There’s legitimately no competition for worst HC in Lions history.

Detroit Lions v Buffalo Bills | George Gojkovich/GettyImages

NFL fans never forget the worst coaches in their teams’ history. For the Detroit Lions, a name that lives in infamy amongst the fanbase is Marty Mornhinweg, who served as the head coach for the Lions from 2001 to 2002.

Mornhinweg holds one of the worst coaching records in NFL history, having gone 2-14 in his first season coaching the Lions and 3-13 in the next year, really doubling down on how terrible his tenure was already shaping up to be in back to back seasons.

From an ancient Deadspin piece listing the top 16 worst head coaches in NFL history on Mornhinweg’s time as the Lions’ skipper:

“The Lions lost without ever getting the ball, and his decision that day—’WE WANT THE WIND!’— became synonymous with a sort of proud, headlong stupidity. Well, to everyone except Mornhinweg: ‘It was the right call then, it’s the right call now, and it’s the right call 10 years from now.’ It wasn’t, it isn’t, it won’t be.”

Coaching is an art not all can perfect

When thinking about just how elite Dan Campbell has been for the Lions in his tenure – going from leading a 3-13 team in 2021 to 9-8, then 12-5, then 15-2 – it’s also hard to imagine that two decades ago, fans were being subjected to the cruelty that was Mornhinweg’s reign.

Someone with such conviction in their poor decisions is never a good match for a head coaching position. You have to accept adaptation, which is something Campbell really excels at. He relies on his staff to make the right call for their offense and defense, while also sprinkling in his own brand of spontaneous decision making at (typically) the right time.

A great piece from Pride of Detroit truly sums up the Mornhinweg era, specifically defined by that wind call:

“I imagine Mornhinweg will get another opportunity to be a head coach someday, but here in Detroit, he will always be known as Marty Moron-weg due to that absolutely dumb call back in 2002. Mornhinweg can analyze and dissect this from all angles for the next 10 years, but it will never be the right call. In a sudden death overtime, regardless of the wind, you take the ball. That gives your team the opportunity to win the game. Giving the ball to the other team puts them in position to win and puts you at a disadvantage. Sure, the stats were in your favor, but that doesn’t mean anything when you take the field.”

Sean Yuille

It’s great to be able to rely on a risk-taking coach like Campbell now when you know that he’s likely making the right call given how aggressive the offense can be in a tight spot.

With an accurate passer like Goff and an elite core of weapons in Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Jahmyr Gibbs, and David Montgomery, it’s hard to imagine a situation where Campbell’s wild-card playcalling will ever feel similar to that of Mornhinweg’s infamous call.