Top 25 worst NFL coaching hires this century: From Bobby Petrino to Nick Saban to Urban Meyer and more

Which big-name gambles did not pay off?

There are lots of stellar coaches in the NFL today: Andy Reid, Sean McVay, John Harbaugh, etc. There are even more beloved sideline leaders when you look to the recent past, including greats like Bill Belichick, Bruce Arians and Tony Dungy. But for every masterclass in pro coaching, there are arguably twice as many misfires.

And you know what? They're just as much a part of the NFL story. Sometimes, in fact, the greatest failures also lead to the greatest successes: Just consider Belichick, who bounced between a few jobs before establishing the New England Patriots dynasty; or Reid, who was fired by the Philadelphia Eagles after an ugly finish in the City of Brotherly Love, only to reach new heights running the Kansas City Chiefs.

Here, we're recognizing some of the worst hires of this century, not in the spirit of kicking flops while they're down so much as showcasing just how often teams and coaches have to fail before they get it right. Think the Detroit Lions, who appear multiple times on this list, but now employ one of the most feared leaders in the game.