5 greatest NFL head coaches to never win the Super Bowl

By Matt Graves | May 28, 2020

CINCINNATI, OH - CIRCA 1971: Head Coach Paul Brown of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on from the sidelines with quarterback Ken Anderson #14 during an NFL Football game circa 1971 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Brown coached the Bengals from 1968-75. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

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UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1973: Head coach Don Coryell of the St. Louis Cardinals looks on prior to the start of an NFL football game circa 1973. Coryell coached the Cardinals from 1973-77. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Greatest coaches to never win a Super Bowl: Don Coryell

St. Louis Cardinals (1973-1977)

San Diego Chargers (1978-1986)

Regular-season record: 111-83-1 (.572)

Postseason record: 3-6 (.333)

Before Don Coryell’s NFL coaching career started, he spent 12 years at San Diego State. His innovations for football’s passing offense, earning the nickname “Air Coryell.” Coryell developed quarterbacks Don Horn, Jesse Freitas, and future NFL MVP Brian Sipe. Most notably, Coryell coached Fred Dryer and Carl Weathers, who would later become actors.

In 1973, the St. Louis Cardinals hired Coryell, hoping to turn the franchise’s fortunes around. In three consecutive seasons, Coryell led the Cardinals to three double-digit win seasons. Their two division titles were the only titles the Cardinals won while in St. Louis.

After coaching the Cardinals, Coryell returned to San Diego to coach the Chargers. Coryell’s coaching success continued as the Chargers won three consecutive AFC West titles (1979-1981). Both the 1980 and ’81 seasons were the closest Coryell, and the Chargers had at a Super Bowl.

In 1981, the Chargers beat the Miami Dolphins in a dramatic 41-38 victory referred to as the Epic in Miami. However, the would lose the AFC Championship Game to the Cincinnati Bengals known as the Freezer Bowl.

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