By Brian Thomas 
From fresh-faced newbies to grizzled veterans, the NFL is home to some of the most strategic minds in sports. In this article, we’ve meticulously dissected the resumes and results of all 32 head coaches in the NFL, and ranked them from worst to best ahead of the 2025-26 season.
32) Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars)
We kick off this ranking with the five first-year head coaches. We start with Coen, a quirky yet energetic individual tasked with getting Trevor Lawrence straightened out. It’s the most pressing storyline for the Jags heading into this year (aside from how the team plans on using Travis Hunter). Coen is an offensive-minded coach with a strong pedigree, and those facts alone should give those in Duval County some optimism that he can get something out of Lawrence (who’s been relatively disappointing up to this point).
31) Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas Cowboys)
With respect to Schottenheimer, this seems like a very vanilla, uninspiring hire on the surface. He’s the son of longtime NFL head coach Marty Schottenheimer — thus clearly knows the game since he’s been around it for practically his entire life. At the same time given his pedigree and background, it’s somewhat curious that he’s never been a head coach given the fact he turns 52 in October. One would’ve assumed he would have gotten a chance by now to lead an NFL franchise. Either way, the longtime assistant should benefit from the continuity he experienced with the team as its offensive coordinator the past two years.
30) Kellen Moore (New Orleans Saints)
The Saints took a big gamble with Moore. The former gutsy left-handed signal-caller at Boise State has steadily moved up the coaching ranks — initially the QBs coach with Dallas before functioning as the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys, Los Angeles Chargers, and most recently the Philadelphia Eagles. Nabbing a 36-year-old coach coming off a Super Bowl win is something the fan base should be excited about. There could be some growing pains given that Derek Carr announced his retirement this past week. Rookie Tyler Shough looks like the odds-on favorite to start in The Big Easy.
29) Aaron Glenn (New York Jets)
This is an interesting hire. Glenn has roots to the Jets having played for them once upon a time. He came over from Detroit after doing a fantastic job running the Lions’ defense en route to being one of the best teams in the NFC. Glenn might be able to figure it out, but there are some undeniable and even eerie parallels to when Robert Saleh got hired. Both elite defensive coordinators coming from NFC powers coming to a team with quarterback questions. Justin Fields didn’t work in Chicago or Pittsburgh. There’s no guarantee he’ll work in the Big Apple, either.
28) Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears)
Johnson is the darling coordinator of the offseason. After pushing away advances from other franchises last year, he finally took the plunge and decided to take the Chicago Bears head coaching gig. Most view him as one of the brightest offensive minds in the sport. He’ll have plenty to work with in Chicago from a skill-position standpoint. Seeing what he did in Detroit should give the Bears’ fan base real hope that he can replicate that for a franchise that hasn’t been relevant in years.
27) Brian Callahan (Tennessee Titans)
Callahan went 3-14 last year with a general lack of talent across the board. Getting Cam Ward to be the team’s signal-caller should result in a more positive outlook. With that said, the roster still needs a ton of work in order to be a viable playoff contender. The hope is that Callahan can mold Ward into the quarterback he wants with an eye towards building a rock-solid team culture that can thrive in future years with a deeper pool of talent to utilize. In other words, it’s a bit too early to judge Callahan in any real way.
26) Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons)
The Falcons should be better given the talent on the roster. Much of their success will hinge on the growth Michael Penix Jr. experiences in Year 2. Even then, there’s no reason this team can’t win the NFC South in 2025. Morris has a career 29-47 record as a head coach (12-16 with Atlanta). If he doesn’t get it done in a weak division this year, he could be relieved of his duties thus opening up a very attractive job for prospective head coaching candidates.
25) Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers)
To be fair to Canales, he inherited a very tough situation. Carolina’s roster was relatively barren without much in the way of playmakers nor depth. However, the Panthers punched up above their weight pretty impressively all things considered. Carolina went 5-12 after most thought they’d be the worst team in football heading into last year. Bryce Young took some strides in his game and actually looks like he could pan out as a decent signal-caller. We’re looking forward to seeing what Year 2 of the Canales project looks like.
24) Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals)
The 42-year-old coach deserves some flowers. He went from a 4-12 record as a first-year coach to 8-9 this past year. Arizona saw some real growth with its player development, and there’s no reason to think the team can’t compete for a playoff spot this year. The team improved in all areas this past season. It would be nice to see Marvin Harrison Jr. take the next step in providing Kyler Murray with an elite WR1 option. Gannon is another coach that could see a nice climb up this last a year from now.
23) Brian Daboll (New York Giants)
Daboll is in a coaching-for-my-job situation. Abdul Carter should enhance an already potent pass rush. Jaxson Dart was taken in the latter half of the first-round as the quarterback of the future, and Russell Wilson was brought in to stabilize things at least for one year. Daboll’s 18-32-1 record leaves much to be desired. There’s been some really underwhelming football played at the Meadowlands over the last 18 months. If the Giants don’t show some real improvement this year, he’ll likely lose his job.
22) Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts)
The Colts have had some real inconsistency with Anthony Richardson at quarterback. So much, in fact, that Daniel Jones was signed to compete with him for the starting spot. Steichen has gone 17-17 in two seasons with the Colts. This year’s iteration on paper figures to be the best team he’s had — though it won’t matter much if the quarterback spot isn’t figured out to some extent.
21) Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns)
Stefanski has been dealt a tough hand. The Deshaun Watson situation has immensely hindered the ceiling of this team. Stefanski by all accounts is very well-respected in coaching circles. Even he can’t necessarily make miracles out of what the QB position has devolved to be in Cleveland. With Joe Flacco — yes, 40-year-old Joe Flacco — functioning assumingely as the team’s starting quarterback this year, it’s anyone’s guess as to how the Browns will fare.
20) Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins)
The luster has worn off a bit in regards to Kyle Shanahan’s offensively-inclined protege. McDaniel did lead the team to consecutive playoff appearances (no wins) in his first two years. Last year, the Dolphins underachieved with an 8-9 record. The inability to protect Tua Tagovailoa coupled with a leaky defense has led many to believe this could be a make-or-break season for the prodigious offensive mind. Those in Miami are hoping McDaniel can turn the tide and become a more well-rounded coach rather than a flash-in-the-pan offensive coordinator masquerading in a position he can’t handle.
19) Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks)
Macdonald doesn’t have much of a track record as a head coach. Having said that, all of the ingredients are there for him to become a good coach for a long time. The 38-year-old learned from within the Baltimore Ravens umbrella under the tutelage of John Harbaugh. He event spent at year at Michigan with brother Jim as the Wolverines’ defensive coordinator. A smart and innovative mind, he led the Seahawks to a 10-7 record. The team figures to improve even more with Sam Darnold at quarterback, a strong running game, and a beefed-up offensive line. He’s one that could end up a top-10 coach sooner than later.
18) DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans)
Ryans has the look of a guy who will shoot up the list in future seasons. Regarded as a strong leader commanding tons of respect, he has led the Texans to back-to-back 10-win seasons. He’s also won playoff games in both years for good measure. Having CJ Stroud commanding the team’s offense is key to the longevity Ryans may experience in Houston. The defense figures to be great under him. Helping to further boost the offense’s potency is the next step in becoming an even better head coach.
17) Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals)
Taylor has a 46-52-1 record in six seasons with the Bengals. The numbers are skewed somewhat given his first two years resulted in a combined record of 6-25-1. With four-straight winning seasons under his belt despite having limited resources available to him relative to other franchises, Taylor has done a good job. He does also have a 5-2 record in the playoffs to point to. At the same time, the Bengals have missed the postseason in consecutive years. Given Joe Burrow’s injury issues and the presence of two elite receivers in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Taylor will only get so many more bites at the proverbial cherry before the ownership group moves on to another coach.
16) Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Bowles isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Somewhat of an outwardly stoic personality, he’s had middling success throughout his head coaching career. His tenure with the Jets did not go overly well. However with the Bucs, he’s engineered three seasons with roughly .500 football. In some circles, this could result in a firing. However, Tampa Bay plays in the woeful NFC South, and the Bucs have to Bowles credit been to the playoffs three-straight years. He’s still one of the brighter defensive minds in the sport.
15) Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders)
At first you don’t succeed…try, try again. This mantra has worked well for Quinn in his second stop as a head coach. After leading the Falcons to two winning seasons in six years, he was jettisoned. Most thought he’d revert back to being a career-lifer as an elite defensive coordinator. Washington surprisingly came calling this past year, and the results were fantastic. Pairing with rookie QB Jayden Daniels, Quinn led the Commanders to a 12-5 record — the best single-season mark of his head coaching career. The roster has been build up exceptionally well, and Quinn’s hard-nosed persona has rubbed off on his team in a very positive way.
14) Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings)
O’Connell can coach the offensive side of the ball practically as well as anyone not named Andy Reid or Sean McVay. His work with the perpetually-discarded Sam Darnold this past year was elite. Now, he’ll get a chance to mold last year’s first-round pick J.J. McCarthy into an equally potent signal-caller. The 40-year-old has a .677 career win percentage and is unquestionably one of the best young head coaches in the NFL today. Minnesota’s ceiling might only be limited by playing in one of the better divisions in football.
13) Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers)
Green Bay has tailed off a bit in these latter stages of the LaFleur era. He led the team to 39 regular season wins in his first three seasons. Over the last three, the Packers have won 28 games. There’s no real cause for concern given that Green Bay has the look of a possible darkhorse Super Bowl contender in an absolutely loaded NFC. LaFleur’s faults have come versus better teams in the conference. Detroit, Philadelphia, and Minnesota have all had their way with the Packers in recent memory. Letting Jordan Love operate with a bit more freedom could result in a more dynamic offense, and by proxy a more unpredictable team to play against.
12) Pete Carroll (Las Vegas Raiders)
Carroll earns our respect given his Super Bowl pedigree. He will inject some much-needed energy and professionalism into the franchise. The defense will likely benefit the most from his arrival. At the same time, for as effervescent and outgoing as he is, Carroll is in his mid-70s with a relatively flawed roster. It remains to be seen as to what he and new owner Tom Brady can do with this bunch. At the bare minimum, the Raiders should be more competitive.
11) Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills)
The defensive-minded McDermott has been a stabilizing force for a franchise traditionally operating with some real volatility. The Bills have won 10+ games in six-straight season — a not-so inconsequential feat considering the ever-changing parity within the NFL. McDermott has a .656 win percentage as a head coach throughout eight years. The next step in his coaching progression in figuring out a way to beat the Kansas City Chiefs while simultaneously leading the franchise to a Super Bowl with franchise quarterback Josh Allen.
10) Sean Payton (Denver Broncos)
Payton landed in Denver with a mandate: fix the offensive mess he inherited. His track record speaks for itself — a Super Bowl ring and the capability to scheme points like nobody’s business. But the Broncos roster still has some lingering “projects,” and Payton’s famously demanding style will need to mesh with a team that’s been through the coaching wringer. The Russell Wilson experiment didn’t go very well at all, but Bo Nix has been molded into a functional NFL starter, leading the Broncos to a 10-7 record in 2024 — securing their first playoff berth in nearly a decade. That’s no small feat in a division with Mahomes and Herbert, and if he can keep Nix ascending and shore up a defense that’s solid (but not spectacular), the Broncos could crash the playoff party.
9) Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles)
Sirianni’s got the aura, and it’s working wonders in Philly. He’s turned the Eagles into NFC dominance — complete with two Super Bowl appearances in three seasons. Their offense is a multi-faceted beast, and their defense, when clicking, is downright terrifying. The knock on Sirianni might be his relative inexperience in the grand scheme of things, and the occasional head-scratching decisions. But, Jalen Hurts owes a lot to Sirianni’s ability to tailor an offense to his dual-threat skill set, and the Super Bowl win showed they’re here to stay. This guy can coach, and he’s got the Eagles poised for continued success.
8) Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)
The Lions are no longer a team opponents can pencil in as an easy win. Despite a Divisional Round loss last season (compounded by losing the DC and OC to head coaching roles), Campbell has built a respectable culture in Detroit that’s both tough and tight-knit — and the results speak for themselves. He’s taken the Lions from perennial also-rans into a legitmate force in the NFC, and his personality has permeated the entire organization and fanbase. The Lions play with a physicality and passion that’s rare in the NFL, and he has the aggressive play-calling to go along with it. It doesn’t always work, but it ignites the team.
7) Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers)
The standard is the standard. Tomlin’s mantra has been the bedrock of consistent success in Pittsburgh. He has never had a losing season as head coach, a remarkable feat on it’s own. But now, the next step is to record a win in January — which they have zero in five attempts since the 2017-18 season. Whether or not their next attempt includes Aaron Rodgers or not remains to be seen, but they will undoubtedly remain a tough out week in and week out.
6) Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots)
Mike Vrabel is back at Foxborough, and is taking the reins after the beginnings of the post-Belichick era didn’t get off to the best start with Jerod Mayo. But if anyone is equipped to handle the pressure, it’s this no-nonsense former linebacker. He played under Belichick for eight seasons, and is a players’ coach who demands accountability and toughness. Inherting a Patriots team in transition isn’t a small challenge, but there is a chance that Vrabel can build a legacy with Drake Maye and a solid defense already in place.
5) Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers)
Brock Purdy often gets labeled a system QB, but who wouldn’t want players that fit their system? Kyle Shanahan’s offensive schemes is the stuff of dreams. It seems the only thing keeping him and the 49ers from getting their hands on the coveted Lombardi trophy is simply staying healthy. In 2023, they were relatively injury-free and made the Super Bowl. In 2024, they were the most-injured team in the NFL and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Still, his teams often rank amongst the highest in average points per game, and he’s the guy you’d clone if you wanted to build a franchise from scratch.
4) Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers)
There is no debate that Jim Harbaugh has been a considerable upgrade on Brandon Staley. His career NFL record (55-25-1, .685) is absurd, and his nine years at the Michigan Wolverines was even better. His ability to maximize Justin Herbert’s arm while building a bully-ball identity is pure Harbaugh, and his teams are often physical and excel in the trenches. Last season they lost out to Houston in the Wild Card, and were exposed for a run game that was straight out of a 1980’s playbook. With the acquisitions of Najee Harris, Super Bowl winner Mekhi Becton, and tight end Tyler Conklin, plus with the Chiefs potentially fragile, they are poised to make a more substantial playoff run this season.
3) John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens)
The elder statesman of the Harbaugh coaching tree, John has been known to be the less animated brother — but a fantastic coach. He took over for a talented but underperforming Baltimore Ravens under Brian Billick in 2008, winning the Super Bowl in 2012 and finding a resurgence in 2018 — thanks to Lamar Jackson. Harbaugh now just needs another Super Bowl or two in these next few years to climb up this list. Even another appearance would help, as the Ravens haven’t been in it since their 2012 win.
2) Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams)
Having the knack to stay ahead of the coaching curve is one of the more impressive things you can do in an ever-evolving game. Winning the Super Bowl a few years ago was impressive, but it helps to have players like Aaron Donald in your ranks during your entire tenure. Following Donald’s retirement, it was clear that the team needed a rebuild, and they went out and acquired the likes of Jared Verse (2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year), Braden Fiske, and Kamren Kinchens — and it kept them in the thick of the playoff race. He has been one of the top head coaches since he took over for the Rams in 2017 at the ripe age of 31.
1) Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs)
Big Red. The walrus of wisdom who has a direct line to the football gods themselves. There’s nobody else who could realistically occupy this top spot. He has a career win percentage of .651 (273-146-1), a staggering three Super Bowls, and was one win away from the coveted three-peat in 2024. Plus, he proved he was a top coach before Patrick Mahomes was around. He’s consistently finding new ways to win and adapting his schemes and maximizing the talents at his disposal. As long as he (and especially Mahomes) are around, the Chiefs will remain the gold standard and the rest of the league is playing catch-up.
Angel Atienza-Romero