7 of the Worst Coaching Decisions in Sports Since 2015
7 of the Worst Coaching Decisions in Sports Since 20150 of 7
Matt EberflusQuinn Harris/Getty Images
Coaching can be a thankless job. When things go well, players often get the credit. But when something goes wrong, the easiest person to blame is the person in charge.
And in some situations, that’s simply the correct response.
In each of the following moments, the play was doomed from the beginning. At most, two of them can even be considered a product of hindsight—for example, the Seattle Seahawks’ goal-line interception in the Super Bowl. These decisions, for a variety of reasons, just never made sense.
The list, organized chronologically, is focused on the last 10 years and primarily from college football, the NFL, NBA and MLB.
Seahawks’ Goal-Line Interception (2015)1 of 7
Focus on Sport/Getty Images
In one of the most famous plays in Super Bowl history, Malcolm Butler undercut a pass to secure the New England Patriots’ epic victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
The ball never should’ve been thrown.
Yes, hindsight is a major factor in this moment. Plenty of offenses have scored a clutch, goal-line touchdown through the air, so it’s not fair to lambaste Seattle for the very notion of calling a pass. Heck, the Seahawks had a three-yard touchdown pass earlier in the game.
But, man, remembering this turnover is extra painful when you consider the whole context.
Down 28-24, Seattle faced a 2nd-and-goal at the 1-yard line. There were 25 seconds left when the ball was snapped, and the Seahawks had a timeout. They could’ve given at least one carry to Marshawn Lynch—the most powerful running back in the league—and not waste any remaining down. He’d just gained four yards on the previous play, too.
Russell Wilson fired a pass toward Ricardo Lockette, however, and Butler stepped in front to snag his iconic interception.
Dan Quinn Picks Field Goal (2015)2 of 7
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
Blame the pressure of a moment, sure, but coaches must be prepared for these clutch situations. Dan Quinn faltered badly when the Atlanta Falcons played the San Francisco 49ers in 2015.
Trailing 17-13 with three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Falcons faced a 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line. Quinn elected to send out kicker Matt Bryant for a field goal, which trimmed the Niners’ lead to 17-16.
If you want to justify the decision, you point to Atlanta having two timeouts and the two-minute warning. In a best-case scenario, they force a three-and-out. That could’ve been reasonable if the Falcons needed more than a handful of yards on fourth down.
But they were at the one!
San Francisco proceeded to pick up a couple of first downs and burn the rest of the clock. Quinn wasted the best possible opportunity—being one yard away—to score a game-winning touchdown.
Buck Showalter Never Uses His Closer (2016)3 of 7
Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images
Along with the Seahawks’ goal-line interception, hindsight does not help Buck Showalter’s gaffe in 2016.
During the Wild Card Game—a win-or-go-home matchup in the MLB postseason—the Toronto Blue Jays defeated the Baltimore Orioles in a thrilling extra-inning clash. Edwin Encarnacion belted a three-run homer for Toronto’s 5-2 walk-off victory in 11 innings.
What made it difficult to stomach, though, is that Showalter never called on All-Star closer Zack Britton.
That season, Britton had gone a perfect 47-of-47 in save opportunities with a dazzling 0.54 ERA in 67 innings. But the left-hander never entered the game. Instead, in that final inning, Showalter turned to Ubaldo Jimenez—a starter with 5.44 ERA—who immediately allowed two singles.
That was the moment for Britton. Even if he didn’t save the O’s, that was the moment for the majors’ best reliever.
Showalter did nothing, and Encarnacion ended Baltimore’s season.
Jason Kidd Avoids 4-Point Lead (2017)4 of 7
Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
I cannot wrap my brain around this one.
Fortunately for the Milwaukee Bucks, it didn’t cost them the game. They still beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 119-116.
But with 1.4 seconds left, Khris Middleton very clearly intentionally clanged a free throw. LeBron James snagged the rebound and launched a desperation heave, one that unsurprisingly missed the mark.
Afterward, though, Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd acknowledged he told Middleton to miss. Why? Kidd wanted to avoid an opportunity for Cleveland to draw a four-point play.
Excuse me?
Look, a 90-foot prayer isn’t a high-percentage shot, yet the probability of that is much greater than fouling on a three-pointer. Literally put every defender inside the three-point line, and it 100 percent cannot happen.
I don’t get it. At least the Bucks won.
Pat Narduzzi Picks Field Goal (2019)5 of 7
Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Football math is not difficult, my friends. Probability is not hard, either.
I’m going to give you two scenarios—while trailing 17-10 with five minutes left, facing a 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line—and pick which one is most sensible.
Option A: Kick a field goal. If it works, you need a touchdown to win. If it doesn’t work, you need a touchdown to win.
Option B: Try to score on fourth down. If it works, you’re an extra point from trying the game or a two-point conversion from a lead. If it doesn’t work, it’s a turnover on downs and you a need touchdown to win.
Why did you hate math, Pat Narduzzi?
Likely because Penn State had stopped Pitt on three straight goal-line plays, he sent out the kicker. Hindsight throws a nasty dagger at Pitt; Alex Kessman missed the 19-yard kick. Pitt ultimately lost 17-10 after a last-second pass dropped incomplete in the end zone.
Narduzzi defended the blunder, saying “you need two scores to win the football game.” Which, just, ugh.
They needed a touchdown. And were a yard from the end zone. And decided to kick a field goal, so they’d still need a touchdown anyway.
Miami Doesn’t Kneel (2023)6 of 7
Samuel Lewis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Look, we can talk about the play itself. As the above picture shows, the fumble should’ve been reversed. Miami running back Don Chaney Jr. clearly had possession of the ball as his left elbow touched the ground.
But here’s the context: Miami took possession with 5:30 left in the fourth quarter, holding a 20-17 lead on Georgia Tech. After two third-down conversions, Miami had successfully whittled down the clock and forced GT to exhaust its timeouts. Simple math showed it was impossible for Tech to get the ball back.
Well, unless Miami lost the ball—which is exactly what happened. While the clock ticked below 40 seconds, the Hurricanes inexplicably didn’t kneel out the clock. Chaney fumbled, and Tech recovered.
Georgia Tech hit a pass for 30 yards and another for a 44-yard touchdown, which gave the Yellow Jackets a shocking 23-20 win.
It was a completely inexcusable mistake by Mario Cristobal and Miami’s coaching staff that ruined the team’s 4-0 record.
Matt Eberflus’ Late-Game Debacle (2024)7 of 7
Mike Mulholland/Getty Images
Let’s begin with a completely true statement: I had started this article before Thanksgiving Day. What happened between the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions did not inspire this piece.
It may as well have anyway.
Late in the fourth quarter, the Bears trailed 23-20. They reached the Lions’ 25-yard line before a penalty and a sack pushed Chicago back to the 41. Not ideal, but Matt Eberflus and the Bears had a timeout remaining as a running clock showed 30 seconds after the sack.
Tick, tick, tick.
The clock dropped to 15 seconds, and I—certainly among many—began yelling. If the Bears, showing a complete lack of urgency, even attempted to run a play, they would burn the rest of the fourth quarter. You can’t snap the ball! Stop! Call a timeout!
Tick, tick, tick.
Snap, incomplete, game over. Bears lose, and Eberflus somehow leaves with a timeout in his pocket. Chicago fired him the next morning.
