The Similarities Between the Decline of Tom Landry and Bill Belichick...

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In his last year as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, 64-year-old Tom Landry went 3-13 (1988), the worst record in franchise history and last in the NFC East. 71-year-old Bill Belichick just finished 4-13, last in the AFC East.

Landry hinted in 1986 that he was going to retire, so he hired Paul Hackett from the 49ers to be his assistant and potentially next in line to be coach. By the time Cowboys' GM Tex Schramm had Marty Schottenheimer in town looking for houses, his choice for head coach, Landry had a change of heart and shocked everyone when he held a press conference, announcing he wanted to remain as Cowboys' head coach into the '90s. 

According to Brad Sham, the "Voice of the Dallas Cowboys", in a podcast with Peter King, GM Tex Schramm ('60-'89) wanted to get rid of Landry for a while, but an agreement between the Cowboy's founder and original owner, Clint Murchison, and Cowboys' second owner, Bum Bright, included an agreement that he couldn't break up the trio of Tex Schramm (GM), Landry (head coach), and Gil Brandt (Scout/ Talent Evaluator).

When Bright put the Cowboys up for sale, there were several interested parties, two that offered more money than Jerry Jones, an oil guy who made his fortune drilling for oil and gas. According to Sham, Bright hated Landry, and he knew Jones would fire Landry while the others wouldn't, so the Cowboys were sold to Jones in 1989 for 150 million. 

In his last two years as head coach ('87-'88), Landry's Cowboys went a dismal 12-21. Belichick's Patriots finished 12-22 over the last two years. 

One day during the offseason, after Jones bought the Cowboys, he flew with Schramm to the golf course where Landry was playing and fired him there. 

According to Sham, fans of the Cowboys were calling his radio show in the fall of '88, demanding Landry be fired, complaining, "He’s old, he’s senile, the game has passed him by, you gotta get rid of Landry.” After Jones fired him, Sham said he got calls asking, "How can the Cowboys get rid of Landry?"

Landry's replacement, Jimmy Johnson, a college head coach with no NFL experience, went 1-15 in 1989, his first year as head coach. He continued to improve and went on to win two consecutive Super Bowls in his five year stint as Cowboy's head coach. He left after winning his second Super Bowl when he and Jones had disagreements, adding that Jones was "unwilling to share the spotlight."

Landry began his career as a defensive coordinator, spending six years with the New York Giants ('54-'59). Belichick served as the Giants' defensive coordinator for six years, '86-'91. 

Landry was the head coach of the Cowboys for 29 consecutive years, finishing his career 250-162-6. Belichick has been the head coach in New England for 24 consecutive years, compiling a record of 266-121. 

Landry won two Super Bowl titles, 13 division titles, and played in 12 NFL/NFC championship games. Belichick won six Super Bowl titles, 16 division titles, and played in 13 AFC championship games.

Landry lost his last game, at home to the Eagles 23-7, and Bill Belichick lost what could be his last game, at home to the Jets 17-3.

Billie Weiss. Getty Images.

Apparently, long-time head coaches, especially the successful ones, once they begin to decline at the end of their careers, have equal amounts of fans and detractors. Tom Landry's and Bill Belichick's careers have a lot in common. Robert Kraft doesn't have the same blood type as Jerry Jones (cold), and he's currently facing a big decision, and he's got Bill Belichick wondering, "Should I stay or should I go?" (Or, will Kraft make that decision for him)