Why hiring former players as HC with zero coaching experience is a bad idea

[Bobhaze]

Mike Ditka has entered the chat.

Frank Reich has also entered the chat...

Right…but the OP premise is players with no experience coaching. The guys you mentioned had lots of success as assistant coaches. Not just former players.

I’m talking about guys like Witten or Romo being mentioned as HC candidates with neither having any nfl coaching experience.

 

[Bobhaze]

I bet you’re a person that has applauded Dan Campbell did he have any coaching experience.
Witten is coaching now so he has experience

Dan Campbell had nearly a decade as an assistant coach before becoming a HC. I think you’re missing the premise here: It’s about former players with no prior NFL coaching experience.

 

[MikeT22]

Kellen Moore is a bad idea too....there is no way this guy is gonna command a room, and change the culture. Give me Gruden or Glenn.

Jerry isnt going to hire someone like let or allow the HC to change the culture. Jerry ia a buffoon who views HC’s as a necessary evil.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

What about hiring a GM with no coaching or playing experience? Like the great one Howie?

 

[65fastback2plus2]

Right…but the OP premise is players with no experience coaching. The guys you mentioned had lots of success as assistant coaches. Not just former players.

I’m talking about guys like Witten or Romo being mentioned as HC candidates with neither having any nfl coaching experience.

Mike went from a 1972 Dallas Cowboys player to 1973 Dallas Cowboys Assistant Head Coach...thats pretty dang close to no coaching experience and a top title.

 

[exciter]

so tell me what school you got your psyche degree from?

Northwestern La… have worked at a state mental health facility for 23 years and it’s irrelevant!!!

There have been numerous articles over the years alluding to Romo being a poor leader many focusing on his refusal to spending the necessary time in preparation in the film room… also reports of him lacking the patience with other players… reportedly calling a young receiver “stoopid” in the huddle during a game he threw 5 interceptions.

As stated, those same complaints of not spending the necessary preparation have followed him into his broadcast career.
But hey, you want to believe silly fantasies it’ll be different as a coach that’s your prerogative!

 

[Dalmations202]

From an outsiders perspective: I think Michael Irvin would make a better head coach than Tony Romo, but I think Tony would make the better coordinator.

Mike: workout warrior, disciplined, extreme motivator, held other accountable, always at least from the outside could get people to follow him - no matter how hot the kitchen was.
Tony: smart schemer, sees it, was a gambler when playing........I didn't see the team following him, nor did I see him disciplining others and them with acceptance.

Maybe I am wrong, but I don't think Mike would make it through the ranks as a teacher (coach) or a chess master (coordinator), but I do think he would make a good head coach, once he had some experience at it.
I think Tony would be a good teacher and chess player, but don't see head coach in him.
Just me I guess.

 

[Havic]

Retread head coach or someone young and innovative. Seems to have worked out well for the rams, lions, greenbay, and others

 

[TwentyOne]

This would not have been a serious idea twenty years ago, but in the celebrity media age we occupy today, the idea of hiring a former beloved player as a head coach because of their knowledge, success as a player and popularity has become a vogue idea. I’ve seen several threads over the last few weeks supporting the idea that guys like Jason Witten or Tony Romo without any NFL coaching experience could step in and be a success.

First of all, I have great respect for both those guys as former Cowboys players. Witten is a HOFer in waiting and Romo will probably make the ROH someday. But that does not mean they are ready to step in as an NFL HC with no prior experience. The degree of difficulty in the coaching profession is greatly misunderstood IMO.

There are some examples from NFL history of former players with no experience (or even just a little experience) that didn’t work out. One even recent. Here are some examples:

• In 2022, the colts hired their former great C and HOFer Jeff Saturday, who is an outstanding NFL analyst, as their interim head coach. Other than a brief stint being the head coach at a private Christian school, Saturday had never had any coaching experience. It was not a success. Saturday was the first NFL HC with no prior college or pro coaching experience since…..
• HOF QB Norm Van Brocklin was hired by the Vikings as HC in 1961, and in his 5 seasons there as HC was 29-51-4. Van Brocklin later coached the Atlanta Falcons and was a little better going 37-49-3.
• This next example of a great player who was a bad HC is Mike Singletary. The bears HOF great DID have a little NFL coaching experience - as in 4 years as an assistant coach before being named the niners HC in 2009. He was not a success going 18-22 as a HC there.

Let me repeat…I have nothing against Witten or Romo. I just believe being a HC in the NFL is a lot more than just knowing Xs and Os or having a great career as a player. Most great players don’t make great coaches because coaching is so much more than knowledge.

I was never a coach myself but one of my sons is a HS coach having coached basketball and football at the HS level. Obviously coaching HS is not the NFL, but I believe at all levels, coaching is not as easy as it looks, lol, even at the HS level.

Surely we can hire a head coach who has more experience than the broadcasting booth or a private school.

Good post Bob.

I just dont think we will have a lot of other options.

 

[shabazz]

Mike Ditka has entered the chat.

Nude

 

[JayFord]

Head Coach imo needs to be the last line of authority on football matters as it relates to on the field performace

The only person he should answer to is the GM…and the GM to the owner

They don’t need to be X’s and O’s guru’s but they do have to know how to manage a game…

And managing a game means being able to manage your staff….if you want to go for it on 3rd down and you tell your OC pick your best run play and the OC picks a pass play you chew him out…idc if it gets the first down

You manage the game and make sure everyone knows the plan…you’re the leader of this team and should have FULL authority of all on field matters

 

[Bobhaze]

Mike went from a 1972 Dallas Cowboys player to 1973 Dallas Cowboys Assistant Head Coach...thats pretty dang close to no coaching experience and a top title.

Right…Ditka had lots of experience as an assistant coach before becoming a HC. Again….. we’re talking about going from zero NFL coaching experience to head coach. That’s what the OP was about.

 

[cowboyec]

who does that?
i can't think of a single team that hired a fmr player to be hc...with no previous experience coaching in the nfl.
all the fmr players who are hc's...spent some time as an asst. first.
i'd rather just go with a college hc with no nfl experience.
its the only blue print that has produced super bowl titles with jerry.

 

[IceStar-D7]

Right…Ditka had lots of experience as an assistant coach before becoming a HC. Again….. we’re talking about going from zero NFL coaching experience to head coach. That’s what the OP was about.

Like going from a Private to a General in one move. Hilarious... No sane person would even consider it....

 

[Whyjerry]

This is the same as saying driving a car without a steering wheel is a bad idea.

 

[EST_1986]

so true!!!!!!!!! I wonder what these coaches ask for during interviews, and if they need to start holding Jerry accountable if he doesn't stick to his word

Need to get it in their contracts and not take him for his word

 

[RodeoJake]

Along the same lines, college coaches without any kind of NFL coaching experience have generally failed miserably. They're probably not a good option either.

 

[gtb1943]

Northwestern La… have worked at a state mental health facility for 23 years and it’s irrelevant!!!

There have been numerous articles over the years alluding to Romo being a poor leader many focusing on his refusal to spending the necessary time in preparation in the film room… also reports of him lacking the patience with other players… reportedly calling a young receiver “stoopid” in the huddle during a game he threw 5 interceptions.

As stated, those same complaints of not spending the necessary preparation have followed him into his broadcast career.
But hey, you want to believe silly fantasies it’ll be different as a coach that’s your prerogative!

IF you want to believe todays media, then you clearly should be IN a mental health facility

 

[NumOneQB]

Just say no to Witten. No.

 

[gtb1943]

You look at those hired as HCs in the NFL who have only been coordinators and the record is not that great. Now take one that has not even coached at all in the NFL and make him a HC and that is beyond stupid.