Five worst NFL hiring cycles since 2007: How does Mike McDaniel's firing impact 2022 class' stature?

The 2022 class of NFL coaching hires took a hit on Thursday when the Miami Dolphins fired Mike McDaniel after four seasons.

He joins a growing list from that year's hires to already lose their job, but does that make the 2022 hiring cycle the worst in recent history? Not by a long shot.

Below, we look at the five worst hiring cycles — not by coaching ability but on-field results — since 2007, when Mike Tomlin was named Pittsburgh Steelers head coach.

5. 2022

Best: Minnesota Vikings - Kevin O'Connell (43-25) | Worst: Denver Broncos - Nathaniel Hackett (4-11)

Others (8): New Orleans Saints - Dennis Allen (18-25); Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Todd Bowles (35-33); New York Giants - Brian Daboll (20-40-1); Chicago Bears - Matt Eberflus (14-32); Dolphins - Mike McDaniel (35-33); Las Vegas Raiders - Josh McDaniels (9-16); Jacksonville Jaguars - Doug Pederson (22-29); Houston Texans - Lovie Smith (3-13-1)

Quantity wasn't quality during the 2022 hiring cycle, when 10 teams filled vacancies. Of those, only Bowles (Buccaneers) and O'Connell (Vikings) remain after McDaniel's Thursday dismissal.

Hackett was fired before the end of his first season and McDaniels his second, while Allen and Eberflus were fired in the midst of their third seasons. Daboll followed with an in-season firing in 2025.

Playoff success has also been elusive for the group. In nine combined appearances, the 10 coaches have produced three wins (Bowles, Daboll, Pederson).

4. 2020

Best: Cleveland Browns - Kevin Stefanski (45-56) | Worst: Carolina Panthers - Matt Rhule (11-27)

Others (3): Giants - Joe Judge (10-23); Dallas Cowboys - Mike McCarthy (49-35); Washington Commanders - Ron Rivera (26-40-1)

The 2020 carousel was much less active than normal, with a below-average five jobs opening that offseason. McCarthy had the best record of the small set, but Stefanski's work in leading the Browns to two playoff appearances was arguably more impressive.

Ron Rivera's lone playoff appearance in Washington came when the Commanders won the NFC East at 7-9, while Judge and Rhule were both canned after failing to resurrect their respective franchises.

3. 2016

Best: Philadelphia Eagles - Doug Pederson (42-37-1) | Worst: Browns - Hue Jackson (3-36-1)

Others (5): Dolphins - Adam Gase (23-25); San Francisco 49ers - Chip Kelly (2-14); Buccaneers - Dirk Koetter (19-29); Giants - Ben McAdoo (13-15); Tennessee Titans - Mike Mularkey (18-14)

Pederson's Super Bowl LII triumph is doing a lot of heavy lifting for this ragtag group. The collective combined to post a 120-170-2 record, with Pederson the only to last more than three seasons. He's also responsible for three of their six playoff appearances and four of five postseason wins.

2. 2009

Best: New York Jets - Rex Ryan (46-50) | Worst: St. Louis Rams - Steve Spagnuolo (10-38)

Others (9): Oakland Raiders - Tom Cable (13-19); Indianapolis Colts - Jim Caldwell (36-28); Kansas City Chiefs - Todd Haley (19-26); Browns - Eric Mangini (10-22); Broncos - Josh McDaniels (11-17); Seattle Seahawks - Jim Mora Jr. (5-11); Buccaneers - Raheem Morris (17-31); Detroit Lions - Jim Schwartz (29-51); 49ers - Mike Singletary (13-18)

Among hiring cycles from 2007-25, the '09 class holds the worst overall win percentage (.402) despite Ryan leading the Jets to two AFC Championship Game appearances and Caldwell taking the Colts to Super Bowl XLIV. Schwartz also did an admirable job taking over the league's worst situation at the time in Detroit.

While this year featured a staggering 11 openings, only Ryan and Schwartz lasted more than three seasons, with no other coach proving worth a long-term commitment. That terrible hit rate can't be ignored.

1. 2012

Best: Colts - Chuck Pagano (53-43) | Worst: Raiders - Dennis Allen (8-28)

Others (5): Chiefs - Romeo Crennel (2-14); Rams - Jeff Fisher (31-45-1); Jaguars - Mike Mularkey (2-14); Dolphins - Joe Philbin (24-28); Buccaneers - Greg Schiano (11-21)

Despite prophecy to the contrary, the world didn't end in 2012. It did, however, produce the worst hiring cycle in recent history, which for these seven franchises and coaches was arguably a worse fate.

Pagano was the only coach to pan out, making the playoffs three times. The other six? Zero. Crennel and Mularkey were one-and-done, while Schiano and Allen also saw early exits.

If there's any solace for teams in the 2026 head-coaching market, the 2012 cycle is also a reminder of how quickly things change. The Chiefs nailed their next hire, Andy Reid, during the 2013 offseason, and the Rams also fared well by hiring Sean McVay to replace Fisher in 2017. For the 10 franchises in the market this offseason, they're one right move from altering their fortune for seasons to come.