USA TODAY International Edition
Young coaches’ success rates mixed
The Bengals are set to make one of the youngest hires in the history of the NFL in Rams quarterbacks coach Zac Taylor. They hope to catch the wave of potential in the 35-year-old and ride it to the next generation of teams.
The proposition is risky, to be sure, though the rest of the NFL is going along the same lines with young, offensive minded coaches popping up around the league this hiring cycle. Kliff Kingsbury (Arizona) and Matt LaFleur (Green Bay) are 39. They follow along with Taylor in the lineage of the youngest coach in NFL history, the Rams’ Sean McVay.
When assessing the history of hiring young coaches, you’ll find the boom-orbust candidate is a definitive reality. The success stories have defined franchises. The failures set them back years. There’s almost no in-between.
Let’s take a look at the youngest coaches hired in the Super Bowl era.
Boom
Sean McVay, Rams
Age at hiring: 30 years, 11 months Record: 24-8, back-to-back playoff appearances
What happened: Everyone wants a piece of McVay’s friends after two years of leading the change as a face of the next generation of the NFL.
Jon Gruden, Raiders
Age at hiring: 34 years, 5 months Record: 42-38, 2-2 in postseason What happened: Started slow with back-to-back 8-8 seasons, then caught fire, ripping off a 22-10 record over his final two years, stunned by the Tuck Rule during his best season. Went on to win a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers in 2002, his first year after leaving Oakland.
Bill Cowher, Steelers
Age at hiring: 34 years, 8 months Record: 149-90-1, two Super Bowls appearances, one title
What happened: Spent 15 years with the Steelers, winning double-digit games in five of his first six years. Captured Super Bowl XL in 2006.
Mike Tomlin, Steelers
Age at hiring: 34 years, 10 months
Record: 125-66, 8-7 in playoffs, two Super Bowl appearances, one title
What happened: Tomlin picked up the Cowher torch and ran with it, winning the Super Bowl in his second season and advancing to the big game in his fourth. Currently in a run of five consecutive winning seasons.
Bust
Lane Kiffin, Raiders
Age at hiring: 31 years, 8 months Record: 5-15
What happened: Made it four games into his second season before the house came crumbling down. Raheem Morris, Bucs
Age at hiring: 32 years, 4 months Record: 17-31, no playoffs What happened: Did manage a 10-6 season in his second year, but sandwiched by disastrous season, including a 4-12 campaign his final season when Tampa Bay gave up the most points in the league.
David Shula, Bengals
Age at hiring: 32 years, 7 months Record: 19-52
What happened: Bengals’ fans don’t want to rehash these memories. Shula was the fastest to 50 losses in NFL history.
Josh McDaniels, Broncos
Age at hiring: 32 years, 8 months Record: 11-17
What happened: Went 8-8 his first year but then was booted 13 games into his second season when Denver went 3-9 amid personality issues.
Eric Mangini, Jets
Age at hiring: 34 years, 11 months Record: 23-25, one playoff appearance
What happened: The closest thing to a middle-of-the-road tenure. Went 10-6 and lost in the playoffs in his first season (2006), then eventually was let go after three years, landing in Cleveland for back-to-back 5-11 campaigns. Mike Shanahan, Raiders
Age at hiring: 35 years, 6 months Record: 8-12
What happened: Shanahan was let go four games into his second season in 1989 as Art Shell took over. He would go on to success with the Broncos, including back-to-back titles at age 45 and 46, but his first stint was rough.