In today's world of instant gratification in sports, there is no such thing as a franchise having loyalty to an NFL head coach.
This is highlighted by the stunning fact that there are only two active coaches in the NFL to win a superbowl--Bill Belichick and tom Coughlin.
In a sport where the coach is likely more important to the teams success than just about every player on the field outside of the quarterback, organizations seem to turn there back on their coaches quickly in hopes of finding a quick fix elsewhere.
Winning a superbowl with a franchise used to mean that you could then leave at your own discretion, i.e. Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, but after John Gruden and Mike Shanahan were released in recent weeks, that is not the case anymore.
Superbowl winning coaches last 22 years
This is highlighted by the stunning fact that there are only two active coaches in the NFL to win a superbowl--Bill Belichick and tom Coughlin.
In a sport where the coach is likely more important to the teams success than just about every player on the field outside of the quarterback, organizations seem to turn there back on their coaches quickly in hopes of finding a quick fix elsewhere.
Winning a superbowl with a franchise used to mean that you could then leave at your own discretion, i.e. Bill Cowher, Tony Dungy, but after John Gruden and Mike Shanahan were released in recent weeks, that is not the case anymore.
Superbowl winning coaches last 22 years
Joe Gibbs - Retired Jan. 8 2008
Tom Flores - Left coaching in 1994
Bill Walsh - Left after Superbowl XXIII
George Seifert - Fired in 2001 from carolina after 1-15 record
Bill Parcells - Left cowboys, now in Miami head office
Jimmie Johnson - Resigned from Dolphins following fallout with Marino
Barry Switzer - Retired after 1997 season (70 years old)
Mike Holmgren - Left seahawks following 2008 season
Mike shanhan - Fired following 2008 season
Dick Vermeil - Left rams after superbowl, returned to Chiefs and retired after 2005 season
Brian Billick - Fired December 31, 2007 from ravens
Jon Gruden - Fired Jan. 16 2009 from Buccaneers
Bill Belichick - Still active coach of Patriots
Bill Cowher - Left Steelers after superbowl
Tony Dungy - Left Colts after 2008 season
Tom Coughlin - Still active coach of Giants
As you can see by this, it was not until Brian Billick was fired by the Ravens last year that a coach had been fired from the team he won the superbowl with, and its a trend that has been quickly followed twice more in the next 13 months, and one to keep an eye on in the future.
1 comment:
When you have a good, young team that won 5 of its first 7 games and then goes on to underacheive and miss the playoffs (broncos with shannahan); you can't JUST blame the players.
I think Shannahan is a legndary coach who IN MY OPINION, MAYBE shouldnt have been fired BUT I'm still not THAT surprised that he did.
Sure Gruden makes the playoffs every other year or so, but what kind of owner wants to see his team get knocked out in Wildcard weekend year after year (minus the year they went to the bowl)?
New direction, new ideas and a new face can work wonders for franchises. (Smith-Falcons, Harbaugh-Ravens, Sporano-Phins).
Sometimes change is good.....
my thoughts
ps. no doubt in my mind that shanny and gruden will be back in football in the near future
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