With all the hubub about the Chargers under-performing, and how poorly Norv Turner is coaching, I thought it would be interesting to see how Norv's record thus far in his career matches up against some of his contemporaries. I've put together each of the coach's records as a head coach and kept a running tally of the cumulative win percentage in the regular season and post season.
I've put Norv up against the four of the SB winning coaches who are currently not coaching and will be looking for work soon (I don't think Dungy will be). I've thrown in Jeff Fisher and Bill Belichek just for some additional perspective.
I'm not entirely sure what I was expecting when I was putting together these numbers. I had a vague belief in my mind that Norv's early career failures might match up with other top coach's slow starts and that perhaps history would show us we should just be patient. So, let's take a look.
| Norv Turner | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| Year | Tm | G | W | L | T | % | Cumulative % | G | W | L | % | Cumulative % | Notes |
| 1 | Washington Redskins | 16 | 3 | 13 | 0 | 0.188 | 0.188 | ||||||
| 2 | Washington Redskins | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0.375 | 0.281 | ||||||
| 3 | Washington Redskins | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.375 | ||||||
| 4 | Washington Redskins | 16 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0.533 | 0.406 | ||||||
| 5 | Washington Redskins | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0.375 | 0.400 | ||||||
| 6 | Washington Redskins | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.625 | 0.438 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.500 | |
| 7 | Washington Redskins | 13 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0.538 | 0.450 | 0.500 | |||||
| 8 | Oakland Raiders | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0.313 | 0.432 | 0.500 | |||||
| 9 | Oakland Raiders | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0.25 | 0.411 | 0.500 | |||||
| 10 | San Diego Chargers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.439 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 0.600 | |
| 11 | San Diego Chargers | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.445 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.571 | |
| 12 | San Diego Chargers | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.447 | 0.571 | |||||
| Bill Cowher | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| Year | Tm | G | W | L | T | W-L% | Cumulative % | G | W | L | % | Cumulative % | Notes |
| 1 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.688 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | |
| 2 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.625 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | |
| 3 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0.75 | 0.667 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.250 | |
| 4 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.672 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 0.429 | AFC Champions |
| 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.625 | 0.663 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.444 | |
| 6 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.667 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.455 | |
| 7 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.438 | 0.634 | 0.455 | |||||
| 8 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0.375 | 0.602 | 0.455 | |||||
| 9 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.597 | 0.455 | |||||
| 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0.813 | 0.619 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.462 | |
| 11 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0.667 | 0.619 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.467 | |
| 12 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0.375 | 0.599 | 0.467 | |||||
| 13 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 0.938 | 0.625 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.471 | |
| 14 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.629 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0.571 | Super Bowl Champions |
| 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.621 | 0.571 | |||||
| Mike Shanahan | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| Year | Tm | G | W | L | T | W-L% | Cumulative % | G | W | L | % | Cumulative % | Notes |
| 1 | Los Angeles Raiders | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.438 | 0.438 | ||||||
| 2 | Los Angeles Raiders | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0.25 | 0.400 | ||||||
| 3 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.444 | ||||||
| 4 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0.813 | 0.558 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.000 | |
| 5 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0.75 | 0.603 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0.800 | Super Bowl Champions |
| 6 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0.875 | 0.655 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.875 | Super Bowl Champions |
| 7 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0.375 | 0.610 | 0.875 | |||||
| 8 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.621 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.778 | |
| 9 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.606 | 0.778 | |||||
| 10 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.601 | 0.778 | |||||
| 11 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.625 | 0.604 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.700 | |
| 12 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.625 | 0.606 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.636 | |
| 13 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0.813 | 0.622 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.615 | |
| 14 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.618 | 0.615 | |||||
| 15 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.438 | 0.605 | 0.615 | |||||
| 16 | Denver Broncos | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.598 | 0.615 | |||||
| John Gruden | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| Year | Tm | G | W | L | T | W-L% | Cumulative % | G | W | L | % | Cumulative % | Notes |
| 1 | Oakland Raiders | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.500 | ||||||
| 2 | Oakland Raiders | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.500 | ||||||
| 3 | Oakland Raiders | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0.75 | 0.583 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.500 | |
| 4 | Oakland Raiders | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.625 | 0.594 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.500 | |
| 5 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0.75 | 0.625 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.714 | Super Bowl Champions |
| 6 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.438 | 0.594 | 0.714 | |||||
| 7 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0.313 | 0.554 | 0.714 | |||||
| 8 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.570 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.625 | |
| 9 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0.25 | 0.535 | 0.625 | |||||
| 10 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.538 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.556 | |
| 11 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.540 | 0.556 | |||||
| Mike Holmgren | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| Year | Tm | G | W | L | T | W-L% | Cumulative % | G | W | L | % | Cumulative % | Notes |
| 1 | Green Bay Packers | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.563 | ||||||
| 2 | Green Bay Packers | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.563 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.500 | |
| 3 | Green Bay Packers | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.563 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.500 | |
| 4 | Green Bay Packers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.594 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 0.571 | |
| 5 | Green Bay Packers | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0.813 | 0.638 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.700 | Super Bowl Champions |
| 6 | Green Bay Packers | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0.813 | 0.667 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 0.692 | NFC Champions |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.670 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.643 | |
| 8 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.656 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.600 | |
| 9 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0.375 | 0.625 | 0.600 | |||||
| 10 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.619 | 0.600 | |||||
| 11 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.438 | 0.602 | 0.600 | |||||
| 12 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.625 | 0.604 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.563 | |
| 13 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.601 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.529 | |
| 14 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0.813 | 0.616 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 0.550 | NFC Champions |
| 15 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.613 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.545 | |
| 16 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.625 | 0.613 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.542 | |
| 17 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0.25 | 0.592 | ||||||
| Jeff Fisher | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| Year | Tm | G | W | L | T | W-L% | Cumulative % | G | W | L | % | Cumulative % | Notes |
| 1 | Houston Oilers | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0.167 | 0.167 | ||||||
| 2 | Houston Oilers | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.438 | 0.364 | ||||||
| 3 | Houston Oilers | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.421 | ||||||
| 4 | Tennessee Oilers | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.444 | ||||||
| 5 | Tennessee Oilers | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.457 | ||||||
| 6 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0.813 | 0.523 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.75 | 0.750 | AFC Champions |
| 7 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0.813 | 0.569 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.600 | |
| 8 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.438 | 0.551 | 0.600 | |||||
| 9 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.567 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.571 | |
| 10 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0.75 | 0.587 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.556 | |
| 11 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0.313 | 0.560 | 0.556 | |||||
| 12 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 4 | 12 | 0 | 0.25 | 0.533 | 0.556 | |||||
| 13 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0.5 | 0.530 | 0.556 | |||||
| 14 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.625 | 0.537 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.500 | |
| 15 | Tennessee Titans | 16 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0.813 | 0.557 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.455 | |
| 16 | Tennessee Titans | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.542 | ||||||
| Bill Belichek | Playoffs | ||||||||||||
| Year | Tm | G | W | L | T | W-L% | Cumulative % | G | W | L | % | Cumulative % | Notes |
| 1 | Cleveland Browns | 16 | 6 | 10 | 0 | 0.375 | 0.375 | ||||||
| 2 | Cleveland Browns | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.438 | 0.406 | ||||||
| 3 | Cleveland Browns | 16 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0.438 | 0.417 | ||||||
| 4 | Cleveland Browns | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.484 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.500 | |
| 5 | Cleveland Browns | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0.313 | 0.450 | 0.500 | |||||
| 6 | New England Patriots | 16 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0.313 | 0.427 | 0.500 | |||||
| 7 | New England Patriots | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.464 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.800 | Super Bowl Champions |
| 8 | New England Patriots | 16 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0.563 | 0.477 | 0.800 | |||||
| 9 | New England Patriots | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0.875 | 0.521 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.875 | Super Bowl Champions |
| 10 | New England Patriots | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0.875 | 0.556 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0.909 | Super Bowl Champions |
| 11 | New England Patriots | 16 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0.625 | 0.563 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.846 | |
| 12 | New England Patriots | 16 | 12 | 4 | 0 | 0.75 | 0.578 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 0.813 | |
| 13 | New England Patriots | 16 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.611 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0.667 | 0.789 | AFC Champions |
| 14 | New England Patriots | 16 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 0.688 | 0.616 | 0.789 | |||||
| 15 | New England Patriots | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0.714 | 0.619 | 0.789 | |||||
So, I was a little surprised at how well most of these coaches did right off the bat. Of course, only one of them (Shanahan) was saddled with either Snyder or Davis as owners. One thing that these records do tell me is that some of the coaches in waiting (and soon to be coach in waiting Fisher) are not as wonderful as their big superbowl rings make them look.