NFL teams have a habit of pulling the trigger on coaches way too early. Whether it’s impatient owners, unrealistic expectations, or just plain bad luck, some head coaches have been shown the door before they even had a chance to prove themselves.
Let’s take a look at 15 NFL coaches who were fired way too soon—because sometimes, you just need a little more time to cook.
15. Marty Schottenheimer (San Diego Chargers, 2006)
Winning 14 games in the regular season usually gets you a contract extension, not a pink slip. But the Chargers brass wasn’t feeling it after Schottenheimer’s 14-2 team flamed out in the playoffs. The move looked even worse when they replaced him with Norv Turner and never quite recaptured that magic.
14. Jim Caldwell (Detroit Lions, 2017)
Let’s be real—Jim Caldwell might be the only Lions coach in recent history who actually made them respectable. He had a winning record (36-28) and led them to two playoff appearances. But apparently, that wasn’t good enough for Detroit, who fired him for Matt Patricia (big mistake). The Lions haven’t been the same since.
13. Tony Dungy (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2001)
Dungy turned the Buccaneers from laughingstock to contender, making the playoffs four times in six seasons. But after failing to reach the Super Bowl, Tampa Bay fired him and brought in Jon Gruden. Gruden won it all in his first year, sure—but he did it with Dungy’s team.
12. Jack Del Rio (Oakland Raiders, 2017)
In 2016, Del Rio’s Raiders looked like a legit threat, going 12-4 before Derek Carr got injured. The next year, things fell apart, and instead of giving him a chance to rebound, Oakland kicked him to the curb to bring in Jon Gruden (how did that work out?). Del Rio deserved another shot.
11. Brian Flores (Miami Dolphins, 2022)
Back-to-back winning seasons in Miami? Unheard of! But instead of being celebrated, Flores got fired in a move that left everyone scratching their heads. Turns out, the firing had less to do with football and more to do with front office politics.
10. Bruce Arians (Arizona Cardinals, 2017)
Okay, Arians technically “retired,” but let’s be honest—he was pushed out after a 50-32-1 run in Arizona. The Cardinals immediately spiraled after he left, proving that maybe they should’ve fought a little harder to keep the guy who actually knew what he was doing.
9. Mike Shanahan (Washington, 2013)
Washington hasn’t exactly been a model franchise, but firing Mike Shanahan after he tried to build something in the chaos? Questionable. He was dealt a broken Robert Griffin III situation and still had the team in the playoffs in 2012. Given a little more time, he might’ve figured things out.
8. Steve Wilks (Arizona Cardinals, 2018)
Wilks got one year with a terrible roster, a rookie quarterback, and no real chance to prove himself before getting the boot. The Cardinals immediately replaced him with Kliff Kingsbury, whose NFL coaching résumé at the time was… losing at Texas Tech? Wilks got a raw deal.
7. Jim Fassel (New York Giants, 2003)
Fassel took the Giants to the Super Bowl in 2000 and had a winning record overall, but one bad season in 2003 and he was gone. His replacement? Tom Coughlin, who won two Super Bowls, so maybe this one worked out—but Fassel still deserved a better send-off.
6. George Seifert (San Francisco 49ers, 1996)
Seifert had the impossible task of following Bill Walsh, and all he did was win two Super Bowls and post a ridiculous .766 winning percentage. But after a single non-Super Bowl season in 1996, the 49ers decided they were done with him. That’s a high bar.
5. Jim Harbaugh (San Francisco 49ers, 2014)
Harbaugh turned the 49ers into a powerhouse, reaching a Super Bowl and three straight NFC Championship Games. But his personality clashed with ownership, so they sent him packing. The 49ers immediately became terrible, proving that maybe they should’ve just dealt with the guy being a little intense.
4. Doug Pederson (Philadelphia Eagles, 2020)
Imagine winning a Super Bowl in Philadelphia (PHILADELPHIA!), only to be out of a job three years later. That’s what happened to Pederson, who somehow got blamed for a messy roster and a Carson Wentz meltdown. Philly turned things around later, but Pederson still got a raw deal.
3. Dennis Green (Minnesota Vikings, 2001)
Green turned the Vikings into a perennial playoff contender and coached one of the greatest teams ever (1998 Vikings). But after one bad season in 2001, Minnesota showed him the door. They didn’t sniff real success again until Adrian Peterson showed up.
Related: Which NFL Fans Love Their Coach the Most? Top 15 Ranked
2. Lovie Smith (Chicago Bears, 2012)
Lovie Smith got the Bears to a Super Bowl with Rex Grossman at quarterback. If that’s not proof of coaching genius, what is? He went 10-6 in his final year and still got fired. The Bears haven’t had a coach half as good since.
Related: Ranking Every NFL Head Coach From Least to Most Likeable
1. Jimmy Johnson (Dallas Cowboys, 1993)
The most egregious firing in NFL history. Johnson built the Cowboys dynasty, won back-to-back Super Bowls, and then—boom—Jerry Jones’ ego got in the way. Johnson was forced out, and while Dallas won one more title with Barry Switzer, they haven’t been the same since.
Related: 15 NFL Coaches Who Dominated the Gridiron
