The NFL game has changed so much over the years. Yet, the most underrated change is the need for an elite head coach. So much of the game is determined in the week leading up to the contest. While having talented players is still critical, having an elite head coach has become more important than ever before. Whether you’re into fantasy football, sports betting, or just a fan of the game, understanding these coaching changes can help you succeed.
Let’s look at how all 32 NFL Head Coaches rank as we head into the 2023 NFL season.
1) Bill Belichick – New England Patriots
While the Patriots have struggled since Tom Brady left, Belichick remains one of the top head coaches in NFL history. The veteran coach has six Super Bowl rings during his time with New England. He also has nine AFC Championship titles on his resume.
2) Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs
There is only one head coach that can surpass Belichick for the No. 1 spot – Reid. He had a 58.3% winning percentage during his 14 years with the Philadelphia Eagles, including a Super Bowl appearance. However, Reid has been arguably the best head coach over the past four years, with two Super Bowl Championships and four AFC Championship Game appearances in a row. Oh, and he has Patrick Mahomes.
3) Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh Steelers
Tomlin has spent his entire head coaching career with the Steelers. Despite having 16 years of experience, the veteran head coach has never had a losing record in any season. Furthermore, he has been to two Super Bowls, winning one in 2008.
4) John Harbaugh – Baltimore Ravens
Unfortunately for Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin is the top head coach in the AFC North. However, Harbaugh has only two losing seasons in his 15 years with the Ravens. Furthermore, he is 1-0 in the Super Bowl, winning 34-31 in 2012 over the San Francisco 49ers.
5) Sean McVay – Los Angeles Rams
Despite being only 36 years old, McVay is already one of the top head coaches in the NFL. He has had two Super Bowl appearances in his six years with the Rams, including a victory two years ago. While the Rams struggled last season, it was the only losing season in McVay’s coaching career.
6) Kyle Shanahan – San Francisco 49ers
While he might be famously known as the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive coordinator during the 28-3 Super Bowl collapse, Shanahan has been outstanding as the head coach in San Francisco. He has had a winning season in three of the past four years. Furthermore, Shanahan led the team to the Super Bowl in 2019 and three NFC Championship Game appearances, including last season.
7) Pete Carroll – Seattle Seahawks
After a terrific career at USC, Carroll returned to the NFL in 2010 with the Seahawks. The veteran head coach had back-to-back losing seasons in Seattle but had only one losing season since then. Furthermore, Carroll led the team to a 9-8 record and the playoffs last year despite trading away Russell Wilson in the offseason.
8) Sean Payton – Denver Broncos
Payton spent 15 years with the New Orleans Saints, winning the Super Bowl in 2009. The veteran head coach had eight winning seasons in New Orleans, including his final year with the team in 2021, going 9-8. After taking a year off, Payton will join the Broncos this season.
9) Matt LaFleur – Green Bay Packers
While LaFleur has only four years of head coaching experience, he has led the Packers to three winning seasons. Furthermore, the young head coach has earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs each of his first three years with the team.
10) Sean McDermott – Buffalo Bills
The Bills were a laughingstock team before McDermott arrived in 2017. In his six years in Buffalo, the head coach has only one losing season. More importantly, the Bills have had at least 11 wins in the past three seasons after having more than 10 wins only once in the previous 26 years. Between MVP-caliber quarterback Josh Allen and star wide receiver Stefon Diggs, don’t expect this offense to slow down anytime soon.
11) Mike Vrabel – Tennessee Titans
After a productive NFL career as a player, Vrabel has had a solid career as a head coach. The former linebacker has four winning seasons during his five years in Tennessee. Furthermore, he has two seasons with 11 or more wins on his resume.
12) Doug Pederson – Jacksonville Jaguars
Pederson had success early in his head coaching career, winning the Super Bowl in his second season. However, he had only a slightly above .500 record during his five years with the Philadelphia Eagles. After taking the 2021 season off, Pederson returned to coaching last year, leading the Jaguars to their first division title since 2017.
13) Frank Reich – Carolina Panthers
Unfortunately, Reich had awful luck during his time with the Indianapolis Colts. He had five different Week 1 starting quarterbacks during his five years with the team. While Reich got fired by the Colts last season, the veteran head coach quickly found a new job this offseason with the Panthers. Despite the merry-go-round at quarterback, Reich had three winning seasons in Indianapolis.
14) Zac Taylor – Cincinnati Bengals
When the Bengals hired Taylor in 2019, many thought he wouldn’t last long in Cincinnati. However, the former college quarterback has turned the Bengals into a winning franchise. He led them to the Super Bowl in 2021 and the AFC Championship Game last season.
15) Nick Sirianni – Philadelphia Eagles
After spending three years with the Indianapolis Colts as Frank Reich’s offensive coordinator, Sirianni joined the Eagles in 2021. He had a winning season in his first year in Philadelphia. However, the young head coach led the Eagles to the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs last season and an appearance in the Super Bowl.
16) Brian Daboll – New York Giants
While he has only one year of head coaching experience on his resume, many already consider Daboll an elite head coach. Last year he turned the Giants into a playoff team after years of looking like a high school unit.
17) Mike McDaniel – Miami Dolphins
McDaniel has bounced around the NFL during his coaching career. However, he finally got a head coaching job last season and was outstanding. Despite losing his starting quarterback for nearly a third of the year, McDaniel got the Dolphins into the playoffs for the first time since 2016.
18) Dan Campbell – Detroit Lions
The Lions’ head coach is one of the most popular guys in the NFL. However, I’m still skeptical. While Detroit had a 9-8 record last year and almost made the playoffs, Campbell still only has a 38% winning percentage in his career as a head coach.
19) Brandon Staley – Los Angeles Chargers
While he has been with the Chargers for only two years, some called for Staley to get fired after last year’s playoff meltdown. However, the young head coach has never had a losing season in his short career. Furthermore, Los Angeles was the top Wild Card team last year despite several critical injuries during the season.
20) Mike McCarthy – Dallas Cowboys
Despite winning the Super Bowl in 2010, McCarthy is considered one of the worst head coaches in the NFL. However, he has a career 61.4% win percentage. Furthermore, McCarthy has only four losing seasons in his 16 career seasons as a head coach.
21) Ron Rivera – Washington Commanders
The highlight of Rivera’s career as a head coach was in 2015 when he led the Carolina Panthers to the Super Bowl. However, the veteran head coach has had a winning season in 18.2% of the years outside of the Super Bowl year. Yet, he’s kept Washington around .500 each year despite the lack of a franchise quarterback.
22) Kevin O’Connell – Minnesota Vikings
O’Connell has only one year of head coaching experience under his belt. However, he led the Vikings to a 13-4 record and the NFC North division title last year. Furthermore, his offense finished 8th in points scored in 2022.
23) Kevin Stefanski – Cleveland Browns
Unfortunately for him, Stefanski’s head coaching career has been going the wrong way. After having an 11-5 record his first year in Cleveland, the head coach has back-to-back losing seasons, going 8-9 in 2021 and 7-10 last season. Stefanski likely won’t return in 2024 if the Browns underperform again this year.
24) Robert Saleh – New York Jets
The Jets have gotten better since they hired Saleh. After going 4-13 in his first year in New York, the head coach led the team to a 7-10 record last season despite starting four different quarterbacks. However, the pressure is now on Saleh to make the playoffs and more with Aaron Rodgers on the team.
25) Arthur Smith – Atlanta Falcons
While the Falcons had one of the top rushing attacks in the NFL last season thanks to Smith, the head coach has gone 7-10 both years in Atlanta. The team was active this offseason, making multiple splashy additions to the roster. If Smith doesn’t have a winning record in 2023, he likely won’t return next season.
26) Matt Eberflus – Chicago Bears
Yes, Eberflus had a 3-14 record last year. However, the Bears were in the first year of their rebuilding project. While fans should temper their expectations for the 2023 season, Eberflus should be higher on this list a year from now.
27) DeMeco Ryans – Houston Texans
After having an excellent playing career, Ryans joined the San Francisco 49ers’ coaching staff in 2017. He became the defensive coordinator in 2021 after Robert Saleh joined the New York Jets. Ryans had an elite defense the past two years in San Francisco. Many believe he is the guy Houston needs to turn the franchise around.
28) Shane Steichen – Indianapolis Colts
Steichen spent the past two years as the Philadelphia Eagles offensive coordinator. After turning Jalen Hurts into a superstar, the rookie head coach could become a superhero in Indianapolis if Anthony Richardson becomes an elite quarterback.
29) Dennis Allen – New Orleans Saints
New Orleans promoted Allen last year after Sean Payton retired. However, he only had a 7-10 record in his first year with the Saints. After going 8-28 in the 2.5 years with the Oakland Raiders from 2012-2014, the head coach could be without a job next season if the Saints struggle this year.
30) Todd Bowles – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Many had high hopes for Bowles after he went 10-6 in 2015 with the New York Jets, his first year as a full-time head coach. Unfortunately, the veteran head coach has never had another winning season, ending his four years in New York with a 24-40 record.
31) Jonathan Gannon – Arizona Cardinals
While Gannon is heading into his first season as an NFL head coach, the Cardinals’ situation is far from ideal. The team is entering a long and frustrating rebuilding process. Hopefully, things work out for him in Arizona. However, I’m betting against Gannon.
32) Josh McDaniels – Las Vegas Raiders
We’ve finally reached the last guy on the list. Frankly, I wouldn’t trust McDaniels to be the head coach of my imaginary friends’ football team. He had a 17-28 record during his time with the Denver Broncos. More importantly, McDaniels had a 6-11 record last season. If he still has a job this time next year, Raider fans should demand that Mark Davis sell the team.
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