The 25 Biggest Coaching Fails in NFL History

Dedicated to Rex Ryan and the Jets.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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NFL head coaches are some of the best minds in professional sports. They climb through the ranks to emerge as one of the 32 most elite in their profession, obviously no easy task. Once they get the head job, some of these men like Don Shula or Bill Parcells rise to Hall of Fame levels as they guide their teams to multiple championships. And yet, not everything is always such smooth sailing.

Even for these surefire Hall of Famers, spectacular failure lurks around every corner. It doesn’t matter if you’re Bill Belichick or Joe Gibbs. Sometimes a decision you make is going to come back to haunt you at the worst possible time, creating moments that fans will remember forever. From “Red Right 88” to “Spygate,” these are the 25 Biggest Coaching Fails in NFL History.

25. Bill Parcells Outsmarts Himself

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24. Andy Reid Promotes Juan Castillo to Defensive Coordinator

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23. Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz Nearly Come to Blows

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22. Bill Belichick's Ego Swells to New Heights

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21. Bill Parcells Allows Tony Romo to be the Holder

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20. Jim Schwartz Challenges a Touchdown, Thus Losing Right to Challenge

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19. Barry Switzer Inexplicably Gambles, Loses

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18. Bobby Petrino Quits by Leaving a Note in Players' Lockers

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17. Marv Levy Makes "Wide Right" Possible

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16. Joe Gibbs Declines to Play it Safe, Pays For It

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15. Jason Garrett's Timeout Call Ices His Own Kicker

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14. Bill Parcells Keeps Kicking to Desmond Howard

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13. Wade Phillips Makes the Music City Miracle Possible

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12. Rex Ryan Leaves His Starter in Late into a Preseason Game

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11. Mike Martz Keeps Playing Prevent

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10. Mike Shanahan Allows His Franchise QB to Cripple Himself

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9. Dennis Green Goes Conservative at the Worst Time

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8. Dan Reeves Starts Eugene Robinson in the Super Bowl

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7. Andy Reid Has the Eagles Take Their Sweet Time

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6. Mike Ditka Snubs Sweetness

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5. Marty Mornhinweg Takes the Wind

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4. Don Shula Benches One of the Best Ever

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3. Bill Belichick Tapes Other Team's Signals

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2. Sam Rutigliano Calls for "Red Right 88"

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1. John McVay and Bob Gibson Create the Miracle at the Meadowlands

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