Reviews of NFL coaches tend to be very subjective.
Most likely, they are not overrated while they are winning.
However, if they have been in the league for a while, their entire body of work can be reviewed.
That is the best way to evaluate them.
Before we go too far into this list of the three most overrated NFL coaches, let’s just get this point out of the way.
Each of the three has led a team to the Super Bowl and won the big game.
Part of what makes them overrated is the belief that they should have won more than one.
Here is the list.
1. Mike McCarthy
Two words, Aaron Rodgers.
McCarthy had one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game as his signal caller for 13 years, and he could only win one Super Bowl.
I have full confidence LaFleur will do what McCarthy never could. Get this defense back to playing elite football
— Mike Brown (@DieselHokie08) January 29, 2021
Let’s assume it is not all McCarthy’s fault, and some of the blame lies with the Green Bay Packers organization and their ability to draft, sign, and retain talented football players.
Then, Mike McCarthy should have experienced great success when he took over the head coaching position of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2020 season.
We saw how that went.
2. Mike Tomlin
Tomlin has also been blessed with talented teams during his 14 year tenure as the Pittsburgh Steelers head coach.
Yet, he won one championship shortly after his predecessor Bill Cowher left.
Arguably, Tomlin coached Cowher’s team to the Super Bowl victory in a similar manner as Barry Switzer coached Jimmy Johnson‘s Cowboys to a Super Bowl championship.
What has he done since?
Art Rooney II on Mike Tomlin: “I think bottom line is we want him to be our coach into the future. He has one of the best track records in the league. Those playoff wins will come.” #Steelers
— Blitzburgh ✨ (@RenegadeBlitz) January 29, 2021
Yes, the Steelers have contended, but those times may be a-changing too since the AFC North is getting extremely competitive.
The Steelers could find themselves in third place in their division in 2021 behind the Ravens and Browns.
We won’t even address Tomlin’s player issues.
You know the ones I’m talking about; those big names that sat out or created chaos to get out of Pittsburgh and not play for him anymore.
3. Jon Gruden
Remember what we said about Tomlin coaching Cowher’s team to the Super Bowl championship, well the same is true for Jon Gruden.
Many believe he coached Tony Dungy‘s Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Super Bowl victory.
I think Jon Gruden is no good as a HC. Yes, he did win the SB with the Bucs back in 2002, but since coming back from his 10 year coaching hiatus, he is 19-29.
— Daniel Bastaja (@kupac1) January 28, 2021
He is not exactly trailblazing the Las Vegas Raiders into the playoffs.
Like Tomlin, he seems to send good players packing; remember that controversial trade of Khalil Mack.
Up to this point, it seems like he was better suited as an ESPN commentator on Monday Night Football.
Each head coach has an opportunity to redeem himself and come off the overrated list by winning a Super Bowl or at least getting to the Super Bowl.
I know each has a winning percentage of over .500; McCarthy and Tomlin are over .600.
None appears close to contending with their current teams; Tomlin’s team jumped out to an 11-0 record and still could not march into the Super Bowl.
Yes, player talent is a factor, but sooner or later, some of the responsibility has to fall on the coaches.
NEXT: Is Richard Sherman A Hall Of Famer? (3 Reasons He Is Not)
John Newhouse says
You’re wrong about Gruden. If you want to make the ridiculous claim that he won his SB w/ Dungy’s team, then you’ve also got to admit he was playing his team (Oakland Raiders) for that honor. This man had two teams running his system and they were both fighting it out for a SB.