Top 8 worst NFL coaches of all time

In the long history of American football (NFL), there have been coaches with brilliant names and careers. But amid the glory, there are also those who are only credited with the title of “worst.” These coaches are not only the ones who failed to lead their teams to big wins, but also left a negative mark on the NFL community with controversial decisions and ineffective strategies. Among them, some names have become particularly famous for their title of “worst NFL coaches”. So who are they? Let’s find out with premiumsoccertips through the article below!

Top 8 worst NFL coaches ever

1. Ciro Ferrara

Ciro Ferrara was appointed as the head coach of Juventus after Claudio Ranieri was sacked at the end of the 2008/09 season, marking a transition from his role as an assistant coach with the Italian national team to the hot seat of a football club. However, despite a promising start with the Old Lady, Ferrara ultimately had to face his limitations.

The painful 1-4 defeat against Bayern at home and being knocked out of the Champions League came as a shock to Juventus under his leadership. Additionally, their elimination from the Coppa Italia by Inter in January 2010 was another unfortunate milestone. As a result, Ferrara had to accept the decision to be sacked by the management.

In retrospect, Ferrara admitted that coaching close friends was indeed a challenge, a reality he had to confront. Although he had the opportunity to continue his career at Sampdoria in 2012, he faced failure again when he was sacked midway through the season.

2. Alan Shearer

After retiring from his playing career, Alan Shearer didn’t conceal his intention to start a coaching career. However, when invited to join the coaching staff of the England national team under manager Steve McClaren, he declined: “I’m honored to have been approached by McClaren and am very interested in his plans for building his team. However, as I had promised the BBC that I would continue my contract with them, I didn’t want to go back on what I had said.” Shearer continued to reject two offers to become an assistant coach at Newcastle under managers Kevin Keegan (02/2008) and Joe Kinnear (11/2008).

On April 1, 2009, the English legend unexpectedly took the helm at Newcastle when there were only 8 rounds left in the season and the Magpies were in a relegation battle. For the beloved club, he requested an 8-week leave of absence from the BBC to help Newcastle escape the danger zone. Unfortunately, Shearer’s wish didn’t come true. With only 5 points gained from 8 matches, Newcastle officially got relegated. The moment Alan Shearer stood silent at Villa Park perhaps marked the end of his brief coaching career at Newcastle.

3. Hristo Stoichkov

He’s certainly one of the best players Bulgaria has ever produced. However, Stoichkov wasn’t a successful coach. His first stint as coach of the Bulgarian national team, despite helping Bulgaria reach the semi-finals of the 1994 World Cup, ended in disappointment.

While he couldn’t even guide his team past the World Cup 2006 qualifiers, Stoichkov failed to lead Bulgaria to Euro 2008 before resigning. Further adventures at clubs like Celta Vigo, Mamelodi Sundowns, Litex Lovech, and CSKA Sofia made him realize coaching wasn’t his calling.

4. Rich Kotite

Rich Kotite, a somewhat obscure name in NFL history, gained notoriety for his coaching career, particularly leading the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets. Born on October 22, 1942, Kotite not only left a musical legacy but also became a symbol of failure, being one of the worst coaches in NFL history.

Rich Kotite coached the Philadelphia Eagles from 1991 to 1994 before moving on to lead the New York Jets from 1995 to 1996. His time with the Eagles notably marked a dark period in Kotite’s career. With a 3-13 record in the 1994 season and a total of 11 wins and 28 losses, Kotite struggled to maintain motivation for the team and failed to lead them to the playoffs. A testament to Rich Kotite’s failure was the New York Jets’ dismal performance in the 1996 season. With a record of 1-15, this season became one of the worst in the team’s history, and it was also Kotite’s last season coaching the Jets.

Despite some moderate successes in his coaching career, Rich Kotite is remembered as one of the worst coaches in NFL history, with a mix of failure and forgettable results.

5. Dave Shula

Dave Shula, the son of famous coach Don Shula, had an unsuccessful coaching career in NFL history. Born on May 28, 1959, he attempted coaching in the NFL but failed to achieve significant results, becoming one of the coaches remembered for heavy failures.

Dave Shula coached the Cincinnati Bengals from 1992 to 1996. His tenure with the Bengals was deemed ineffective, with the team failing to achieve significant success. During his time, the Bengals never made it to the playoffs directly, notably in the 1993 season when the team had a 3-13 record. One notable aspect of Dave Shula’s lack of success was the poor results in the 1992 season when the Bengals only managed one win out of 16 games, marking one of the worst seasons in the team’s history.

Dave Shula left a negative impression with his string of failures and his inability to manage the team well enough to bring the Bengals back to success. His coaching career likely didn’t pan out as expected, and he became one of the coaches not remembered for positive accomplishments.

6. Bobby Petrino

Bobby Petrino is an American football coach, born on March 10, 1961, known for his coaching career at college and professional levels in the United States.

Petrino began his coaching career at the college level, serving as an assistant coach for various teams before becoming a head coach. He had significant success in this role, particularly when he led the Louisville college football team from 2003 to 2006. Under Petrino’s leadership, the Louisville team had impressive seasons, achieving important victories and participating in bowl games.

Subsequently, Bobby Petrino transitioned to coaching at the professional level, leading several teams in the NFL and NCAA. One of the highlights of his career was his return to the Louisville team to coach them again in 2014.

However, Petrino also faced controversies and scandals in his career. He was fired from coaching positions at multiple teams due to issues related to ethics and team management. Nevertheless, Bobby Petrino is still considered a talented and experienced coach in American football, making significant contributions at both the college and professional levels.

7. Rod Rust

Rod Rust isn’t the worst NFL coach of all time, but he certainly wasn’t successful in this role. He was a defensive coach and had some moderate success in this capacity. However, when he took on the head coaching position with the New England Patriots in the late 1980s, he only coached the team for a single season in 1990 and faced a season of failure.

Rust led the team to an NFL season record of 1-15, and he was subsequently fired. Although Rust had a fairly successful career as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator, his time as the head coach of the Patriots was truly unsuccessful.

8. Marion Campbell

Marion Campbell, also known as the “Swamp Fox,” was an NFL coach in history. He coached two teams during his career: the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles.

Campbell was a successful football player before becoming a coach. After retiring, he gradually transitioned into coaching. He became the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 1974 and returned to this position again from 1987 to 1989. Campbell also coached the Philadelphia Eagles from 1983 to 1985.

Although not successful as a head coach, Campbell is remembered for his perseverance and ethical work ethic. He earned respect from many colleagues and players for his hard work and commitment.

Overall, these coaches, including Ciro Ferrara, Alan Shearer, Hristo Stoichkov, Rich Kotite, Dave Shula, Bobby Petrino, Rod Rust, and Marion Campbell, each faced their own challenges and setbacks in their coaching careers. Whether due to limitations in coaching ability, struggles with team management, or other factors, their experiences serve as reminders of the demanding and unforgiving nature of the coaching profession. Despite their failures, some of them still managed to leave a lasting impact on the sport, albeit not always for positive reasons.

Conclude

On the NFL’s journey, having unsuccessful coaches is also part of history. However, worst NFL coaches are not only those who fail to lead their teams to success, but also those who leave negative marks and unintended consequences. While they may be the ones who tried their best, their unsuccess is still an inevitable part of the NFL stage.

See also: Top 10 youngest football coach in the world (2024)