When it comes to sports, one thing I learned early on in my career as a sports journalist is that teams often fire their head coaches. As frustrating as this may seem for players and fans, it’s a reality of the NFL world.
I remember when my team, the New England Patriots, fired long-time head coach Bill Belichick in 2000. It was truly heartbreaking. He had been with the team almost since the beginning and was beloved by everyone involved. I still recall the chatter around town and the annoyance of Patriots fans everywhere.
And that wasn’t an isolated incident. Just earlier this year, the San Francisco 49ers fired head coach Kyle Shanahan after three years. Shanahan had suffered from his fair share of bad luck during his tenure, but fans were nevertheless disappointed. After all, he had been with the team since 2017 and had led them to two of their best seasons in recent history.
It isn’t always the team’s immediate fault either, as some head coaches need to go because they simply don’t have the skills or intuition to handle the job. Belichick was an example of that. After leaving the Patriots, he went to the Cleveland Browns and had an unsuccessful run there due to his lack of offensive ability.
Still, it can be hard on players, staff, and fans doesn’t matter how dire the situation is. People feel attached to coaches even if they weren’t around when they were hired. It always sticks in my heart when I see a great coach fired.
However, firings are also a necessary evil for the teams. Despite outcry from fans, it’s hard to argue against shake-ups when they’re necessary. Just look at the Denver Broncos, who’ve went through several head coaches post-John Fox and saw drastic improvements in performance. It may not be ideal but it is often what’s necessary.
For teams, the decision to fire coaches comes down to a variety of factors. It might be because of disagreements in strategy, a lack of progress, personality clashes, or simply poor communication. There are so many different reasons and it’s impossible to predict when and why it will happen.
Ultimately, NFL coaches fired is a reality no fan likes to face yet must. It’s hard on players, staff, and fans both for the reason behind the change and for the potential for a worse outcome. It’s a difficult process, one I struggled with after Belichick left New England. I may not always like it, but I understand the importance of it.