What NFL Coaches Got Fired This Year?
Wondering which NFL coaches got the boot this year? Check out our list of all the head coaches who were fired during the 2020 NFL season.
NFL Coaches Fired in 2020
2020 was a tough year for many people, and that includes NFL coaches. Several big-name coaches were let go this year, including Bill O’Brien, Matt Patricia, and Mike McCarthy. Let’s take a look at all the coaches who were fired this year.
Bill O’Brien- Houston Texans
On October 5th, 2020, the Houston Texans announced that they had fired head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien after an 0-4 start to the season. O’Brien had been with the team since 2014, and led them to a 52-48 record over that span, including four AFC South titles. However, the Texans had failed to make it past the divisional round of the playoffs under O’Brien, and his firing came after heavy criticism from both fans and media.
Doug Marrone- Jacksonville Jaguars
Doug Marrone was fired by the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 18, 2020, after going 1-15 in his third season with the team. He had a record of 23-43 in his six seasons as an NFL head coach, including two seasons with the Buffalo Bills.
Anthony Lynn- Los Angeles Chargers
Anthony Lynn was fired by the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday after four seasons, the team announced.
Lynn, 56, went 33-31 with the Chargers and made the playoffs in 2018, his second season. But the Chargers missed the postseason the past two years, including this year when they finished 7-9.
Lynn was hired by the Chargers in 2017 to replace Mike McCoy. He is one of four African American head coaches in NFL history to be fired after consecutive losing seasons.
Matt Patricia- Detroit Lions
Patricia was hired in 2018 after serving as the defensive coordinator of the New England Patriots from 2012 to 2017. He was considered one of the best defensive minds in the game, and he helped the Patriots win two Super Bowls during his time there.
However, Patricia struggles as head coach of the Lions. In two seasons, he compiled a 13-29-1 record and led the team to just one winning season. The Lions fired him after a disappointing 4-12 campaign in 2020.
Why Were These NFL Coaches Fired?
Some NFL coaches got fired this year because their records were not good enough and they did not lead their team to the playoffs. Some coaches got fired because they had internal problems with their team or the front office. Whatever the reason, these coaches are now looking for new jobs.
Bill O’Brien- Houston Texans
Bill O’Brien was fired by the Houston Texans on Monday after a 0-4 start to the 2020 season. O’Brien was in his seventh season as the Texans’ head coach and had a career record of 52-48. He led the team to four straight AFC South titles from 2016 to 2019, but the Texans were never able to get over the hump and make it to the Super Bowl under O’Brien.
O’Brien’s firing comes as a bit of a surprise given his recent success with the team, but it seems that the front office was not happy with the direction that the team was headed in 2020. The Texans have been plagued by poor quarterback play and a leaky defense this season, and O’Brien was not able to fix either issue. It will be interesting to see who the Texans hire as their next head coach.
Doug Marrone- Jacksonville Jaguars
In 2020, Doug Marrone coached the Jaguars to a 1-15 record, their worst season in franchise history. Marrone was fired on January 4, 2021, after just two seasons with the team.
Marrone was hired by the Jaguars in 2017, following a three-year stint as head coach of the Buffalo Bills. He led the Bills to a 9-7 record in 2014, their best season since 1999. However, the Bills failed to make the playoffs under Marrone, and he was fired after the 2016 season.
Marrone’s firing came as a surprise to many, as he had just led the Jaguars to their first appearance in the AFC Championship Game in 2018. However, the team regressed in 2019, finishing with a 5-11 record. After starting the 2020 season 1-15, Marrone was fired by new Jaguars owner Shad Khan.
Anthony Lynn- Los Angeles Chargers
After four seasons, the Los Angeles Chargers have parted ways with head coach Anthony Lynn. The team announced the move on Monday, January 4, 2021, just one day after they completed a 7-9 season with a 38-21 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
This was a tough year for the Chargers, as they had to deal with injuries to key players, including quarterback Justin Herbert and running back Austin Ekeler. They also had to play their home games at SoFi Stadium without fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Despite all of these challenges, Lynn was able to lead the Chargers to a winning record in two of his four seasons at the helm. He also helped develop Herbert into one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL.
However, the Chargers’ front office felt that it was time for a change and decided to move on from Lynn. They will now begin their search for a new head coach who can help them get over the hump and back into Super Bowl contention.
Matt Patricia- Detroit Lions
Patricia was fired on November 28th, 2020 after a disappointing 3-13 record in his third season with the Lions. Prior to his time in Detroit, Patricia spent 14 seasons with the New England Patriots, winning six Super Bowls as the defensive coordinator. Patricia’s firing was largely due to his poor relationship with star quarterback Matthew Stafford, who was recently traded to the Los Angeles Rams.
