After John Harbaugh's firing, who are NFL's longest-tenured head coaches?
John Harbaugh is out in Baltimore. So which NFL coaches have the longest tenures at their current posting?
The Baltimore Ravens fired coach John Harbaugh on Tuesday, ending his 18-season run at the helm. Harbaugh was the second-longest-tenured head coach in the NFL. After his firing, which coaches are atop that list?
1. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers: 19 seasons, 2007-present
Harbaugh’s opponent on Sunday night was already the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL. Pittsburgh finished with a 10-7 record, marking its 16th winning season under Tomlin. There has been some uncertainty about Tomlin’s future with the Steelers beyond this season. For now, he’ll get his team ready to host the Houston Texans in the AFC wild-card round.
2. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs: 13 seasons, 2013-present
Reid has built a Hall of Fame resume in Kansas City, winning three Super Bowls and five conference championships. He has also made the playoffs 11 times during his 13-season tenure with the Chiefs. Reid came up short of a Super Bowl victory with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he was head coach from 1999 to 2012, but he’s more than made up for those playoff disappointments.
3. Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills: 9 seasons, 2017-present
McDermott has authored one of the most successful runs in Buffalo Bills history during his time in Western New York. Buffalo has reached the playoffs in all but one season during his tenure. However, despite having a talented quarterback in Josh Allen, Buffalo’s playoff resume has been disappointing. They have gotten past the divisional round just twice under McDermott, and have not reached the Super Bowl. Buffalo will be in an unfamiliar spot as a wild card in the playoffs this season, facing Jacksonville on the road in the first round. Questions continue to surround McDermott’s future in Buffalo.
Will this be the season Sean McDermott gets the Bills to the Super Bowl? (Jason Miller / Getty Images)
4. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams: 9 seasons, 2017-present
At age 30, McVay became the youngest coach in NFL history when he was hired. The Los Angeles Rams undoubtedly got this one right, as McVay has become one of the most respected coaches in the league. Los Angeles made it to the Super Bowl in McVay’s second season and won Super Bowl LVI in his fifth campaign. McVay has led the Rams to the playoffs for the third straight year and will look to help lead MVP candidate Matthew Stafford back to the Super Bowl.
5. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers: 9 seasons, 2017-present
Regarded as a top play caller in the league for more than a decade, Shanahan and 49ers general manager John Lynch have created a perennial contender in the Bay Area. Shanahan has brought San Francisco to two Super Bowls and four NFC Championship Games. He is still seeking the elusive Super Bowl win and has been criticized for his play calling in the big game. This season has been arguably his most impressive, as he led an injury-riddled Niners team back to the playoffs.