3 Incredible NFL Players Who Bombed as Head Coaches

Great players don't necessarily make great coaches. In the wake of the Indianapolis Colts' flabbergasting hiring of six-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday as interim head coach despite no previous NFL coaching experience, it's time to take a look at similarly excellent players who struggled when handed the reins of an NFL team.

Mike Singletary, San Francisco 49ers

Mike Singletary is one of the greatest linebackers of all time and potentially one of the most underrated players in NFL history. The seven-time All-Pro was the centerpiece of the Chicago Bears defense in the 80s, winning two AP Defensive Player of the Year awards and a Super Bowl with the 15-1 1985 team. His success didn't carry on to head coaching. Singletary took over the top job for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8 of the 2008 season and failed to distinguish himself over 40 games, compiling an 18-22 record. He also repeatedly made headlines with bizarre behaviour.

Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr was one of NFL history's greatest winners during his tenure as the team's captain, leading the team to three NFL Championships and then a pair of Super Bowl wins. His historic, Hall of Fame career eventually earned him a head coaching gig with the Packers and a whole lot of leeway. Starr coached nine seasons with the Packers, making the playoffs once and managing a .408 winning percentage over 131 games.

Norm Van Brocklin, Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons

Norm Van Brocklin was one of the NFL's most explosive passers in the 1950s, and he even holds the record for most passing yards in a game to this day with an incredible 554 yards in a 1951 game against the New York Yanks. His Hall of Fame play didn't translate to coaching. In 13 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and Atlanta Falcons, Brocklin never once made the playoffs. He finished his career with a .398 winning percentage over 173 games.