The New Orleans Saints fired head coach Dennis Allen on Monday following a seven-game losing streak, including a loss to the struggling Carolina Panthers. This marked the second midseason firing in the NFL this season, with the New York Jets parting ways with Robert Saleh in October. Midseason coaching changes have become increasingly common in recent years, underscored by Allen’s own history—he was previously dismissed midseason by the Oakland Raiders in 2014. These trends highlight a broader question about the efficacy of midseason coaching changes and their impact on team performance.
Since 2014, the NFL has seen a revolving door of head coaches fired midseason, with 19 instances including notable names such as Urban Meyer, Jon Gruden, Bill O’Brien, and Ron Rivera. These coaches were often dismissed amid lackluster results or mounting external pressures. The frequency of midseason firings reflects the heightened scrutiny in professional football, where poor performance is rarely tolerated for long. This phenomenon has transformed coaching into a high-stakes role where job security hinges on rapid success.
Statistics further illustrate the grim circumstances surrounding midseason firings. On average, the coaches let go since 2014 lasted approximately 9.3 games into the season and managed only 2.45 wins before being dismissed. The urgency to rectify underperformance often drives teams to make these changes, with the hope that a new coach might stabilize or improve their trajectory. However, such dismissals predominantly involve coaches whose teams are already significantly underperforming.
A closer look at these firings reveals notable patterns. Only one coach, Jon Gruden, was let go with a winning record, but his dismissal stemmed from off-field controversies rather than team performance. Conversely, some coaches, including Bill O’Brien and Dennis Allen in 2014, were fired without a single win in their final seasons, with such cases averaging just 4.5 games before termination. This data underscores the harsh reality of midseason firings: they are often reactive measures with mixed outcomes in terms of long-term team success.
