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Has an NFL Coach Ever Been Fired But Then Brought Back By The Same Team Years Later?


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I ask this due to the Rex Ryan ripping Adam Gase thread.  I haven't even read it but I'm sure there are comments like "Rex is just angling to coach the Jets again" (and it's probably true).  But it got me to thinking if a HC has ever coached a team again after being fired by that team.  The only time I can even remember a HC coaching the same team twice was Joe Gibbs with the Redskins.  But I'm almost positive he stepped away from the NFL (rather than being fired) to go to NASCAR and he was welcomed back years later.  But I can't even think of any other coach that came back.   Sean Payton was suspended for a year but that's not the same thing.  

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6 minutes ago, HawkeyeJet said:

Here is a list of HC who coached the same franchise twice.  I don't know who of these were fired.  You can do that research yourself ?

 

Buffalo Bills

Lou Saban — 1962-65; 1972-76.

Harvey Johnson — 1968; 1971.

Houston Oilers (Tennessee Titans)

Wally Lemm — 1961; 1966-70.

Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

Art Shell — 1989-94; 2006.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Joe Bach — 1935-36; 1952-53.

Walt Kiesling — 1939-40; 1941-44; 1954-56.

San Diego Chargers

Sid Gillman — 1960-69; 1971.

Atlanta Falcons

Marion Campbell — 1974-76; 1987-89.

Chicago Bears

George Halas — 1920-29; 1933-42; 1946-55; 1958-67.

Chicago (Arizona) Cardinals

Ernie Nevers — 1931; 1939.

Jimmy Conzelman — 1940-42; 1946-48.

Phil Handler — 1943-45; 1949; 1951.

Detroit Lions

George “Potsy” Clark — 1931-36; 1940.

Green Bay Packers

Ray “Scooter” McLean — 1953; 1958.

Los Angeles (St. Louis) Rams

Chuck Knox — 1973-77; 1992-94.

Minnesota Vikings

Bud Grant — 1967-83; 1985.

Washington

Joe Gibbs — 1981-1992; 2004-2007

Thanks!  I don't count Gibbs since IIRC he wasn't fired.  I guess Art Shell was the most recent one.  I didn't realize the Swamp Fox coached the Falcons in the 1970's (nor did I remember that "Ground Chuck" coached the Rams in the early 90's).   I don't think Bud Grant was fired btw.  Pretty sure he retired (though maybe he was forced?)  

In any case, it hasn't happened very often throughout NFL history.

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46 minutes ago, TuscanyTile2 said:

I ask this due to the Rex Ryan ripping Adam Gase thread.  I haven't even read it but I'm sure there are comments like "Rex is just angling to coach the Jets again" (and it's probably true).  But it got me to thinking if a HC has ever coached a team again after being fired by that team.  The only time I can even remember a HC coaching the same team twice was Joe Gibbs with the Redskins.  But I'm almost positive he stepped away from the NFL (rather than being fired) to go to NASCAR and he was welcomed back years later.  But I can't even think of any other coach that came back.   Sean Payton was suspended for a year but that's not the same thing.  

s-manager-billy-martin-of-the-new-york-y

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If you think the Jets should consider bringing back Rex Ryan, just look at this list with a sober eye and snap out of it.

PS: I love the Halas coaching tenure.  You think working for Jerry Jones is a nightmare, imagine coaching the Bears when Halas owned the team.

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12 hours ago, HawkeyeJet said:

Here is a list of HC who coached the same franchise twice.  I don't know who of these were fired.  You can do that research yourself ?

 

Buffalo Bills

Lou Saban — 1962-65; 1972-76.

Harvey Johnson — 1968; 1971.

Houston Oilers (Tennessee Titans)

Wally Lemm — 1961; 1966-70.

Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders

Art Shell — 1989-94; 2006.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Joe Bach — 1935-36; 1952-53.

Walt Kiesling — 1939-40; 1941-44; 1954-56.

San Diego Chargers

Sid Gillman — 1960-69; 1971.

Atlanta Falcons

Marion Campbell — 1974-76; 1987-89.

Chicago Bears

George Halas — 1920-29; 1933-42; 1946-55; 1958-67.

Chicago (Arizona) Cardinals

Ernie Nevers — 1931; 1939.

Jimmy Conzelman — 1940-42; 1946-48.

Phil Handler — 1943-45; 1949; 1951.

Detroit Lions

George “Potsy” Clark — 1931-36; 1940.

Green Bay Packers

Ray “Scooter” McLean — 1953; 1958.

Los Angeles (St. Louis) Rams

Chuck Knox — 1973-77; 1992-94.

Minnesota Vikings

Bud Grant — 1967-83; 1985.

Washington

Joe Gibbs — 1981-1992; 2004-2007

The record of teams going that route seems a tad spotty in terms of success rate. 

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12 hours ago, TuscanyTile2 said:

I ask this due to the Rex Ryan ripping Adam Gase thread.  I haven't even read it but I'm sure there are comments like "Rex is just angling to coach the Jets again" (and it's probably true).  But it got me to thinking if a HC has ever coached a team again after being fired by that team.  The only time I can even remember a HC coaching the same team twice was Joe Gibbs with the Redskins.  But I'm almost positive he stepped away from the NFL (rather than being fired) to go to NASCAR and he was welcomed back years later.  But I can't even think of any other coach that came back.   Sean Payton was suspended for a year but that's not the same thing.  

I *was* a third generation season ticket holder.  I dropped my season tickets in 2014 when they hired Idzik, signed Michael Vick and set Rex up to fail.  That was the end of the road for me. 

If the Jets bring back Rex and have him working under a STRONG and QUALIFIED GM, I will buy season tickets again.  Fun ride ! 

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On 12/17/2019 at 10:39 PM, TuscanyTile2 said:

The only time I can even remember a HC coaching the same team twice was Joe Gibbs with the Redskins.  But I'm almost positive he stepped away from the NFL (rather than being fired) to go to NASCAR and he was welcomed back years later.

And now his NASCAR team is an absolute powerhouse. There are some people that are just winners and Gibbs is one of them. 

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