Brain on Sports Podcast: Action bias and the firing of NFL coaches

On this week’s episode of This is Your Brain on Sports, Sommers and Wertheim ​discuss the firing of NFL coaches after the regular season and the announcements of these changes.

“This is Your Brain on Sports” is a weekly podcast from Sports Illustrated in which SI executive editor Jon Wertheim and Tufts University psychology professor Sam Sommers explore the intersection of sports and human nature—what the world of sports has to teach us about who we are, what we care about and the forces that shape our behavior.

On this week’s episode, Sommers and Wertheim ​discuss the firing of NFL coaches after the regular season and the announcements of these changes. Despite the trend, data and studies actually suggest that there is little benefit to replacing a losing coach and a new leader can actually decrease the chances of an improved season. So why are coaching changes and firings usually applauded by fans? In relation to the public's interest and approval of a coach's firing in the NFL, the pair also discusses job loss and its place in the NFL and society. 

Listen below to find out more about the halo effect and the intersection of sports and psychology, and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or on Stitcher, and check back every week for a new episode.