Let’s look at it this way. If tanking was no issue and teams could just bounce back easily we should see many coaches who had terrible seasons say 4 or fewer wins and then won Sbs. So let’s take a look. We will rule out the first 2 years because most coaches walk in to clean house and change the culture.
Here are the recent Sb winning coaches.
bill belichick. Walked in and cleaned house and changed the culture. His team fought hard to the end of his first season, and after starting 2-8 chose not to rank, won 3 of the last 6 (had he ranked those games he could have had the #2 pick). He won the Sb next year and win 5 more without ever going below 9-7.
Andy Reid.
Never had a season of less than 9-7 and never tried to lose a game.
Mike Tomlin
Never had a losing season. Never lost a game on purpose.
Doug Pederson
In his first season was 5-9 and could have tanked the last 2 games to get a higher pick. He won them both against playoff teams then won the Sb in year 2.
Harbaugh
Made the playoffs every season before winning the Sb, never lost a game on purpose.
Kubiak
Won his first year with a team who made the playoffs the last 4 years before.
coughlin
Came in changed the culture of a 4-12 team, went 6-10 and never had a losing season before winning 2 SBs
Won the last game of his first year potentially costing himself 9 draft slots.
carroll
7-9 first year, winning last game. Was 2-6 2nd year and instead of tanking finished 5-3. Then proceeded to make the playoffs 5 straight years winning the Sb in the 2nd one.
where are all the tankers?