What NFL Coaches Have Been Fired This Year?

As the NFL season winds down, we take a look at which coaches have been fired this year and why.

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NFL Coaches Who Have Been Fired This Year

So far this NFL season, four head coaches have been fired. They are Adam Gase of the New York Jets, Bill O’Brien of the Houston Texans, Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers, and Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions. All four coaches were fired after their teams failed to meet expectations this season.

Bruce Arians

On January 8, 2020, Bruce Arians announced his retirement from coaching, ending his five-year tenure with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Arians had been the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals from 2013 to 2017 and was named NFL Coach of the Year in 2012 and 2014. He was also the interim head coach for the Indianapolis Colts in 2012.

Arians was hired by the Buccaneers in 2019, reuniting him with former Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer. His first season with the team was successful, as he led them to a 7-9 record and their first winning season since 2010. However, the team failed to make the playoffs.

In 2020, Arians led the Buccaneers to a 10-6 record and their first playoff berth since 2007. The team lost to the New Orleans Saints in the divisional round of the playoffs.

Bill O’Brien

On October 5, 2020, the Houston Texans parted ways with Bill O’Brien after a 0-4 start to the season. O’Brien had been with the Texans since 2014, compiling a 52-48 record and leading the team to four AFC South titles.

Zac Taylor

Zac Taylor was fired by the Cincinnati Bengals on December 27, 2020, after going 4-11-1 in his only season as the team’s head coach. Prior to being hired by the Bengals, Taylor served as the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive coordinator from 2017 to 2018, helping the team reach Super Bowl LIII.

Reasons Why These NFL Coaches Were Fired

The NFL season is over and that means it’s time for some NFL coaches to be fired. Some coaches are fired because their team didn’t make the playoffs, while others are let go because their team didn’t perform well enough. Here are some of the NFL coaches who have been fired this year and the reasons why.

Poor Win-Loss Record

NFL teams are not shy about firing their head coaches if they feel they can do better. Here are four coaches who were recently fired due to their poor win-loss records.

Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions
Caldwell was fired after four seasons with the Lions, during which time he compiled a 36-28 record. That includes a 9-7 record in 2017, but it wasn’t enough to save his job.

Ben McAdoo, New York Giants
McAdoo was let go after just two seasons as head coach of the Giants. His overall record was 13-15, but he led the team to an impressive 11-5 record in 2016. However, the team collapsed to 3-13 in 2017, leading to his firing.

Browns fire Hue Jackson after compiling worst record in franchise history
Hue Jackson was fired by the Browns after just two and a half seasons as head coach. In that time, he compiled a 3-36-1 record, which is the worst in franchise history. Jackson’s firing came as no surprise given the Browns’ dismal performance under his leadership.

John Fox, Chicago Bears
Fox was let go by the Bears after three seasons with the team. In that time, he compiled a 14-34 record, which is among the worst in franchise history. The Bears decided to move on from Fox after another disappointing season in 2017.

Not a Good Fit for the Team

Firing a head coach is always a difficult decision for an NFL team. But sometimes, it’s simply the best move for the franchise. Here are three coaches who were recently let go because they weren’t a good fit for their respective teams.

Doug Marrone, Jacksonville Jaguars
Marrone spent four seasons as the Jaguars’ head coach, compiling a 24-40 record. But he never seemed to be on the same page as Jacksonville’s front office, particularly when it came to quarterback Blake Bortles. Marrone was also criticized for his conservative play-calling, which often put the Jaguars in tough situations late in games. Ultimately, the decision to fire Marrone was likely influenced by the fact that Jacksonville is expected to make a change at quarterback this offseason.

Todd Bowles, New York Jets
Bowles spent four seasons as the Jets’ head coach, compiling a 24-40 record. But he never seemed to be on the same page as New York’s front office, particularly when it came to quarterback Sam Darnold. Bowles was also criticized for his conservative play-calling, which often put the Jets in tough situations late in games. Ultimately, the decision to fire Bowles was likely influenced by the fact that New York is expected to make a change at quarterback this offseason.

Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos
Joseph spent two seasons as the Broncos’ head coach, compiling a 11-21 record. But he never seemed to be on the same page as Denver’s front office, particularly when it came to quarterback Paxton Lynch. Joseph was also criticized for his conservative play-calling, which often put the Broncos in tough situations late in games. Ultimately, the decision to fire Joseph was likely influenced by the fact that Denver is expected to make a change at quarterback this offseason

Poor Communication with Players

If a head coach can’t effectively communicate with the players on his team, it’s going to be difficult for that team to find success on the field. Most of the coaches who were fired this season seemed to have lost the faith of their players, and as a result, they lost their jobs.

One prime example is Hue Jackson, who was let go by the Cleveland Browns after posting a 3-36-1 record over two and a half seasons. Jackson was apparently not on the same page as his players, and that ultimately led to his demise. The Browns are now hoping that new head coach Freddie Kitchens can get more out of the team’s talent and turn things around in 2019.

Another coach who was fired due to communication issues was Dirk Koetter of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After back-to-back 5-11 seasons, it was clear that Koetter had lost control of his locker room. The Buccaneers brought in Bruce Arians to be their new head coach, and they’re hoping Arians can get more out of quarterback Jameis Winston and lead the team back to respectability.

These are just two examples of coaches who were let go due in part to poor communication with their players. If a head coach can’t get his message across to his team, it’s only a matter of time before he’s shown the door.

What’s Next for These NFL Coaches?

So far this NFL season, four coaches have been fired. They are Adam Gase of the New York Jets, Bill O’Brien of the Houston Texans, Vic Fangio of the Denver Broncos, and Matt Patricia of the Detroit Lions. All four of these teams have struggled this season and are currently outside of the playoffs. So, what’s next for these coaches?

Retired

Two more NFL coaches have been added to the list of those who have retired this year. They are:
-Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins
-Gary Kubiak, Baltimore Ravens

With these latest retirements, a total of five NFL coaches have now retired this year. They are:
-Mike Shanahan, Washington Redskins
-Gary Kubiak, Baltimore Ravens
-Dick Jauron, Cleveland Browns
-Herm Edwards, Kansas City Chiefs
-Tom Coughlin, New York Giants

Hired by Another Team

##Heading:Hired by Another Team

The following NFL coaches have been hired by another team this offseason:

Bruce Arians, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh McDaniels, New England Patriots
Matt Patricia, Detroit Lions
Pat Shurmur, New York Giants
Steve Wilks, Arizona Cardinals

Working as an Analyst

This offseason has been an eventful one for NFL coaching changes. A total of seven head coaches have been fired since the end of the regular season, and that number could rise to eight if the Cardinals opt to part ways with Steve Wilks.

Many of these coaches will have opportunities to continue their careers in the NFL, but some will have to step away from the game for a while. Here’s a look at what’s next for those who have been axed this offseason:

-Mike McCarthy: McCarthy was let go by the Packers after 13 seasons as head coach. He has already been linked to several vacant head coaching jobs, including those with the Browns and Jets.

-Bruce Arians: Arians announced his retirement after five seasons with the Cardinals. He said he would be interested in returning to coaching if the right opportunity presented itself, but he also has a lucrative TV career to fall back on if he wants it.

-John Harbaugh: Harbaugh’s future with the Ravens is still up in the air, but it’s looking increasingly likely that he will be back for 2019. If not, he will surely have no shortage of suitors if he decides to hit the open market.

-Vance Joseph: Joseph was fired by the Broncos after just two seasons on the job. He could land another head coaching gig elsewhere, but he may also opt to join a staff as an assistant coach or coordinator.

-Todd Bowles: Bowles was let go by the Jets after four seasons as head coach. He has already been linked to defensive coordinator openings with the Packers and Bengals.

-Adam Gase: Gase was fired by the Dolphins after three seasons as head coach. He is reportedly a leading candidate for the Jets’ head coaching job, but he could also end up serving as an offensive coordinator elsewhere if that doesn’t work out.