Firing a head coach is one of the biggest decisions a football team can make. There are so many factors that play a part in it.
But often it is the slimmest of margins that make the difference. In that sense, it is wild to think about how much influence kickers have over coaches’ job security.
We’ve already seen it with John Harbaugh and the Ravens. If Tyler Loop’s kick in the closing seconds of Baltimore’s Week 18 loss to the Steelers was one foot to the left, Harbaugh would still be the Ravens’ head coach, getting his team ready for a wild-card game against the Texans Monday night. He would be praised for helping lead a dramatic season turnaround after starting 1-5 and enduring four games without Lamar Jackson.
Instead, he is now the most sought after head coach candidate this cycle and getting set to begin meeting with teams this week.
