The Dolphins are sticking with Joe Philbin. He hasn’t had a winning record in any of his three seasons, but they’re bringing him back for another year. This doesn’t happen often.
By my count (and I don’t think I missed any) ten other teams in this century have failed to have a winning record three straight years then brought back the same coach to try, try again.
Four of these teams (40 percent) then finished with a winning record in that fourth season. Most famously, it happened last year with the Cowboys under Jason Garrett, who went 12-4 and won the NFC East.
But six of the 10 teams finished with losing records in that extra season.
Philbin, like Garrett, hasn’t been losing but has been hovering around .500. Miami was 7-9 in 2012 and has been 8-8 the last two years.
FOURTH TIME'S A CHARM | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | Coach | Record |
2003 | Arizona Cardinals | Dave McGinnis | 4-12 |
2005 | Houston Texans | Dom Capers | 2-14 |
2007 | Tennessee Titans | Jeff Fisher | 10-6 |
2008 | San Francisco 49ers | Mike Nolan | 7-9 |
2009 | Houston Texans | Gary Kubiak | 9-7 |
2009 | Buffalo Bills | Dick Jauron | 6-10 |
2009 | Cincinnati Bengals | Marvin Lewis | 10-6 |
2011 | Jacksonville Jaguars | Jack Del Rio | 5-11 |
2014 | New York Jets | Rex Ryan | 4-12 |
2014 | Dallas Cowboys | Jason Garrett | 12-4 |
2015 | Miami Dolphins | Joe Philbin | ?-? |
—Ian Allan