The list of first-year NFL head coaches who have been fired over the years is surprisingly extensive. While some cases involve unique or unusual circumstances, most dismissals stem from either subpar team performance or conflicts related to attitude and leadership.
One and Done: List of First-Year NFL Coaches Fired Throughout League History
Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, 34 head coaches have been fired after just one season with their team. With some current coaches potentially facing that fate, here is a look back at some of the most notable one-and-done head coaching stints in National Football League history.
1970-1980
- Bill Austin, Washington, 1970
- Harvey Johnson, Buffalo Bills, 1971
- Ed Hughes, Houston Oilers, 1971
- Don McCafferty, Detroit Lions, 1973
- Monte Clark San Francisco 49ers, 1976
- Lou Holtz, New York Jets, 1976
- Ken Meyer, San Francisco 49ers, 1977
- Peter McCulley, San Francisco 49ers, 1978
1981-2000
- Les Steckel, Minnesota Vikings, 1984
- Rod Rust, New England Patriots, 1990
- Richie Petitbon, Washington, 1993
- Pete Carroll, New York Jets, 1994
- Joe Bugel, Las Vegas Raiders, 1997
- Ray Rhodes, Green Bay Packers, 1999
- Al Groh, New York Jets, 2000
2001-2010
- Marty Schottenheimer, Washington, 2001
- Art Shell, Las Vegas Raiders, 2006
- Cam Cameron, Miami Dolphins, 2007
- Bobby Petrino, Atlanta Falcons, 2007
- Jim Mora Jr., Seattle Seahawks, 2009
2011-2024
- Hue Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders, 2011
- Mike Mularkey, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2012
- Rob Chudzinski, Cleveland Browns, 2013
- Jim Tomsula, San Francisco 49ers, 2015
- Chip Kelly, San Francisco 49ers, 2016
- Steve Wilks, Arizona Cardinals, 2018
- Freddie Kitchens, Cleveland Browns, 2019
- Urban Meyer, Jacksonville Jaguars, 2021
- David Culley, Houston Texans, 2021
- Nathaniel Hackett, Denver Broncos, 2022
- Lovie Smith, Houston Texans, 2022
- Frank Reich, Carolina Panthers, 2023
- Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots, 2024
- Antonio Piece, Las Vegas Raiders, 2024
Jerod Mayo Joined An Unfortunate List
Jerod Mayo went 4-13 in his first season with the New England Patriots, and his final win was costly, dropping New England from the No. 1 pick to No. 4. After a disappointing season, some fans and analysts called for a coaching change.
Robert Kraft and the Patriots acted quickly, parting ways with offensive coordinator Matt Mayo shortly after the team’s final game. New England allowed pressure on the third-highest percentage of plays last season. The team had been slightly above average in this area in 2023 before Mayo took over, a level they needed to maintain with rookie Drake Maye under center, rather than struggling.
While Maye bears some responsibility, the head coach is ultimately tasked with setting the plan, and the approach designed to keep the rookie quarterback comfortable clearly did not succeed.
The Patriots’ decision proved to be right, as hiring Mike Vrabel instantly transformed them into one of the best teams in the NFL. New England is a Super Bowl contender with Vrabel, and Maye is the favorite to win the MVP award.
Antonio Pierce Another One-and-Done Head Coach
Antonio Pierce posted a 9-17 record across parts of two seasons with the Las Vegas Raiders. He took over as interim head coach in 2023 after the dismissal of Josh McDaniels. After the Raiders finished 4-13 last season, the organization elected to make another change.
According to PFN’s DEF+ metric, the Raiders struggled to generate pressure without sending extra rushers, ranking 25th in non-blitzing pressure rate–a number that was already bottom-10 before Maxx Crosby’s injury. This lack of pressure contributed to the fourth-lowest turnover rate in the league:
- 2023 Ranking: 15th
- 2024 Ranking: 21st
When examining PFN’s OFF+ metric, following their bye week, Vegas failed to score 20 points in seven of eight games last season, continuing a downward trend for an offense that finished 31st in EPA per play. The underwhelming metrics have been the status quo of late:
- 2022 Ranking: 14th
- 2023 Ranking: 21st
- 2024 Ranking: 29th
Unfortunately for the Raiders, they could be facing another one-and-done scenario with their current head coach, Pete Carroll. Las Vegas is 2-14 heading into Week 18, and is expected to finish the season with the worst record in the NFL. All signs point to Carroll getting fired, and the Raiders will be in the market for a new head coach soon.
Aaron Glenn is another first-year head coach under pressure, as the New York Jets enter Week 18 with a 3-13 record. However, according to various reports, the Jets will give him more time to build them, and he is unlikely to get fired.
