Some coaches face adversity with grace and accountability. Others… prefer to shift the blame like it’s part of the game plan.
In the NFL, a head coach is often the first to go when things go sideways. But these ten guys made a habit of pointing fingers at everyone but themselves—from quarterbacks and coordinators to front offices and even the fans.
10. Mike Martz
When the Greatest Show on Turf faded, Martz never seemed to think it was his fault. He was quick to deflect criticism and double down on his offensive genius—even when it stopped working.
9. Jason Garrett
The Clapper never met a postgame press conference where he owned up to a bad decision. Somehow, it was always the players not executing, never the guy calling the plays.
8. Rex Ryan
Rex loved the spotlight, but when things unraveled, he rarely turned the mirror on himself. The bravado stayed loud, even if the win column didn’t.
7. Chip Kelly
Kelly brought his revolutionary system to the NFL—and took little responsibility when it didn’t translate. He pointed to personnel and execution, not his own inflexibility.
6. Adam Gase
From wild eyes to even wilder pressers, Gase had a talent for throwing others under the bus. Quarterbacks, injuries, bad luck—you name it, he blamed it.
5. Urban Meyer
Meyer’s NFL stint was short but packed with drama, denial, and deflection. He seemed more focused on distancing himself from the chaos than cleaning any of it up.
4. Josh McDaniels
Twice given the keys to a franchise, McDaniels has a habit of acting like the smartest guy in the room. But when things crumbled, the blame mysteriously never landed on him.
3. Jim Tomsula
His lone year in San Francisco was a disaster, but you’d never know it from his pressers. He leaned on excuses and vague coach-speak to dodge accountability at every turn.
Read More: The 10 Whiniest NFL Coaches of All Time
2. Nathaniel Hackett
Hackett’s Denver tenure was a masterclass in sidestepping responsibility. Even as delay-of-game penalties piled up and the offense sputtered, he just smiled through the blame game.
Read More: 20 NFL QBs Who Blamed Everyone But Themselves
1. Lane Kiffin
Kiffin’s NFL coaching debut was forgettable—and he made sure everyone else got blamed for it. The Raiders were a mess, and Lane was more interested in finger-pointing than fixing it.
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