Sometimes when things go south in the NFL, they go south in a hurry and just never really get better.

The NFL is an unforgiving league and even some of the league's finest assistants simply don't cut it as head coaches.

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That's evidenced by CBS' look at the top 25 worst NFL head coaching hires this century. The list includes a handful of great NFL assistants turned to failed head coaches. Similarly, some of the greatest college head football coaches didn't pan out in the pros.

Dolphins fans know that truth all too well. Mired in a near 25-year playoffs win drought, Miami has unfortunately been home to several of the top 25 worst head coaching hires of the 21st century according to CBS.

Nick Saban was ranked as the 24th-worst head coaching hire this century by CBS' Cody Benjmain.

It's not the record but the bigger-picture ripple effects that made Saban's short-lived South Florida reign so unfortunate. He was a hotshot upon entry, an LSU national champion poised to bring new life to a storied franchise. Then he infamously couldn't secure Drew Brees, a free-agent quarterback consideration, and left for the Alabama job weeks after proclaiming he would do no such thing. Everyone's allowed to change their mind, but Saban's abrupt exit left Miami scrambling, and the Dolphins remain something of a mess to this day. - CBS

Saban led the Dolphins for a pair of seasons, steering Miami to records of 9-7 in 2005 and to 6-10 in 2006 for an overall mark of 15-17.

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But, CBS held the atrocity that was Cam Cameron's 2007 season in special regard. That 1-15 debacle earned Cameron the No. 3 spot on this list commemorating the worst head coaches this century.

This is what you get when Nick Saban abruptly resigns from atop the staff. Cameron oversaw some electric offenses with the San Diego Chargers, but his first and last head coaching opportunity at the NFL level brought Miami its worst finish in four decades. Shuffling between an aging Trent Green and backups Cleo Lemon and John Beck under center, Cameron's one-year stop was made more unsettling by the fact Miami passed over future Steelers icon Mike Tomlin to hire him. - CBS

Only Atlanta's Bobby Petrino and Jacksonville's Urban Meyer were ranked as worse head coaching hires. Petrino posted a 3-10 record before resigning mid-season to accept the Arkansas job. Despite inheriting No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence, Meyer registered a 2-11 mark with the Jags before being fired before season's end.

Though it was for his stint in New York, former Dolphins head coach Adam Gase also made the list of the worst hires this century with the Jets. After a 23-26 mark with Miami that included one Wild Card berth in 2016, Gase was just 9-23 during the 2019 and 2020 seasons with the Jets.

Gase was ranked as the 12th-worst head coaching hire.

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This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Multiple Dolphins among CBS' top 25 worst NFL hires this century