With the exception of a handful of NFL head jobs, most coaches walk into a situation that needs work. Over time, the good ones figure things out, and point their teams in the right direction. Contrary to what goes on with the Buffalo Bills, some even keep their jobs for more than three years (Remember that Marv fella? The one from Chicago? He went to Coe College? Yeah, you got it, Fred Jackson’s school).
So how have current NFL coaches fared in their first three years at their current club, numbers-wise?
Tony Dungy, Indianapolis (34-14)
Mike Shanahan, Denver (33-15)
Lovie Smith, Chicago (29-19)^
Andy Reid, Philadelphia (27-21)^
Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati (27-21)^
Mike McCarthy, Green Bay (26-18)*^
Jack Del Rio, Jacksonville (26-22)^
Bill Belichick, New England (25-23)
John Fox, Carolina (25-23)^
Tom Coughlin, NY Giants (25-23)
Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay (24-24)
Mike Holmgren, Seattle (24-24)
Sean Payton, New Orleans (23-21)*^
Jeff Fisher, Houston/Tennessee (23-25)**^
Eric Mangini, NY Jets (22-22)*^
Dick Jauron, Buffalo (20-24)*
Gary Kubiak, Houston (19-25)*^
Romeo Crennel, Cleveland (20-28)^
Herm Edwards, Kansas City (15-29)*
Rod Marinelli, Detroit (10-33)*
*currently in third season
** started 1-5 as interim coach
^ first head coaching job
Some walk into cushy situations with a wealth of talent, and some walk into the equivalent of football hell, but these are just some numbers to view.
Jauron was 24-24 in his first three years in Chicago.
Email: nick@wgr550.com
