Top Five Shortest NFL Coaching Stints

Mike McCoy’s firing as offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals has just hit news feeds everywhere. His release after just seven games into the 2018 NFL season has us thinking about other short tenured coaches with NFL clubs. Although McCoy is an offensive coordinator, this top five list will focus solely on head coaches.

5. Lane Kiffin (2008) Oakland Raiders – 20 games
Lane Kiffin and Hall of Fame owner Al Davis didn’t see eye-to-eye throughout much of the 2007 season. Oakland finished 4-12 and reports surfaced that Davis actually tried to get Kiffin to resign on several occasions. Following a 1-3 start in 2008, Kiffin was fired by the Raiders.

4. Lou Holtz (1976) New York Jets – 13 GAMES
Lou Holtz’s one-year as an NFL head coach wasn’t really one to be remembered. In Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath's swan song year in New York, the Jets had the worst defense in football and went 3-11. Holtz resigned before the final loss of the season. He did go on to continue a College Football Hall of Fame coaching career.

3. Pete McCulley (1978) San Francisco 49ers – 9 GAMES
When Pete McCulley took as head coach of the 49ers, he had been an assistant his entire NFL career. In fact, he had never been a head coach at any level of football. Before the season, San Francisco traded five draft picks including a first rounder for Hall of Fame running back O.J. Simpson. McCulley was fired after just nine games, going 1-8, and the 49ers would go on to commit 63 turnovers (second only to the 1961 AFL Denver Broncos).

2. George Allen (1978) Los Angeles Rams – 2 Preseason Games
Hall of Famer George Allen never had a losing season as an NFL head coach. During his 12 years, his overall record was 118-54-5. However, his second stint with the Rams in 1978 didn’t go over very well. Shockingly, Allen was let go after just two underwhelming pre-season games by owner Carroll Rosenbloom in 1978. He was replaced by defensive coordinator Ray Malavasi who led the Rams to a 12-4 record.

1.Bill Belichick (2000) NEW YORK JETS – 0 GAMES (1 DAY)
For one bizarre day Bill Belichick was the head coach of the Jets. Belichick, New York’s highly-touted defensive coordinator, was tabbed to succeed Hall of Famer Bill Parcells when he stepped down in 1999. Strangely, during Belichick’s introductory press conference, he ended up giving an impromptu resignation speech. The Jets and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue agreed that Belichick was still under contract. The Patriots ultimately traded a 2000 first-round draft pick to the Jets to acquire their new head coach.