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25 Most Overrated Coaches, Coordinators and General Managers in the NFL
By Vincent Frank
(Featured Columnist) on May 25, 2012

Arm-chair quarterbacking is something that skeptics around the sports world do on a consistent basis. This causes fans of certain teams and players to jump all over the supposed "experts."

This doesn't mean that those "experts" are wrong. In many cases, it is just the fans hearing something they don't want to hear but might already know.

On that note, this article is going to focus on 25 coaches, coordinators and general managers in the National Football League who are overrated.

Hey, New York Jets fans, there is a reason the two main men in your hierarchy are pictured above. It means that they are on the list. You might also see Rex Ryan's twin brother on the list as well.

So, let's get started, and bring the criticism, I will be waiting with an evil smirk on my face.

25. Mike Nolan, Defensive Coordinator, Atlanta Falcons
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Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Mike Nolan was considered one of the best young coordinators in the NFL with the Baltimore Ravens prior to moving on to become the San Francisco 49ers head coach in 2005. It has pretty much been a downhill fall for Nolan ever since.

He did lead the Denver Broncos to a respectable 12th-ranked scoring defense in 2010, but they allowed over 30 points per game in the final three games, all losses.

The following season Nolan bolted for the Miami Dolphins, once again leading a defense to mediocrity in the form of the 14th-ranked defense in the league.

Although the Dolphins rebounded for a top 10 ranking last season, they decided not to retain Nolan while forming an entirely new coaching staff.

It just seems that the former defensive mastermind of the Ravens has leveled out over the last couple seasons and is nowhere near the talent that many believed less than a decade ago.

24. Bruce Arians, Offensive Coordinator, Indianapolis Colts
23. Greg Roman, Offensive Coordinator, San Francisco 49ers
22. Gunther Cunningham, Defensive Coordinator, Detroit Lions
21. Scott Pioli, General Manager, Kansas City Chiefs
20. Kevin Gilbride, Offensive Coordinator, New York Giants
19. Jim Haslett, Defensive Coordinator, Washington Redskins
18. Juan Castillo, Defensive Coordinator, Philadelphia Eagles

17. Mike Smith, Head Coach, Atlanta Falcons

There are so many people out there who want to praise Mike Smith for the job that he has done as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons since taking over in 2008. After all, he has led them to winning seasons in each of his first four years with the club.

That really isn't the point.

The NFL is a postseason-driven league. This means that you must perform and show up when it counts the most in January. This is something that the Falcons have failed to do under Smith.

They have lost all three postseason games since 2008 by an average of over 18 points, completely falling apart when it counts the most.

Smith will continue to be overrated in my book until the Falcons prove that they can actually compete in the playoffs.

16. Brian Schottenheimer, Offensive Coordinator, St. Louis Rams
15. Bruce Allen, General Manager, Washington Redskins
14. Rob Ryan, Defensive Coordinator, Dallas Cowboys

13. Thomas Dimitroff, General Manager, Atlanta Falcons

Everyone seems like they want to give Thomas Dimitroff a ton of credit for building the Atlanta Falcons we see today. I just don't see it.

How many playoff games has this franchise won since he took over in 2008? The answer to that question is...well, zero. This is a team that remains nowhere near the elite in the NFC and won't be for quite a while unless things change.

Dimitroff signed Dunta Robinson to a six year, $57 million contract back in 2010, a deal that hasn't paid off for the franchise in his first two seasons with the team.

In 2011 he traded multiple first-round draft picks to the Cleveland Browns in order to trade up for the services of Julio Jones, who wasn't even considered the top wide receiver prospect in that draft. This disabled the Falcons' ability to improve in certain areas that are glaring weaknesses right now.

The general manager also spent top-round picks on the likes of Peria Jerry, Sam Baker and William Moore, none of whom have lived up to expectations.

A couple years ago, it seems like the Falcons were on the midst of becoming an elite team. Now it appears they are nothing more than a fringe playoff contender.

These decisions are primary reasons for that.

12. Ken Whisenhunt, Head Coach, Arizona Cardinals
11. Jason Garrett, Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys
10. Cam Cameron, Offensive Coordinator, Baltimore Ravens
9. Josh McDaniels, Offensive Coordinator, New England Patriots
8. Jeff Fisher, Head Coach, St. Louis Rams
7. Jeff Ireland, General Manager, Miami Dolphins
6. Andy Reid, Head Coach, Philadelphia Eagles
5. Mike Tannenbaum, General Manager, New York Jets
4. Norv Turner, Head Coach, San Diego Chargers
3. Jerry Jones, Owner and General Manager, Dallas Cowboys
2. Pete Carroll, Head Coach, Seattle Seahawks
1. Rex Ryan, Head Coach, New York Jets

William Moore??? He was the 55th pick of the draft and he was the 5th safety drafted. The only safety drafted before Moore that I think deserved to be drafted over Moore was Byrd. Patrick Chung, Louis Delmas, Darcel McBath, and Michael Mitchell have all been inconsistent since entering the league.

I guess five interceptions and making numerous plays in the backfield doesn't qualify as a productive year these days (Moore's stats in 2010).

Mr Frank Wrote

It is if your one of the 20-25% that even make it to the playoffs. So what kind of a league is it for the others who don't make
the playoffs.....

I don't mind hearing this stuff; if you lose 4-5 Super bowls like Dan Reeves; they'll forget you even coached!! This would make more since starting this year, but not going back to when Ryan was a rookie.