NFL Power Rankings: The Top 16 Worst Coaches to Play for in the League

Some of these head coaches in the NFL need a hug when it comes to dealing with their own Pro Bowl players and assistants.

Some of the coaches ranked here could've made the NFL's top 16 best coaches to work for list.  Others treat everyone the same—with a blatant disregard for human emotion.

Even the cheerleaders find it hard to smile around these types of coaches.

Smile with me as I count down the top 16 NFL head coaches who are most in need of hugs.  

16. Ron Rivera: Carolina Panthers

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SAN DIEGO - 2009: Ron Rivera of the San Diego Chargers poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in San Diego, California. (Photo by NFL Photos)

The Panthers finished with a record of 2-14 last season.  Rivera is replacing John Fox who signed with the Denver Broncos—a promotion for Fox in terms of wins and losses. 

Carolina plays in a decent climate, but it remains to be seen what the new coach brings to the table.

15. Pat Shurmur: Cleveland Browns

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ST. LOUIS - 2009: Pat Shurmur of the St. Louis Rams poses for his 2009 NFL headshot at photo day in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by NFL Photos)

As the new head coach in town, he will be under pressure to perform—with Mike Holmgren looking over his shoulder.  Pressure busts pipes. 

Shurmur is the 13th head coach in Cleveland's pipeline—the fifth since 1999.  His uncle Fritz handled pressure well.  He won two NFC Championships and a Super Bowl as defensive coordinator for the Packers in the 1990s. 

Unlike his uncle, Pat gets his guru stripes on the offensive side of the ball.  It'll be hard work in a tough division.  The fun will come further down the line most likely.

14. Chan Gailey: Buffalo Bills

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - NOVEMBER 28: Chan Gailey, head coach of the Buffalo Bills stands on the sidelines during a timeout against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Ralph Wilson Stadium at Ralph Wilson Stadium on November 28, 2010 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo b

A likely story, his coaching style is to ride with you as long as you don’t make any mistakes.  He will draft a running back in the first round when he has two outstanding ones already. 

He and upper management combined will keep you winless for just about as long as you like.

13. Tony Sparano: Miami Dolphins

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - DECEMBER 12: Head coach of the Miami Dolphins, Tony Sparano on the sideline against the New York Jets at New Meadowlands Stadium on December 12, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Besides winning a bunch of games, South Beach could cure a lot of ills in the relationships between players and coaches.   

Consider this case, though.  With Rex Ryan and Bill Belichick ruling the division, how much faith would you as a player really have in Sparano to win the AFC East? 

Case closed.

12. John Fox: Denver Broncos

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ENGLEWOOD, CO - JANUARY 14: Denver Broncos head coach 108027723addresses the media at Dove Valley on January 14, 2011 in Englewood, Colorado. Fox was named the 14th head coach in Broncos history yesterday after spending the last nine seasons as head coac

Becoming the 14th head coach in their history, he joined the Denver Broncos courtesy of legendary quarterback and current team official John Elway.

The team formerly known as "Orange Crush" is now navy nobodies in the NFL championship picture.  They had a woeful record and would be demoted to the second tier league if this were English football.

Remains to be seen what will happen, but a new coach likes to lay down the law in favor of a different direction and team culture.

11. Jim Schwartz: Detroit Lions

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DETROIT - NOVEMBER 25: Head coach Jim Schwartz of the Detroit Lions reacts on a play near the goal line while playing the New England Patriots on November 25, 2010 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Judging by the two combatants in the NFC Championship Game 2011—the Bears and Packers—the Detroit Lions compete in the NFL's best division.

The Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings could all contend for the playoffs next year.  The Lions players will have fun, though, because the pressure is on the rest of the NFC North.

Detroit is coming up from being one of the worst franchises in terms of winning in the last few NFL years.  The come up is fun, but players eventually want to win.

10. Jason Garrett: Dallas Cowboys

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: Interim head coach Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys during a game against the Washington Redskins at Cowboys Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

The Cowboys played much better under his reign last season.  He changed a few things in terms of practice and culture and it worked. 

I imagine the players were so tired of Wade Phillips anyone would have been inspiring. 

We’ll see what’s up next season, but consider this.  Flozell Adams was cut by Dallas last year, and he signed with Pittsburgh.  Now the five-time Pro Bowl tackle is starting for the Steelers in the Super Bowl.

He found the comraderie in Pittsburgh so different from Dallas that he couldn't believe players on defense hung out—off-the-field—with players on offense.

Yikes.  If that doesn't send a red flag up to a potential free-agent, then what will?  Maybe the possibility of Jerry Jones as an assistant head coach. 

9. Jeff Fisher: Tennessee Titans

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INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Jeff Fisher the Head Coach of the Tennessee Titans watches play during NFL game against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

The longest tenured coach in the NFL with one team, he must be doing something right.  The prospects for winning in Tennessee ain't right but stranger things have happened.

He isn't afraid to lay down the law—ask Albert Hainsworth and Vince Young.  For wayward Titans running afoul of Fisher, beware of dog.

He will dog you and ban you from the facility quicker than a bulldog's bark.

8. Norv Turner: San Diego Chargers

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DENVER - JANUARY 02: Head coach Norv Turner of the San Diego Chargers leads his team against the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on January 2, 2011 in Denver, Colorado. The Chargers defeated the Broncos 33-28. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty

There are certainties in life—death, taxes and Turner’s football teams starting in the mud. 

He’ll get you off to a slow start and have to play catch up to make the playoffs, but you’ll have fun doing it—unless you miss the playoffs after shunning LaDainian Tomlinson. 

Ouch.

7. Gary Kubiak: Houston Texans

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DENVER - DECEMBER 26: Head coach Gary Kubiak of the Houston Texas has words with line judge Tom Stephan #68 as the Texans' face the Denver Broncos at INVESCO Field at Mile High on December 26, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Texans 24-

He’s coached under some legends and racked impressive statistics as an offensive coordinator.  As the Texans head coach since 2002—the only one in franchise history— he’s yet to take them to the playoffs.

They were expected to make it there this year.  Were we wrong or what?  Yes, indeed. 

6. Tom Coughlin: New York Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants reacts during the game against the New England Patriots on September 2, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Patriot

To say the New York Giants coach is a bit rigid is an understatement.  Two of his players allegedly went public to say they wish he was more like Rex Ryan.

Executive administrators and the front office staff were heard talking around the water cooler when Coughlin told them they were three minutes late to a team meeting.  Turns out it was a player's only meeting about tolerating the coach.  That's a joke. 

Ouch.

Jim Caldwell: Indianapolis Colts

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NASHVILLE, TN - DECEMBER 09: Jim Caldwell the Head Coach of the Indianapolis Colts watches his team stretch before the NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on December 9, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Questionable decisions including puzzling timeouts and laying down for the N.Y. Jets in 2009 before the playoffs with an undefeated season on the line.

Enough said.  Next.

4. Todd Haley: Kansas City Chiefs

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KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 09: Head coach Todd Haley of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on during the 2011 AFC wild card playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens at Arrowhead Stadium on January 9, 2011 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Ge

He’ll get your team a few wins and a division title, but he'll run off the offensive coordinator on you—allegedly.  I heard Marshall Faulk speaking about Charlie Weiss abruptly leaving Kansas City.  Faulk suggested it could be due to Haley's track record of running offensive coordinators off. 

I'm not saying what Faulk said is true.  If Haley, however, will run an assistant coach off, then he'll run a player off.  I'm just saying. 

3. Ken Whisenhunt: Arizona Cardinals

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GLENDALE, AZ - DECEMBER 12: Head coach Ken Whisenhunt of the Arizona Cardinals talks with Daryl Washington #58 after he scored on a 40 touchdown interception against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter of the NFL game at the University of Phoe

Ken Whisenhunt dissed and dismissed Matt Leinert in favor of Derek Anderson.  Leinert ended up with the Houston Texans after making statements detrimental to Whisenhunt's Super Bowl return.

Leinert believed he was the better quarterback and should be the starter, and he said so in public.  His other questionable moves in the past probably contributed to him leaving Arizona.  His statements, however, seemed to break the Cardinals back.  

After he said what he said, he was gone quicker than a Super Bowl minute.

2. Bill Belichick: New England Patriots

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FOXBORO, MA - SEPTEMBER 26: Coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots reacts to an official's call in the first half against the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium on September 26, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

Accused of being a media control freak, who levies fines and punishments to employees of the month, he is a rare gem.  Nicknamed "The Hoodie," all of his players are like a factory in their statements to the media. 

Cookie-cutter statements seem to be the opposite of what NFL players want out of dealing with the media these days.  They want coaches who allow them to freely speak.  That means the old school guard is giving way to brash and trash-talking coaches.

Randy Moss and Wes Welker were those trash-talking employees of the month. 

1. Mike Shanahan: Washington Redskins

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NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 21: Coach Mike Shanahan of the Washington Redskins watches his team against the Tennessee Titans at LP Field on November 21, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Redskins won 19-16 in overtime. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Image

Like a father with poor communications skills, he publicly humiliates some of his players to establish his unquestioned authority.  Albert Hainsworth and Donovan McNabb come to mind. 

His battle with Hainsworth was a distraction all year.  The way he treated McNabb also became a distraction.  A few lies to the press later, and Shanahan had a major player-coach relationship crisis.

Now the NFL watches for what will happen with the Redskins in terms of potential free-agent signings.   

Rex Grossman is waiting in the wings.