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NFL Head Coach Power Rankings (1 Viewer)

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Faust

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NFL Head Coach Power Rankings

By Gregg Rosenthal

Around The League editor

After our old fashioned, tiered-style team power rankings to start training camp, we've rolled out offensive and defensive power rankings.

With special teams rankings out of our wheel house, what artificial topic can we choose before meaningful games actually start? The coaches, of course.

These rankings aren't all about what coach has the longest resume. It's who we'd want leading our team and building a staff right now if we owned a team.

Top shelf: Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin and Jim Harbaugh

It was tempting to put Belichick alone because he's arguably in the upper echelon of the power rankings of all-time coaches. No one self-scouts and adjusts better than Belichick.

Tomlin understands the big picture. He motivates his players and staff and he manages. Harbaugh enjoyed as jaw-dropping a first season as head coach as we can remember. He creatively finds ways to beat teams and connects with his players. This trio coaches the whole team, not just one side of the ball.

Next level: Mike McCarthy, Sean Payton, Andy Reid and Tom Coughlin

McCarthy is consistent and wildly underrated as one of the game's best offensive minds. Payton is a brilliant tactician, but doesn't excel at managing the whole organization quite as well as our top-shelf picks. Andy Reid's consistency speaks for itself in a topsy-turvy league. The same is true for Coughlin, who hasn't had a sub-.500 season with the New York Giants. Then again, he's only had two seasons out of eight where the Giants won a playoff game. He made those years count.

Knocking on the door: Rex Ryan, Jim Schwartz and Dennis Allen

We look for coaches that definitively bring something to the table. Ryan brings a highly successful defense that is difficult to prepare for, although he doesn't seem to have a great feel for personnel or offense. Jim Schwartz's turnaround job with the Detroit Lions has been remarkable. Ranking Allen this high may look ridiculous, but we are going with our gut feeling that he's going to be the league's next great young coach.

As an owner, we'd rather have a young rising coach than a "proven" average leader toward the end of his career. This group is hungry.

Middle of the pack: John Harbaugh, Mike Smith, Jeff Fisher, Gary Kubiak, Lovie Smith, Marvin Lewis, Pete Carroll and Ken Whisenhunt

Harbaugh is an effective coach that inherited a great situation. He fits the Baltimore Ravens well. Smith has done a great job with the Atlanta Falcons, but is he a difference maker? Kubiak is like the bizarro Rex Ryan. He doesn't make waves, but he definitely brings a strong offensive attack to the mix. Lovie Smith's defenses are proven, but his game management could use work. Fisher is a good coach that gets knocked largely because we would rather have hired him 10 years ago.

Carroll is 47-49 in the NFL over six seasons and three jobs, although we do believe he's better now than ever. Lewis has effectively managed a coach-killing job with the Cincinnati Bengals. We'd like to see what he could do elsewhere. Whisenhunt, like a lot of competent coaches, is as good as his starting quarterback.

Prove me wrong: Mike Shanahan and John Fox

Two big names we don't quite trust. Shanahan exercises too much personnel power and he's 35-45 over his last five seasons. Fox is solid, but can become too conservative.

Need more information: Joe Philbin, Chuck Pagano, Mike Munchak, Greg Schiano, Leslie Frazier and Ron Rivera

Coaching in the NFL can often be overrated. A handful of coaches consistently make a difference good or bad, but the vast majority of them are competent. They rise and fall if they have the right players. We don't have a strong feeling about these coaches because most of them are too new to the party.

The rest: Chan Gailey, Jason Garrett, Norv Turner, Romeo Crennel, Mike Mularkey and Pat Shurmur

Gailey is the perfect coach for the Buffalo Bills. He's a master at doing a lot offensively with a little, but we can't just ignore his long losing streaks and changing his plan on defense every season. Mularkey drove us a little crazy as an offensive coordinator, and his first gig as a head coach in Buffalo seemed to drive him crazy.

Turner is a great offensive/quarterbacks coach that seems to be missing some intangible that great coaches need. Garrett underachieved in his only full season. Shurmur is a newbie in a tough situation, but he seemed overwhelmed during games and doesn't seem to bring much else to the table.
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I dont know if fisher is rated properly, but the analysis is off. Fisher is awful on Personel and seems incapable of tailoring his system to the guys he has. That said, I don't recall ever seeing the titans lose a game because of coaching. Often they didn't have the best team on the field, but his game plan and adjustments always looked right in step with winning the game at hand.

 
'Banemorth said:
Coughlin should be in the top tier.
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Seriously. Two SB champs from teams people gave no chance at relevance during various points of their respective seasons? If there's a clearer mark of a really, really, really, REALLY great coach than taking teams like that and turning them into world champions on multiple occasions...man, I'd like to know what it is.
 
I've still never seen a coaching list that wasn't terrible. Basically you either need a great QB or an incredibly small sample size to be considered really good.

 
Tom Coughlin is a better HC than Andy Reid. Andy Reid's consistency speaks for itself?? What has he done since '04? I think John Fox has more post-season wins than AR since the Eagles lost the SB.

Reid belongs a tier below McCarthy, Payton & Coughlin imo. What has Reid done that's so much better than Lovie Smith?

 
I'm a Steeler fan and Tomlin is ranked too high. He is a good motivator and a players coach, but man does he suck at in game adjustments and game plans in general. I'm sure a lot of you disagree and think he's the greatest coach ever but he is just very well spoken and has rode a good team to success. I'm not saying he has no part in all of it. I just think people give him a little too much credit. Also I think Rex should be in the lower half after watching hard knocks him and his entire staff came across as a bunch of teenage fans of the game with no knowledge on how to run a franchise. Maybe I'm wrong though the Jets have had a good record under him.

 
Horrible list.

Coughlin has two SB wins and is in a lower tier than Harbough and his one great season?

Dennis Allen has yet to coach a game and is that high already?

Peter Carroll higher than Shanahan and Fox? :lmao:

 
Id put McCarthy higher.

And I was going to say the same about Coughlin...but the ranking lists a criteria of "These rankings aren't all about what coach has the longest resume. It's who we'd want leading our team and building a staff right now if we owned a team."

With Coughlin's age, it makes sense to say that other guys might be who you would look for if you were starting a team right now.

Do you take a 65 year old...or one of these others?

 
I'm an Eagles fan and Andy Reid apologist, but to put him with guys who have won multiple super bowls is kind of crazy. He's proven that he's a downright bad in-game coach and can't adjust in pressure situations ; these things seem critical in playoff games. Coughlin is old, but how can you rank a guy who beat what was arguably one of the best teams ever assemble in a super bowl and wins another super bowl against a very good team in anything but the highest tier? Also, Payton is young, has demonstrated himself to be an excellent coach and should be in the highest tier. He's Harbaugh's age but has accomplished so much more. Tomlin should not be in the top bracket, he inherited a great team and won a super bowl with it. Payton built the team and won a super bowl.

There are some other very good coaches who could be on this list that aren't in the NFL right now, but could be in the future, like Bill Cower.

 
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'moleculo said:
'Donnybrook said:
'Rick James said:
what the hell is a "Dennis Allen"?
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I am glad I am not the only one who doesn't know this guy.
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he led the Broncos to the 24th ranked defense. Can you not see the greatness?
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I'm on your side, but the Broncos D was better than their 20 ranking (20th in yards allowed, 24th in points allowed), just like the Giants were better than their 27 ranking. Inconsistency was their problem; they were great in games against SD, Chicago, etc., but really bad in games against NE, Minnesota, Buffalo, etc. However, the Broncos D was bad at creating turnovers, but I think some of that had to do with other teams being careful with the ball and trying to eke out wins since they didn't think Tebow could beat them without getting good field position thanks to an INT. Hopefully, the turnovers will go up this with Peyton and the O putting more pressure on the other team.
 
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'Ghost Rider said:
'moleculo said:
'Donnybrook said:
'Rick James said:
what the hell is a "Dennis Allen"?
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I am glad I am not the only one who doesn't know this guy.
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he led the Broncos to the 24th ranked defense. Can you not see the greatness?
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I'm on your side, but the Broncos D was better than their 20 ranking (20th in yards allowed, 24th in points allowed), just like the Giants were better than their 27 ranking. Inconsistency was their problem; they were great in games against SD, Chicago, etc., but really bad in games against NE, Minnesota, Buffalo, etc. However, the Broncos D was bad at creating turnovers, but I think some of that had to do with other teams being careful with the ball and trying to eke out wins since they didn't think Tebow could beat them without getting good field position thanks to an INT. Hopefully, the turnovers will go up this with Peyton and the O putting more pressure on the other team.
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clearly, my post above is full of hyperbole; I always like poking sticks at divisional rivals. That being said, DA had one ok year as a defensive coordinator. The Broncos D improved during his tenure, but by no means were they world beaters. DA was on a steep trajectory to being one of the better DC's in the league IMO, but he wasn't there yet. One single year as a coordinator, and all of a sudden he's head coach material? Much less, a coordinator for a team that finished in the bottom third, defensively? That's the part I don't see. I would have liked to see what he could have done with some continuity and maybe some sanity on the other side of the ball.now, I do think that Del Rio will end up showing himself as a better coordinator. His defenses in Jacksonville were usually pretty damn good, despite not having brand-name playmakers. He's experienced, he's seen pretty much everything, and he's been a successful head coach. I only hope he will stick around in Denver before he gets a head coaching call next year after Denver finishes in the top 10.
 
'moleculo said:
'Ghost Rider said:
'moleculo said:
'Donnybrook said:
'Rick James said:
what the hell is a "Dennis Allen"?
Click to expand...
I am glad I am not the only one who doesn't know this guy.
Click to expand...
he led the Broncos to the 24th ranked defense. Can you not see the greatness?
Click to expand...
I'm on your side, but the Broncos D was better than their 20 ranking (20th in yards allowed, 24th in points allowed), just like the Giants were better than their 27 ranking. Inconsistency was their problem; they were great in games against SD, Chicago, etc., but really bad in games against NE, Minnesota, Buffalo, etc. However, the Broncos D was bad at creating turnovers, but I think some of that had to do with other teams being careful with the ball and trying to eke out wins since they didn't think Tebow could beat them without getting good field position thanks to an INT. Hopefully, the turnovers will go up this with Peyton and the O putting more pressure on the other team.
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clearly, my post above is full of hyperbole; I always like poking sticks at divisional rivals. That being said, DA had one ok year as a defensive coordinator. The Broncos D improved during his tenure, but by no means were they world beaters. DA was on a steep trajectory to being one of the better DC's in the league IMO, but he wasn't there yet. One single year as a coordinator, and all of a sudden he's head coach material? Much less, a coordinator for a team that finished in the bottom third, defensively? That's the part I don't see. I would have liked to see what he could have done with some continuity and maybe some sanity on the other side of the ball.now, I do think that Del Rio will end up showing himself as a better coordinator. His defenses in Jacksonville were usually pretty damn good, despite not having brand-name playmakers. He's experienced, he's seen pretty much everything, and he's been a successful head coach. I only hope he will stick around in Denver before he gets a head coaching call next year after Denver finishes in the top 10.
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Oh, I know, but I was taking the serious approach with my reply. ;) :lol:I can't wait to see what Del Rio does with the defense. The schedule is a #####, so he has his work cut out for him.
 
'Ryan99 said:
I'm an Eagles fan and Andy Reid apologist, but to put him with guys who have won multiple super bowls is kind of crazy. He's proven that he's a downright bad in-game coach and can't adjust in pressure situations ; these things seem critical in playoff games. Coughlin is old, but how can you rank a guy who beat what was arguably one of the best teams ever assemble in a super bowl and wins another super bowl against a very good team in anything but the highest tier? Also, Payton is young, has demonstrated himself to be an excellent coach and should be in the highest tier. He's Harbaugh's age but has accomplished so much more. Tomlin should not be in the top bracket, he inherited a great team and won a super bowl with it. Payton built the team and won a super bowl.

There are some other very good coaches who could be on this list that aren't in the NFL right now, but could be in the future, like Bill Cower.
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If that makes you an Andy Reid apologist, I fear what his haters would say. I agree that Tomlin should be down a tier, McCarthy and possibly Couglin up one. (agree about the age think possibly setting Coughlin back a tier though.)

 
I'm biased, but I think Gailey is getting a bum rap. Does anyone think BB, Tomlin, Reid or whoever would have done a whole lot more with the guys Buffalo had last year? Has Gailey ever had a lot of talent to coach? The Cowboys finished first in the East his first year and 2nd his second year. His second year was also Aikman's second to last year and some of the star players were starting to break down in Dallas. They made the playoffs both years he was in Dallas and Dave Campo went 5-11 witg them the next year.

I don't know, he seems to get more with less. Give him Andrew Luck and we'd see what he's really got.

 
I wonder if Andy Reid is still in the same tier as McCarthy, Payton & Coughlin. If you needed a coach to rebuild your team right now, how high on the list is Reid? SD, KC, Jax, Car...you guys want Reid as your HC next year?

 
'Amused to Death said:
I wonder if Andy Reid is still in the same tier as McCarthy, Payton & Coughlin. If you needed a coach to rebuild your team right now, how high on the list is Reid? SD, KC, Jax, Car...you guys want Reid as your HC next year?
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Good question. It is also funny to see how highly regarded they had Raiders coach Dennis Allen.
 
If I were KC, Jax, or Carolina I would definitely be happy about getting Reid as my HC. That being said, this list is terrible

 
Reid too high. People still hanging on his first half of his career when he had a great defense giving to him & a great defensive coach. Last half of his career has been going downhill pretty bad.

 
Belichick & Coughlin (IMO Coughlin is either in the top tier or no tier)

Big drop off to the Harbaugh brothers, Tomlin, McCarthy, Payton

Big drop to Kubiak, Lovie, and new guy Pagano

 
'pizzatyme said:
'Raider Nation said:
'pizzatyme said:
Belichick & Coughlin (IMO Coughlin is either in the top tier or no tier)

Big drop off to the Harbaugh brothers, Tomlin, McCarthy, Payton

Big drop to Kubiak, Lovie, and new guy Pagano
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lol
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What's so funny? His team is 7-4 using his concepts DURING HIS ABSENCE with a rookie QB, RB, and TE. Yeah, I'm perfectly fine having him coach my new team from scratch.
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When I saw you were the last one to reply previously, I *KNEW* you'd mention Pagano.If you wanted to make an unabashed homer pick, you would have had more ammunition by nominating Arians.

Giving a guy credit for being ABSENT is ABSURD.

 
INDIANAPOLIS -- Chuck Pagano and Andrew Luck are getting all the national attention.Talk to anyone in the Colts locker room, and they'll tell you interim coach Bruce Arians is a major part in Indianapolis' stunning turnaround, too. Maybe the biggest contributor of all."I call him the MVP of our team because he came in and kept things churning along," outside linebacker Robert Mathis said Monday. "He's making sure we take care of Chuck's legacy."Arians is doing things the way he always has -- with a passionate, down-to-earth, fun-loving personality and a relentless desire to get things right.So while the rest of the football world looks at Luck's progression and Pagano's personal battle, Arians has been doing the dirty work to keep this rebuilding project on task.Nobody can quibble with the results.In the six weeks since replacing his close friend, who was diagnosed with a form of leukemia Sept. 26, Arians has led the Colts to a 6-3 record and surprisingly into the playoff hunt. He's managed to keep the lines of communication open with Luck, found the right balance between being the head coach and offensive coordinator and even shocked the defensive players by cheering at practice when they come up with turnovers.He talks and texts regularly with his close friend, serving as both a messenger between the ailing coach and his players and a confidant to Pagano about what is coming next on and off the field."The chemo is hitting him pretty good right now, it's been pretty rough," said Arians, a 60-year-old prostate cancer survivor. "He's experiencing that downhill slide now, but he's tough, he'll get through it."Few have seen what Arians has done behind the walls, though.He's been working overtime to meet with Luck. He's carved out extra time to deal with the media requirements. He's worked hard to keep Pagano and his battle front and center, attending three fundraisers in the past six weeks and urging others to make time as well. On Friday, Arians, Luck and Reggie Wayne will host another fundraiser at a sold-out restaurant in downtown Indy.And yet, he never lost sight of his job.Arians has helped the Colts make a seamless transition from Peyton Manning to Luck, the new face of this franchise, and one of the league's youngest offenses is now ranked fifth overall and eighth in yards passing."He's done a good job keeping us focused on what our mission is, what our objective is," outside linebacker Dwight Freeney said. "He doesn't stray far from what Chuck wants. It's kind of a two-sided monster -- it's Chuck being there and him (Arians) keeping that ship well-oiled and maintained."The success shouldn't come as a surprise, given Arians' resume.He spent 20 years as an NFL assistant, mentoring two of the league's best quarterbacks -- Manning and Ben Roethlisberger -- and seems to have Luck following the same script. Arians also won two Super Bowl rings in Pittsburgh and coached with Paul "Bear" Bryant during his final season at Alabama before taking the only head coaching job he ever had, at Temple from 1983-88.But he never got a chance to coach his own NFL team, and it sure didn't seem like it would happen when he was forced out as Pittsburgh's offensive coordinator after last season.That's when Pagano brought him to Indy, and now as the fill-in for Pagano, Arians is doing things nobody thought possible.In the midst of a monumental rebuilding season, Arians has gone 5-1 with a rookie quarterback, the ninth-youngest team in the league and has helped the Colts surge, not sink, after losing their head coach less than a month into the season. He's even set a franchise record for wins by an interim coach.How good has he been?Only eight coaches in league history have won more games after a midseason change than Arians (five).If the Colts win four of their last seven games, Arians would tie the league record with Hamp Pool, who won nine games with the Los Angeles Rams in 1952, and Wally Lemm, who won nine with the Houston Oilers in 1961.The only other coach to win more than seven was San Diego's Don Coryell, who won eight in 1978.It might even be good enough to put Arians in the conversation for NFL coach of the year."I think that will be determined by how you finish, not how you started," Freeney said. "It's really too early, but I think you could mention him in that conversation right now because he's had a team that's undergone major change and been part of the advancement of that."Even if Arians doesn't have time to ponder that possibility now."It's really gotten easier and easier each week for me, balancing the TV and radio and press conferences," he said. "You take an hour or two and early in the week and try to find a message you want to deliver each week. The rest of the time, I try to be the offensive coordinator."
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So, your point is Pagano has had no part in the success? It's not his OC and DC running his schemes? He doesn't communicate with Arians?

Give me a break with the homer crap. I call it like I see it.

But, have your fun.

 
I'm not picking on you specifically. It was also ridiculous to have Allen ranked that high before he ever coached a game. Pagano may turn out to be Bill Parcells, but only proven coaches have a right to be high on this list. Let them show us something first.

 
'ThePittbully said:
If I were KC, Jax, or Carolina I would definitely be happy about getting Reid as my HC. That being said, this list is terrible
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Even if all of the other guys on this list were available, or only because he's one of the top guys that should be an actual option?
 
The Saints have gone from one of the best offenses of all time, to a run of the mill, pass happy offense. I have trouble with there being a tier above Sean Payton.

 
'Zigg said:
The Saints have gone from one of the best offenses of all time, to a run of the mill, pass happy offense. I have trouble with there being a tier above Sean Payton.
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What about Pagano? Did you realize that Arians is using all of Chuck's vast offensive concepts?
 
So Raider, is it your life's mission to be the consummate dbag? I don't see your list. Maybe I missed it.

Why don't you shower us with your genius. Or have you already attempted to do that and failed miserably?

:popcorn:

 
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