Not every NFL coach who gets hyped up actually lives up to the reputation. Some rode elite rosters to success, others lucked into one good season, and a few just managed to hang around longer than they should have.
Let’s break down 15 coaches who weren’t quite as great as everyone thinks.
15. Jim Caldwell
Caldwell had some solid seasons with the Colts and Lions, but let’s be honest—he inherited Peyton Manning in his prime. Once Manning got hurt, his Colts went 2-14, and in Detroit, he couldn’t get them past the first round of the playoffs.
14. Jason Garrett
Garrett somehow lasted a full decade in Dallas despite being the definition of mediocre. He was a master at clapping on the sidelines, but his predictable offense and inability to win big games kept the Cowboys stuck in neutral.
13. Marvin Lewis
Lewis deserves credit for making the Bengals relevant, but zero playoff wins in 16 seasons is hard to ignore. He had plenty of talented teams but could never get them over the hump.
12. Jeff Fisher
“Mr. 8-8” somehow convinced people he was a great coach despite his teams living in mediocrity. Fisher’s crowning achievement? Losing a Super Bowl and perfecting the art of going 7-9.
11. Norv Turner
Turner was amazing as an offensive coordinator but never quite figured things out as a head coach. He had a loaded Chargers roster with LaDainian Tomlinson, Philip Rivers, and Antonio Gates, yet still found ways to come up short in the playoffs.
10. Mike McCarthy
McCarthy had Aaron Rodgers in his prime and somehow only won one Super Bowl. His offenses got stale, his game management was questionable, and he was eventually run out of Green Bay for holding the team back. And unfortunately for him, his time with Dallas is now also over.
9. Rex Ryan
Ryan talked a big game and had some early success with the Jets, but once his defenses fell off, he had no answers. His bravado was fun, but his offenses were painful to watch, and he never figured out how to develop a quarterback.
8. Dan Quinn
Quinn gets credit for leading the Falcons to a Super Bowl, but let’s not forget 28-3. His teams were consistently undisciplined, and after that legendary collapse, the Falcons never really recovered under his watch. He’s been better with Washington, but it’s still too early to tell.
7. Lovie Smith
Smith made a Super Bowl with the Bears, but his teams were often carried by elite defenses while his offenses looked stuck in the Stone Age. Once the defense declined, his coaching flaws became very apparent.
6. Jim Fassel
Fassel took the Giants to a Super Bowl in 2000, but they got completely embarrassed by the Ravens. Outside of that one magical season, his teams were pretty forgettable.
5. Pete Carroll
Yes, Carroll has a Super Bowl ring, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that he cost the Seahawks another one by calling the worst play in NFL history at the 1-yard line. Once the Legion of Boom faded, his coaching magic disappeared too. Let’s see if he can redeem himself with Vegas.
4. Brian Billick
Billick was supposed to be an offensive genius, yet his Ravens won a Super Bowl despite his offense, not because of it. That 2000 defense carried the team, and once it declined, Billick had no answers.
3. Mike Martz
Martz gets way too much credit for the “Greatest Show on Turf” when he really just inherited Kurt Warner, Marshall Faulk, and a loaded Rams roster. Once he started making decisions on his own, things fell apart fast.
Read More: Ranking Every NFL Head Coach From Worst to Best
2. Barry Switzer
Switzer technically won a Super Bowl, but let’s be real—it was with Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys roster. His biggest contribution? Almost losing with one of the most stacked teams in NFL history.
Read More: 10 Times an NFL Coach Ruined a Championship-Caliber Team
1. Jon Gruden
Gruden gets praised for winning a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers, but he basically won with Tony Dungy’s team. His second stint with the Raiders was a total disaster, proving that maybe he was just a great personality, not a great coach.
Read More: 10 Super Bowl Winning Coaches Who Didn’t Earn Legendary Status
