ways to mess it up. Whether it was a bad play call, stubborn decision-making, or just a complete meltdown under pressure, these coaching blunders cost teams their shot at glory.
Some of these mistakes were so painful that fan bases are still recovering years later. From fourth-down disasters to legendary Super Bowl blunders, here are 10 times an NFL coach took a team that had everything… and made sure they got nothing.
10. Mike McCarthy Wastes Prime Aaron Rodgers (2014-2018)
Despite having one of the most talented quarterbacks ever, McCarthy’s conservative play-calling and clock management repeatedly let the Packers down. From the infamous NFC Championship meltdown against Seattle in 2014 to his stale offense in later years, he left Green Bay fans wondering what could have been.
9. Matt LaFleur’s Field Goal Fiasco (2020 NFC Championship)
With a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, LaFleur decided to kick a field goal instead of letting Aaron Rodgers go for it on fourth down. Tom Brady and the Bucs took advantage, and Packers fans are still facepalming to this day.
8. Jim Caldwell’s Timid Coaching Holds Back the Lions (2014)
The 2014 Detroit Lions had an elite defense and a prime Matthew Stafford, yet Caldwell’s conservative approach kept them from reaching their full potential. His late-game management against the Cowboys in the playoffs was baffling, and Detroit hasn’t been the same since.
7. Marty Schottenheimer Plays It Too Safe (2006 Chargers)
The 14-2 Chargers looked unstoppable until Schottenheimer’s ultra-conservative coaching reared its ugly head in the playoffs. A mix of bad challenges, questionable decisions, and “Martyball” at its worst doomed what should have been a Super Bowl team.
6. Sean McVay Gets Too Cute in the Super Bowl (2018)
The Rams’ high-flying offense looked unstoppable all season, but McVay froze under the bright lights of Super Bowl LIII. Instead of adapting to Bill Belichick’s defense, he stuck with his original game plan, and the Rams scored a grand total of three points.
5. Kyle Shanahan Forgets How to Run the Ball (Super Bowl LI & LIV)
Shanahan was the offensive coordinator when the Falcons blew a 28-3 lead, then did it again as a head coach with the 49ers against the Chiefs. Maybe next time, he’ll remember that running the ball is a thing that exists.
4. Mike Tomlin’s Clock Management Struggles (Multiple Years)
The Steelers always have the talent, but Tomlin’s questionable in-game decisions often hold them back. Whether it’s mismanaging the clock, odd fourth-down calls, or sticking with struggling coordinators, he keeps leaving Super Bowls on the table.
3. Brandon Staley’s Analytics Overload (2021-2023)
Staley’s obsession with aggressive fourth-down calls was fun… until it wasn’t. His Chargers constantly found new ways to choke away leads, making what should have been a playoff powerhouse look like a circus act.
Read More: 13 NFL Head Coaches Who Deserved a Super Bowl Win
2. Nathaniel Hackett’s Coaching Disaster in Denver (2022)
Hackett had Russell Wilson and a solid defense, yet his game management was so bad that the Broncos needed a dedicated coach just to help him with timeouts. He didn’t even last a full season before Denver pulled the plug.
Read More: Ranking Every NFL Head Coach From Worst to Best
1. Pete Carroll’s Super Bowl Blunder (Super Bowl XLIX)
All he had to do was run the ball with Marshawn Lynch. Instead, he called the most infamous pass play in NFL history, handing Tom Brady yet another Super Bowl and breaking Seahawks fans’ hearts forever.
Read More: 10 Super Bowl Winning Coaches Who Didn’t Earn Legendary Status
