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The 10 greatest false alarms in NFL history: an April Fools special

By Erik Lambert

NEW YORK CITY - APRIL 24: Quarterback Eli Manning (Mississippi) stands next to his older brother QB Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts after Eli was selected first overall by the San Diego Chargers at the 2004 NFL Draft on April 24, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Manning was later traded to the New York Giants in exchange for QB Philip Rivers (North Carolina State) and New York's third-round pick (No. 65), which they use to select Iowa K Nate Kaeding, and the Giants' first-round and fifth-round picks in the 2005 draft. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
NEW YORK CITY - APRIL 24: Quarterback Eli Manning (Mississippi) stands next to his older brother QB Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts after Eli was selected first overall by the San Diego Chargers at the 2004 NFL Draft on April 24, 2004 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Manning was later traded to the New York Giants in exchange for QB Philip Rivers (North Carolina State) and New York's third-round pick (No. 65), which they use to select Iowa K Nate Kaeding, and the Giants' first-round and fifth-round picks in the 2005 draft. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 28: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the field before their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CA – DECEMBER 28: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the San Francisco 49ers stands on the field before their game against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi’s Stadium on December 28, 2014 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Fans have a love-hate relationship with April Fools Day in NFL history, perhaps because it reminds them of how easy it is for good things to go bad.

Nothing infuriates people more than believing something is true, only to have it snatched away. Whether it’s by intentional prank or the simple twists of fate. There have been loads of example of this over the past decades of professional football. Moments where it looked like something gigantic was about to happen, but one thing or another shot it down.

These are the 10 greatest false alarms the league has witnessed in the modern era. Many may be surprised that it’s not a player who gets things started, but a former head coach instead.

10. Jim Harbaugh shoots down attempted trade to Browns

By the end of the 2013 season, things were starting to grow contentious down in San Francisco. Despite reaching three-straight NFC championships and a Super Bowl, it was becoming clear that head coach Jim Harbaugh was not on good terms with then 49ers GM Trent Baalke. There were rampant rumors of heat between the two regarding roster composition. Not to mention the reports that some players were growing tired of Harbaugh’s relentless style of coaching.

Still, his success was undeniable at that point. If the 49ers were indeed tired of him, then perhaps it was possible for another team to swoop in. The Cleveland Browns were desperate for stability at head coach. So their owner Jimmy Haslem and the front office made a lucrative trade offer to San Francisco that included “multiple draft picks.” It sounded like the 49ers were ready to consider it, but Harbaugh ended up killing the enterprise thanks to a no-trade clause in his contract.

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