View source for Jim Haslett

{{Short description|American football player and coach (born 1955)}}
{{for|the former American college football player and coach|Jim Hazlett}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name           = Jim Haslett
| image          = Jim Haslett 2021 09-19 2.jpg
| caption        = Haslett with the [[Tennessee Titans]] in 2021
| current_team   =
| position       = [[Linebacker]]
| number         = 55, 51
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1955|12|9}}
| birth_place    = [[Pittsburgh|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 3
| weight_lbs     = 232
| draftyear      = 1979
| draftround     = 2
| draftpick      = 51
| high_school    = Avalon
| college        = [[IUP Crimson Hawks football|IUP]] (1975–1978)
| pastteams      =
* [[Buffalo Bills]] ({{NFL Year|1979|1985}})
* [[New York Jets]] ({{NFL Year|1987}})
| pastcoaching   =
* [[Buffalo Bulls football|Buffalo]] (1988)<br>Linebackers coach
* [[Buffalo Bulls football|Buffalo]] (1989-1990)<br>Defensive coordinator
* [[Sacramento Surge]] (1991–1992)<br>Defensive coordinator
* [[Los Angeles Raiders]] ({{NFL Year|1993|1994}})<br>Linebackers coach
* [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|1995}})<br>Linebackers coach
* New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|1996}})<br>Defensive coordinator
* [[Pittsburgh Steelers]] ({{NFL Year|1997|1999}})<br>Defensive coordinator
* New Orleans Saints ({{NFL Year|2000|2005}})<br>Head coach
* [[St. Louis Rams]] ({{NFL Year|2006|2008}})<br>Defensive coordinator
* St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2008}})<br>Interim head coach
* [[Virginia Destroyers|Florida Tuskers]] ({{UFL Year|2009}})<br>Head coach
* [[Washington Redskins]] ({{NFL Year|2010|2014}})<br>Defensive coordinator
* [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]] ([[2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football|2015]])<br>Consultant
* [[Cincinnati Bengals]] ({{NFL Year|2016|2018}})<br>Linebackers coach
* [[Tennessee Titans]] ({{NFL Year|2020}}–{{NFL Year|2021}})<br>Inside linebackers coach
* [[Seattle Sea Dragons]] ({{XFL Year|2023}})<br>Head coach
| highlights     =
* [[AP NFL Coach of the Year]] (2000)
* [[NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year]] (1979)
* [[PFWA All-Rookie Team]] ([[Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team#1979|1979]])
| statlabel1     = [[Game]]s
| statvalue1     = 94
| statlabel2     = [[Quarterback sack|Sacks]]
| statvalue2     = 4.5
| statlabel3     = [[Interception]]s
| statvalue3     = 6
| regular_record = {{plainlist|
* NFL: {{winning percentage|47|61|record=y}}
* UFL: {{winning percentage|6|0|record=y}}
* XFL: {{winning percentage|7|3|record=y}}  
}}
| playoff_record = {{plainlist|
* NFL: {{winning percentage|1|1|record=y}}
* UFL: {{winning percentage|0|1|record=y}}
* XFL: {{winning percentage|0|1|record=y}}
  }}
| overall_record = {{plainlist|
* NFL: {{winning percentage|48|62|record=y}}
* UFL: {{winning percentage|6|1|record=y}}
* XFL: {{winning percentage|7|4|record=y}}
  }}
| CollegeHOF     = 2005
| pfr            = H/HaslJi20
| pfrcoach       = HaslJi0 
}}
'''James Donald Haslett''' (born December 9, 1955) is an American [[American football|football]] coach and former [[linebacker]] who was most recently the [[head coach]] of the [[Seattle Sea Dragons]] of the [[XFL (2020)|XFL]]. He played [[college football]] for the [[Indiana University of Pennsylvania|IUP]] Big Indians before being drafted by the [[Buffalo Bills]] in the second round of the [[1979 NFL draft]]; he went on to be named [[NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year]].

Haslett's coaching career began in the late 1980s, with him rejoining the NFL by the mid-1990s. In 2000, he was hired as [[head coach]] of the [[New Orleans Saints]] and was named the [[NFL Coach of the Year]]. He has also served as head coach for the [[Florida Tuskers]] of the [[United Football League (2009–2012)|United Football League]] (UFL).

==Playing career==
Haslett attended [[Indiana University of Pennsylvania]], and was selected in the second round of the [[1979 NFL draft]] by the [[Buffalo Bills]]. He was a [[linebacker]] for the [[Buffalo Bills]] through 1985; he broke his leg during a 1986 preseason contest, ending his time with the Bills. He made a brief comeback with the [[New York Jets]] in 1987. He was named the [[NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award|NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year]] for 1979. In a 2005 article in the ''[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]'', Haslett admitted to using [[steroids]] while playing for the Buffalo Bills. Haslett went on record saying that "everybody tried it" to gain a competitive advantage against opposing teams.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05083/476887.stm |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | title=Haslett admits to using steroids |first=Ed |last=Bouchette |date=March 24, 2005}}</ref>

==Coaching career==

===Early coaching career===

Haslett began his coaching career at the [[Buffalo Bulls football|University at Buffalo]] in 1988 as a linebackers coach before being promoted to defensive coordinator in 1989.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/news/ub-football-program-steps-up-improvement-haslett-and-pry-will-coordinate-new-emphasis/article_5d40538d-3c52-5e71-9139-3a5027edf08d.html|title=UB football program steps up improvement, Haslett and Pry will coordinate 'new emphasis'|date=April 20, 1989|agency=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Harrington, Mike and Robert J. Summers|access-date=February 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220223050608/https://buffalonews.com/news/ub-football-program-steps-up-improvement-haslett-and-pry-will-coordinate-new-emphasis/article_5d40538d-3c52-5e71-9139-3a5027edf08d.html|archive-date=February 23, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://buffalonews.com/2020/01/02/buffalo-bills-jim-haslett-fred-smerlas-afc-championship/|title=Ex-Bills linebacker Jim Haslett: 'That city deserves a championship'|date=January 2, 2020|agency=[[The Buffalo News]]|author=Brady, Erik|access-date=January 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103042815/https://buffalonews.com/2020/01/02/buffalo-bills-jim-haslett-fred-smerlas-afc-championship/|archive-date=January 3, 2020}}</ref> After three seasons with Buffalo, Haslett became the defensive coordinator for the [[Sacramento Surge]] of the [[World League of American Football]] for the team's inaugural season in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Official Site of the Tennessee Titans |url=https://www.tennesseetitans.com/team/coaches-roster/jim-haslett |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=www.tennesseetitans.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The league suspended operations after the 1992 season.

===NFL coaching career===
Haslett began his NFL coaching career as a linebackers coach for the [[Los Angeles Raiders]] in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Lonnie |date=February 18, 1993 |title=Former NFL Linebacker Jim Haslett to Join Raiders as an Assistant Coach |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-02-18-sp-256-story.html |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> After two seasons with the Raiders, Haslett was hired as linebackers coach for the [[New Orleans Saints]]. He was promoted to defensive coordinator for the 1996 season. After head coach [[Jim E. Mora|Jim Mora]] quit during the season, Haslett was offered the interim head coach position, but he declined, and was not retained by new head coach [[Mike Ditka]] for the 1997 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2000 |title=Saints Name Haslett New Coach - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/saints-name-haslett-new-coach/ |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

Haslett was then hired as the defensive coordinator for the [[Pittsburgh Steelers]], where he coached for three seasons from 1997 to 1999.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=FOSTER |first=MARY |title=Saints hire Haslett as head coach |url=https://www.theledger.com/story/news/2000/02/04/saints-hire-haslett-as-head/8071344007/ |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=The Ledger |language=en-US}}</ref>

===New Orleans Saints===
In January 2000, Haslett was named head coach of the [[New Orleans Saints]]. He was reportedly  hired to a three-year contract.<ref name=":0" /> That season, he guided the [[New Orleans Saints|Saints]] to a 10&ndash;6 regular-season record, their second [[NFC West]] division championship, and the first playoff victory in franchise history (defeating the [[St. Louis Rams]]; they lost to the [[Minnesota Vikings]] the next week). As a result of the Saints' turnaround from their previous 3&ndash;13 season (under his predecessor, [[Mike Ditka]]), Haslett was named [[NFL Coach of the Year Award|NFL Coach of the Year]]. This was the only playoff appearance in Haslett's six years in New Orleans. They would only notch one other winning record in 2002. That year, the Saints started 9–4, but three consecutive losses, including to the 1-14 Cincinnati Bengals, resulted in them missing the playoffs by a single game.

In 2005, the Saints crashed to a 3&ndash;13 record.  The season was marred by [[Hurricane Katrina]]'s devastation of New Orleans. This forced the franchise to temporarily relocate to [[San Antonio]], playing three of their 'home' games in the [[Alamodome]].  Another four home games were played in [[Baton Rouge]] at [[LSU Tigers football|LSU]]'s [[Tiger Stadium (Baton Rouge)|Tiger Stadium]], and one took place at [[Giants Stadium]] in New Jersey (against the [[New York Giants]]).

Haslett was fired after the 2005 season. He finished his six-year tenure as the head coach of the Saints with the second most head coaching wins in franchise history, with a regular season record of 45–51.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 2, 2006 |title=Haslett won't return as Saints head coach |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2278052 |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref>

===St. Louis Rams===
Haslett became the [[St. Louis Rams]]' defensive coordinator to start the 2006 season. On September 29, 2008, Haslett was named the interim head coach of the Rams after [[Scott Linehan]] was fired. The Rams gave Haslett an interim coach's contract, containing a clause that promised him the permanent head coach's job if the team won at least six games that season.  Within a few weeks, this clause was nullified by the NFL, because it violated the league's "[[Rooney Rule]]". He won his first game as interim head coach of the Rams with a 19–17 victory over the 4-1 [[Washington Redskins]]. That win was followed by a 34-14 drubbing of the Dallas Cowboys on October 19, 2008. This brought the Rams to a 2–4 record.  The team would lose their final 10 games, leaving Haslett with an interim record of 2–10 on the year. On January 15, 2009, the Rams announced that Haslett was no longer in consideration for the permanent head coaching position and that the team would be going in a "new direction".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090121114805/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/01/15/rams.haslett.ap/index.html Rams Remove Haslett From Search] SI.com, January 15, 2009</ref>

===Florida Tuskers===
Haslett coached the [[Florida Tuskers]] of the [[United Football League (2009–2012)|United Football League]] during its inaugural season in 2009.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090314044640/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/03/11/ufl-coaches.ap/index.html Haslett to Coach UFL Team] SI.com, March 11, 2009</ref> The team went 6-0 but were upset in the first-ever UFL Championship Game by the [[Las Vegas Locomotives]]. He won UFL Coach of Year in their inaugural season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Sutton |title=Former Titans assistant coach Jim Haslett named head coach in XFL |url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2022/04/13/jim-haslett-former-titans-assistant-named-head-coach-xfl/7305985001/ |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=The Tennessean |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Washington Redskins===
Haslett was hired as the [[Washington Redskins]] defensive coordinator on January 12, 2010, under head coach [[Mike Shanahan]]. Haslett replaced the retiring [[Greg Blache]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Thomas, Jim |title=Haslett headed to Washington as Redskins defensive coordinator |url=http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/around-the-horns/around-the-horns/2010/01/haslett-headed-to-washington-as-redskins-defensive-coordinator/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100114103619/http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/around-the-horns/around-the-horns/2010/01/haslett-headed-to-washington-as-redskins-defensive-coordinator/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 14, 2010 |newspaper=[[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]] |date=January 12, 2010 |access-date=January 12, 2010 }}</ref> After many speculated he would be fired after the disastrous [[2013 Washington Redskins season|2013 season]], new head coach [[Jay Gruden]] announced Haslett would remain on the team for the upcoming [[2014 Washington Redskins season|2014 season]]. The move reunited the pair, as Gruden had worked as the offensive coordinator under Haslett for the Tuskers in the 2009 season. On December 31, 2014, the Redskins announced that Haslett would leave the Redskins by mutual agreement.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Mike |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/12/31/redskins-announce-mutual-parting-with-defensive-coordinator-jim-haslett/ |title=Redskins announce mutual parting with defensive coordinator Jim Haslett |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 31, 2014 |access-date=December 31, 2014 }}</ref>

===Cincinnati Bengals===

After spending the 2015 season as a consultant for [[2015 Penn State Nittany Lions football team|Penn State]],<ref>{{cite web | last=Wogenrich | first=Mark | title=How Jim Haslett, an NFL coaching veteran, ended up as a Penn State football 'intern' | website=York Dispatch | date=2015-08-19 | url=https://www.yorkdispatch.com/story/sports/college/psu/2015/08/19/how-jim-haslett-an-nfl-coaching-veteran-ended/73439784/ | access-date=2025-11-28}}</ref> Haslett was hired as the linebackers coach for the [[2016 Cincinnati Bengals season|Cincinnati Bengals]] on January 15, 2016.<ref>{{cite web | last=Owczarski | first=Jim | title=Jim Haslett joins Bengals staff as LB coach | website=Cincinnati Enquirer | date=2016-01-15 | url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2016/01/15/jim-haslett-joins-cincinnati-bengals-linebackers-coach/78848696/ | access-date=2025-07-26}}</ref> Following the [[2018 Cincinnati Bengals season|2018 season]], the Bengals chose not to retain Haslett along with several other assistant coaches after the firing of longtime head coach [[Marvin Lewis]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=NFL Rumors: Bengals Fire Multiple Asst. Coaches, HC Will Come from 'The Outside' |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2815047-nfl-rumors-bengals-fire-multiple-asst-coaches-hc-will-come-from-the-outside |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en}}</ref>

===Tennessee Titans===
On February 6, 2020, [[Tennessee Titans]] head coach [[Mike Vrabel]] hired Haslett as the team's [[Linebacker|inside linebackers coach]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Titans name Jim Haslett as inside linebackers coach|access-date=February 9, 2020 |website=ESPN.com|date=February 6, 2020 |url= https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28648556/titans-name-jim-haslett-linebackers-coach}}</ref> Haslett spent two years in the role. He was not retained after the 2021 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Jim Haslett, three other assistants out in Tennessee |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/jim-haslett-three-other-assistants-out-in-tennessee |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== XFL ===
Haslett was announced as an XFL head coach in 2021, later revealed to be for the Seattle Sea Dragons.<ref>{{Cite web |title=XFL UNVEILS TEAM MARKETS AND VENUES: ARLINGTON, HOUSTON, ORLANDO, LAS VEGAS, SAN ANTONIO, SEATTLE, ST. LOUIS, WASHINGTON D.C. |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-latest-news/xfl-cities-and-venues-announcement |access-date=July 28, 2022 |website=www.xfl.com |language=en}}</ref> Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the XFL ceased operations in 2021 and 2022. Haslett was the head coach of the Sea Dragons for their final season in 2023, guiding them to a 7–3 record before losing in the divisional round of the playoffs 37–21 to the [[DC Defenders]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garrett |first=Shawn |date=May 1, 2023 |title=Seattle Sea Dragons end inaugural season after elimination from playoffs |url=https://www.kiro7.com/sports/seattle-sea-dragons-end-inaugural-season-after-elimination-playoffs/7O5P4VDH25EUXIGKAU2V5VB2D4/ |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=KIRO 7 News Seattle |language=en}}</ref>

On January 1, 2024, it was announced that the Sea Dragons would be disbanding. Eight teams from competing spring football leagues, the [[XFL (2020-2023)|XFL]] and [[United States Football League (2022)|USFL]], merged into the [[United Football League (2024)|United Football League]] going into the 2024 season; the Sea Dragons were not one of the teams selected for the merger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Mookie |date=December 31, 2023 |title=Report: RIP, Seattle Sea Dragons?! |url=https://www.fieldgulls.com/2023/12/31/24020800/report-seattle-sea-dragons-not-part-usfl-xfl-merger-ufl-news |access-date=January 1, 2024 |website=Field Gulls |language=en}}</ref>

==Head coaching record==

=== NFL ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|- ! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2000 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]||[[2000 NFL season|2000]]
||10||6||0||.625||'''1st in NFC West'''|| 1 || 1 || .500 || <Small>'''Lost to [[Minnesota Vikings]] in [[NFL playoffs, 2000–01|NFC Divisional Game]]'''</Small>
|-
![[2001 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]||[[2001 NFL season|2001]]
||7||9||0||.438||3rd in NFC West|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[2002 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]||[[2002 NFL season|2002]]
||9||7||0||.563||3rd in NFC South|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[2003 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]||[[2003 NFL season|2003]]
||8||8||0||.500||2nd in NFC South|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[2004 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]||[[2004 NFL season|2004]]
||8||8||0||.500||2nd in NFC South|| - || - || - || -
|-
![[2005 New Orleans Saints season|NO]]||[[2005 NFL season|2005]]
||3||13||0||.188||4th in NFC South|| - || - || - || -
|-
! colspan="2"|NOR total||45||51||0||.469||||1||1||.500||
|-
![[2008 St. Louis Rams season|STL]]||[[2008 NFL season|2008*]]
||2||10||0||.167||4th in NFC West|| - || - || - || -
<!-- Haslett took over the Rams at 0-4 in 2008 -->
|-
! colspan="2"|STL total||2||10||0||.167|||| - || - || - ||
|-
! colspan="2"|[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/HaslJi0.htm Total]||47||61||0||.435||||1||1||.500||
|-
|}
<small>*''Interim head coach''</small>

=== UFL ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" |Team !! rowspan="2" |Year !! colspan="4" |Regular season !! colspan="4" |Postseason
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|- style="background:#fdd;" !
![[2009 Florida Tuskers season|FL]]||[[2009 UFL season|2009]]
|| 6 || 0 || {{winpct|6|0}}|| '''1st in UFL''' || 0 || 1 || {{winpct|0|1}} || <Small>'''Lost to [[Las Vegas Locomotives]] in [[2009 UFL Championship Game]]'''</Small> 
|- 
|-
! colspan="2" |Total|| 6 || 0 || {{winpct|6|0}} || || 0 || 1 || {{winpct|0|1}} ||
|}

=== XFL ===
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="4"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|- ! style="background:#fdd;"
![[2023 Seattle Sea Dragons season|SEA]]||[[2023 XFL season|2023]]
|| 7 || 3 || {{winpct|7|3}}|| 2nd in XFL North || 0 || 1 || {{winpct|0|1}} || <Small>'''Lost to [[DC Defenders]] in XFL North Division Championship'''</Small> 
|- 
|-
! colspan="2"|Total|| 7 || 3 || {{winpct|7|3}} || || 0 || 1 || {{winpct|0|1}} ||
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{New Orleans Saints coach navbox}}
{{Los Angeles Rams coach navbox}}
{{Sacramento Surge}}
{{Seattle Sea Dragons}}
{{Virginia Destroyers}}
{{AP Defensive Rookies of the Year}}
{{AP NFL Coaches of the Year}}
{{Bills1979DraftPicks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Haslett, Jim}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American football linebackers]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bills players]]
[[Category:Buffalo Bulls football coaches]]
[[Category:Cincinnati Bengals coaches]]
[[Category:College Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Florida Tuskers coaches]]
[[Category:IUP Crimson Hawks football players]]
[[Category:Los Angeles Raiders coaches]]
[[Category:NFL defensive coordinators]]
[[Category:NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year winners]]
[[Category:NFL replacement players]]
[[Category:New Orleans Saints coaches]]
[[Category:New Orleans Saints head coaches]]
[[Category:New York Jets players]]
[[Category:Penn State Nittany Lions football coaches]]
[[Category:Pittsburgh Steelers coaches]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Sacramento Surge coaches]]
[[Category:Seattle Sea Dragons head coaches]]
[[Category:St. Louis Rams coaches]]
[[Category:St. Louis Rams head coaches]]
[[Category:Tennessee Titans coaches]]
[[Category:United Football League (2009–2012) head coaches]]
[[Category:Washington Redskins coaches]]
[[Category:NFL Coach of the Year winners]]