There’s a certain art to looking completely bewildered while holding a laminated play sheet and pretending everything is under control. Some NFL coaches have perfected the wide-eyed, “what just happened?” look that suggests they might be better off asking their QB what to do next.
Whether it was the chaos of time or a defense getting cooked, these 15 coaches had a signature sideline expression: full-on confusion. Let’s count down the NFL’s most perpetually puzzled-looking leaders.
15. Pat Shurmur
He always looked like someone just told him the Wi-Fi password stopped working mid-play call. You could practically see the gears grinding—and stalling—on his face.
14. Norv Turner
Turner’s default setting was between “mild panic” and “I forgot my reading glasses.” He had the eternal vibe of someone waiting for the replay to bail him out.
13. Mike McCoy
McCoy often wore the expression of a man reading ancient hieroglyphics instead of a game plan. His furrowed brow was a regular on Broncos broadcasts.
12. Romeo Crennel
Romeo always seems to be trying to remember where he parked his car. Even when things were going well, he had the aura of someone utterly shocked to be winning.
11. Rod Marinelli
During his Lions tenure, Marinelli looked like he was watching his team play football for the first time. It was a mix of awe, concern, and “we’re punting again.”
10. Nathaniel Hackett
Hackett’s one season in Denver felt like a real-time documentary on how to forget basic time management. The guy looked more confused than the fans—and that’s saying something.
9. Wade Phillips
Lovable? Yes. Effective? Sometimes. Confused? Always. Wade’s sideline face said, “Did we just call that play?”
8. Jason Garrett
The Clapper often clapped and looked bewildered about what had just happened. His poker face was less “stoic” and more “I missed that entire sequence.”
7. Lovie Smith
With his Santa beard and thousand-yard stare, Lovie constantly looked like he’d just walked into the wrong press box. Somehow, the confusion became comforting.
6. Jeff Fisher
The king of 7-9 looked permanently locked in a mental coin toss. His furrowed-brow squint was iconic, even if the results weren’t.
5. Adam Gase
Few will forget Gase’s infamous bug-eyed introductory press conference, but that same vibe followed him onto the field. Every Jets game featured at least three cutaways to him looking utterly lost.
4. Jim Zorn
Zorn once admitted he was in over his head—and his expressions backed it up every Sunday. His play-calling face said, “Can someone else be in charge of this?”
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3. Joe Judge
He coached like he was trying to solve a Rubik’s cube during a fire drill. Every fourth-down decision was accompanied by a face that screamed, “Uh… punt?”
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2. Matt Patricia
Patricia had a laminated sheet, a pencil in his ear, and a lot of confusion. Every time the defense gave up 20 yards, he looked like a guy trying to hack into a server.
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1. Herm Edwards
Herm had passion, sure—but he also had some of the most mystified sideline reactions in NFL history. His face often said, “We play to win the game, I just don’t know how.”
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