The Top 5 Worst NFL Head Coaching Hires Over The Last 5 Years

Lou Holtz, Steve Spurrier and Nick Saban all took a shot at coaching in the NFL. They all returned to the college ranks after unsuccessful stays in the pro ranks.

Sometimes staying put is the best thing for both coach and team where the sudden marriage of the two ends in divorce – sometimes in a very ugly situation.

There have been hirings that have been blessings for NFL teams like Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks and then there have been dismal situations where all you can do is scratch your head and ask out loud, “What were they thinking?”

And it is not always the case that a college to NFL coach is involved. Many times a “hot” assistant or coordinator becomes the apple of many eyes or owners who want what is best for their teams, but in the end what is a quick fix is not always the best solution. And instead of drama-filled television as we saw last season with Mike Shanahan and the Redskins, it is better to silently cut ties, cut losses and move on. And of course, there is always a Bobby Petrino situation waiting to happen.

Here are five coaching hires in the last five years that turned out to be disasters for many reasons.