NFL players on the field throw balls, make miraculous catches, and face the world’s fastest speed demons. But even if the players take action, the masterminds behind it are the coaches on the sidelines. NFL head coaches are tasked with utilizing a large roster of players with a variety of skills.
Motivating and managing egos is difficult enough, but drawing plays to win games may be even more important. These guys did all of the above and more to lead their teams to Super Bowls, playoff wins, and long-term success. These are the 22 greatest NFL coaches of all time!
1. Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick had Tom Brady on his side (always a good thing), but the New England Patriots coach has dedicated his career to defending championships. Without Belichick’s game-changing preparation and ferocious intensity, the Pats would never have won a Super Bowl. Belichick’s return to the postseason was even more impressive than one could have imagined, given the upheaval of Massachusetts’ roster since Brady left. Belichick’s background and skills make him the greatest coach of all time.
2. Vince Lombardi
Vince Lombardi is not only the namesake of the Super Bowl trophy, but he also brings pedigree and respect to the NFL coaching profession and the Green Bay Packers organization. His five championships are impressive, but his life lessons are matched only by UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. “Success comes before work only in the dictionary.” This is a quote to hang on your wall.
3. Don Shula
Don Shula has more big items in his portfolio than most coaches in NFL history. A perfect season, a winning regular season record and 25 consecutive seasons with one franchise all serve as indelible marks on his career. The Dolphins coach epitomized consistency from the 1970s through his 1980s.
4. Paul Brown
Paul Brown remains the most important coach in NFL history. Cleveland’s Browns icon was innovative and creative, something we still appreciate today. Without Brown, the modern preparation techniques that coaches now use on a daily basis would not exist. He also won three NFL titles before the Super Bowl era and earned Cleveland’s respect long before he became a basement dweller.
5.Bill Walsh
Bill Walsh’s brief stint running the San Francisco 49ers’ offense led to three Super Bowl championships and a revolutionary way of transforming offensive play. Walsh’s emphasis on passing the ball maximized the abilities of Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, creating one of the most dynamic one-two punches in NFL legend.
6. George Halas
George Halas won eight championships with the Chicago Bears franchise and is a man who has influenced the cultural landscape of Illinois sports more than perhaps anyone other than Michael Jordan. Halas often had complete control over the Bears, from the front office and ownership position to on-field coaching, setting the tone for future do-it-all executives and coaches.
7. Chuck Noll
The Pittsburgh Steelers won four Super Bowls in the 1970s with a steel curtain defense and a non-superstar quarterback (Terry Bradshaw). The main reason for this dominance was Chuck Noll. As Noll established the Steelers as the toughest team in the league, the entire franchise lived up to that reputation long after his retirement, and it carried over into today’s iteration of the team.
8. Andy Reid
Andy Reid was originally known as an underachiever in the playoffs, but today he is finally gaining respect as a great coach. Patrick Mahomes and Reid are the biggest, worst coach-quarterback combination in the world. Reid keeps the Chiefs a step ahead of the AFC year after year by aggressively calling plays that no one else would think of.
9. Joe Gibbs
Quarterback stability is an NFL coach’s best friend. Joe Gibbs could be considered a loner in this regard. He won three Super Bowls with three different Washington Redskins quarterbacks, building strong lines in the trenches and permanently exhausting opponents. Gibbs is one of the most underrated coaches in the history of the game, and is rarely mentioned as the greatest coach of all time.
10. Tom Landry
Tom Landry made the Dallas Cowboys America’s Team, plain and simple. Landry’s game plan gave Dallas an advantage every Sunday, even if he wasn’t interested in the glitz and glamor that came with such emotions. His leadership allowed the Cowboys to win their 20th straight season. This is a far cry from the mediocre teams that today’s teams often represent.
11. John Madden
There’s a reason John Madden, the namesake of the most popular sports video game series of all time, became a pixelated soccer star. His unique eloquence behind the microphone as an announcer revealed a deep understanding of the game he was passionate about. Madden’s Oakland Raiders always made the playoffs and even won the Super Bowl.
12. Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells has been fully involved in football for almost 40 years. However, his role in the success of the New York Giants made him a name for himself with multiple Super Bowl wins and several more playoff appearances. Parcells coached Bill Belichick when he was the Giants’ defensive coordinator during the championship era.
13. Curly Rambeau
Yes, Curly Lambeau’s name is above the Green Bay Packers stadium. Like George Halas, Lambeau held just about every imaginable position with the Packers, even serving as the team’s founder a century ago. His countless successes and pioneering acts have cemented the coach in his NFL record books.
14. Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy was calm in the face of pressure, which allowed many teams to have success in both Indianapolis and Tampa Bay. Years of working on the NBC set further increased his public recognition, but all you need to know to appreciate his value is Peyton Manning’s story about how important Dungy was to the Colts’ Super Bowl appearance. All you have to do is listen.
15. Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher had the difficult task of tracking Chuck Noll’s time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he passed the test with flying colors. Cowher led the Steelers to the playoffs nearly every season, and the 2005 Super Bowl victory over the Seahawks helped forever unify his legacy in Pittsburgh.
16. Tom Coughlin
Tom Coughlin received little respect when he was fired by the New York Giants in 2015, despite multiple Super Bowl wins against Tom Brady’s New England Patriots. . Coughlin’s underdog personality worked to his advantage as he consistently forced the Giants into the conversation at the end of the season after a mediocre regular season.
17. Bud Grant
Bud Grant is the first on the list to never win an NFL championship, as he deserves praise for his consistent greatness with the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings were a powerhouse in the NFC throughout the 1970s under Grant, appearing in the Super Bowl four times during his tenure. Grant was also a basketball player for the Minneapolis Lakers in the 1950s, winning an NBA title with George Mikan. It’s not really important in the mechanics of soccer, but it’s a fun fact, right?
18. Richard Vermeil
Richard Vermeil was a champion who ended multiple playoff and championship droughts with the Chiefs, Rams, and Eagles. Vermeil teamed with Kurt Warner and sparked a magical offense in St. Louis in the late 1990s. This team is considered by many to be the pioneers of the modern offense.
19. Hank Stram
Hank Stram had the most success in Kansas City until Andy Reid took over in the 2010s. Stram won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs, and he did it in unconventional fashion. With no other coaches on his staff, Stram was a dominant force on the sidelines.
20. Pete Carroll
Pete Carroll instills confidence and dignity in his players, motivating and coaching them in football with a youthful vigor. Carroll’s style has led his Seattle Seahawks to numerous successes, including two Super Bowl appearances, one Super Bowl championship, and his NFL defensive team that was the best of the 2010s. His college football career at USC completes an already impressive portfolio.
21. Marv Levy
Marv Levy never won a Super Bowl outright, but he played in four big games in the 1990s and put the Buffalo Bills in the public eye. Most teams would falter after repeated failures, but Levy never allowed the Bills to wallow in disappointment.
22. Sean Payton
Sean Payton’s reputation as a winning offensive coach is justified, but he currently faces a difficult task with the Denver Broncos. Payton’s years with the New Orleans Saints were mostly positive, including teaming with Drew Brees to win a Super Bowl. Although he will be removed from the Pro Football Hall of Fame because of his suspension for his involvement in placing bounties on players, he is still a great coach.
