Rounding out my offseason rankings series, we have the head coaches. They’re usually the faces of their franchise alongside quarterbacks and other star players and are much more public-facing than general managers and owners. A good head coach can elevate a weak roster to unexpected heights, and a bad one can handicap a talented group of players quite effectively.

The criteria for these rankings is pretty simple. Longevity is appreciated, but coaching is a “what have you done for me lately” business. Consistency is important and winning seasons and Super Bowl titles are valued.

Just a quick note before we jump in: the first-year head coaches are ranked near the bottom, but that is not necessarily indicative of how I think they’ll perform. I merely want to see them do it before I rank them above proven coaches.

1: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

I don’t think many would argue with Reid’s placement at the top of this list. The former head coach of the Eagles from 1999-2012, Reid had a lot of success in Philly but could never close a season with a Super Bowl win. That changed in Kansas City, where he’s coached since 2013. Under Reid, the Chiefs have won nine straight AFC West titles, won three Super Bowls and played in two more. He’s one of the top offensive minds in the game today and will go down alongside QB Patrick Mahomes as one of the all-time greatest coach/quarterback pairings.

2: Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

Hired in 2017, McVay spent the bulk of his career as the youngest head coach in the league and has just recently been unseated. Formerly the offensive coordinator in Washington, the Rams have won three division titles, reached the playoffs six times and played in two Super Bowls, winning one in 2022. Perhaps because he won a title so early in his career, McVay has flirted with an early retirement for a studio analyst job in the past, but seems more committed than ever to Los Angeles right now. With one of the best young rosters in the NFL and a premier quarterback in Matthew Stafford, McVay is set up for another run at a title.

3: John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens

A surprise hire way back in 2007 after serving as the Eagles’ special teams coordinator, Harbaugh has been a model of consistency ever since. He won a Super Bowl with Joe Flacco in 2012, and since then, has cycled through several iterations of a contending roster. Currently, he has QB Lamar Jackson at the top of his game, and always fields a stingy defense. The Ravens are one of the top contenders in the AFC this year.

4: Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers

A longtime offensive coordinator at four stops — Houston, Washington, Cleveland and Atlanta — Shanahan got his opportunity to be a head coach in 2017. In eight seasons, he’s won four division titles, made four NFC championship games and has two Super Bowl appearances. Shanahan is known for his innovative and adaptable offensive system, and his offensive assistants are frequently poached to fill head coaching vacancies elsewhere. It’s remarkable that no matter how many holes his roster has on paper, Shanahan is always a threat to make a run in the NFC.

5: Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers

The former offensive coordinator of the Rams and Titans, LaFleur was hired in 2019. Immediately upon his arrival, he revitalized the career of QB Aaron Rodgers, who won back-to-back MVPs in 2020 and 2021. Even after Rodgers’ departure from the team, LaFleur kept them competitive, seamlessly transitioning to the Jordan Love era. Having made the playoffs in five of his six seasons at the helm, LaFleur’s Packers should be a mainstay in the conference for years to come.

6: Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings

Hired in 2022 after two years as the Rams’ offensive coordinator under McVay, O’Connell has quickly established himself as one of the best young coaches in the game. He won 13 games and the NFC North in his first season, following that up with 14 wins and a wild card berth last year. O’Connell hasn’t yet won a playoff game, being upset in the first round in both of his playoff appearances, but he’s bound to break through eventually. The work he does with second-year QB J.J. McCarthy in his first season as the starter will be critical.

7: Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

The fifteen-year coach of the Saints, Payton won a Super Bowl with the legendary QB Drew Brees during his time there. He spent a year in retirement before returning to coach the Broncos, where he now enters his third season. Payton’s been a transformative presence in Denver, taking his offensive acumen and putting it on full display, while also coaching up a much better defense than he had during most of his time in New Orleans. The Broncos earned a wildcard berth last year and will look to build on that.

8: Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions

Mr. “bite off their kneecaps” himself, Campbell was a surprise hire in 2021, as he was serving as the Saints’ tight ends coach at the time. The move could not have worked out better for the Lions, as he’s completely transformed the Lions organization, instilling his signature blend of tenacity, grit and integrity into everything the team does. With two straight division titles, an NFC championship game appearance and the NFC’s No. 1 seed last year under his belt, Campbell has Detroit as one of the top dogs in the NFC right now.

9: Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills

The former defensive coordinator of the Panthers under Ron Rivera, McDermott was a package hire with GM Brandon Beane in 2017. He’s been a godsend in Buffalo, raising that team to heights unseen since the glory days of the mid-90s. McDermott and QB Tyrod Taylor led a Buffalo team being actively stripped for parts to the playoffs in his first season, ending the franchise’s record playoff drought. Then the Bills landed QB Josh Allen and ascended even higher. Now, he’s on a streak of five straight division titles and six straight playoff appearances, knocking on the door of a Super Bowl.

10: Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

Famously without a losing season in 18 years at the helm, Tomlin is one of the longest-tenured head coaches in the NFL. He won a Super Bowl in 2009 and has seven division titles under his belt, routinely delivering results above expectations. Despite all the criticism leveled at the Steelers organization in recent years, Tomlin remains one of the most widely respected coaches in the business and is a master at elevating his unit beyond what’s expected.

11: Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots

A legendary linebacker in New England during his playing days, Vrabel spent six seasons as the head coach of the Titans from 2018-2023. During that span, Tennessee made the playoffs three times, won the AFC South twice and earned the No. 1 seed in the AFC in 2021. That same year, Vrabel won Coach of the Year, though he was surprisingly let go after the 2023 season. He spent a year as an assistant with the Browns before his homecoming in New England, where he’s tasked with bringing back the glory days he enjoyed as a player.

12: Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders

The former head coach of the Falcons, Quinn spent some time as the defensive coordinator in Dallas before taking the Commanders gig last year. His first season at the helm couldn’t have gone better, as he took a questionable roster to the NFC championship game behind rookie QB Jayden Daniels and a whole lot of grit. Quinn will now be tasked with continuing to elevate the roster and coach them up to consistent success, lest the 2024 season becomes a flash in the pan.

13: Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers

After winning a national championship at his alma mater, Michigan, Harbaugh returned to the NFL coaching ranks in 2024. He previously spent four seasons as the head coach of the Niners, appearing in a Super Bowl before being forced out. His tenure in Los Angeles got off to a great start, with a wild card berth in his first season, and he’ll look to build on that success this year. Harbaugh is known for his tough, hard-nosed, old-school style and his track record of winning at every stop.

14: Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles

That’s Super Bowl champion Nick Sirianni to you. It’s been a tale of alternate seasons for Sirianni, who’s now entering his fifth in Philly. He made the wild card round in 2021 before nearly winning it all in 2022. His team started strong in 2023 before faltering down the stretch, but bounced back and won a title last season. He’s made the playoffs in each of his four seasons, with deep runs in two of them. After a disappointing 2023 season, Sirianni replaced his assistants and had much more success in 2024.

15: Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders

The oldest coach in the NFL, Carroll had a hugely successful run as the head coach of the USC Trojans, winning two national championships among many other accomplishments. Carroll joined the Seahawks in 2010. He won a Super Bowl in short order, making another appearance the following year, and kept Seattle as one of the more competitive organizations in the NFC for almost 15 years. The Seahawks chose to go in a different direction after the 2023 season, and he spent last year as an advisor before joining the Raiders this year. He has a bit of a rebuild in front of him, but he’s one of the most accomplished coaches in the game.

16: DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans

A two-year defensive coordinator of the Niners, Ryans returned home to Houston in 2023, where he spent the bulk of his playing career. He’s turned around a dormant Houston franchise, bringing over his innovative defensive scheme and instilling toughness across the roster. He’s won the AFC South both years he’s been at the helm, and paired with young QB C.J. Stroud, could put a stranglehold on the division for quite some time.

17: Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts

Known as a quarterback whisperer, Steichen had great success with Justin Herbert as the Chargers’ quarterbacks coach before replicating that success with Jalen Hurts in Philly as their offensive coordinator. Hired in 2023, he’s had to deal with poor quarterback play, yet has had Indy knocking on the door of the playoffs in both of his seasons. Now he enters a critical third year, likely needing a playoff berth to secure his job, and the work he’s been doing with QB Anthony Richardson may be starting to pay off.

18: Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns

It’s been a very up-and-down six-year tenure for Stefanski, for reasons somewhat out of his control. Hired in 2020 after serving as the Vikings’ offensive coordinator, he’s the two-time AP Coach of the Year and has two playoff appearances ( plus a win) on his resume. Moving on from QB Baker Mayfield proved to be a mistake, as did trading for QB Deshaun Watson, though it’s unclear how much of a say he had in either move. Regardless, he’s fielded some competitive teams despite limited resources, and will have another challenging job ahead of him.

19: Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins

Spending four years as an offensive assistant under Shanahan in San Francisco, including one as the offensive coordinator, McDaniel was hired by Miami in 2022 to bring a Shanahan-style offense to South Florida. He was immediately successful, running a scheme that incorporated much of what the Niners ran while putting his own spin on it. Several recent developments in NFL offensive systems can be traced back to McDaniel, and he has two wildcard berths on his resume. The luster has worn off somewhat, however, as injuries and inconsistent play down the stretch have capped the Dolphins’ potential in recent years. McDaniel’s job is not guaranteed if he has another subpar year.

20: Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals

A former assistant with the Rams under McVay, Taylor was hired in 2019 and was subsequently gifted the No. 1 pick and QB Joe Burrow. Pairing Burrow with 2021 No. 5 pick WR Ja’Marr Chase built the foundation for one of the NFL’s elite offenses, and Taylor led the duo to a Super Bowl appearance in 2022. Several disappointing seasons since then have somewhat soured Taylor in fans’ eyes, and there are questions about whether he’s the best man for the job moving forward. He made some staff changes this offseason, most notably at defensive coordinator, to try and spark a talented yet underperforming roster.

21: Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals

A 13-year NFL assistant before a stint as the defensive coordinator in Philly, Gannon was hired in 2023 and enters his third season at the helm. In his first season, he overachieved with arguably the worst roster in the NFL, and he pulled off some high-profile upsets last year. Now, he’ll enter his first season with real expectations, as the Cardinals finally look ready to compete in the NFC.

22: Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers

After 12 years with the Seahawks in various roles, Canales made a one-year stop with the Bucs as their offensive coordinator before being poached by the Panthers. He made a splash in his first year, salvaging the career of former No. 1 pick QB Bryce Young and turning the worst roster in the league into a competitive team by season’s end. Continuing to develop Young is the primary goal for this season, as the offense in particular looks to take a step forward.

23: Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

A longtime NFL coach, Bowles previously spent some time as the head coach of the Jets. He was the defensive coordinator for Tampa Bay when he took over from Bruce Arians following Arians’ retirement in 2022. Bowles isn’t flashy, but he’s maintained the Bucs’ dominance over the NFC South, winning the division in each of his seasons and winning a few playoff games.

24: Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks

Two years as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator led to Macdonald being hired as the Seahawks’ head coach a year ago to replace Carroll. His first season in charge led to similar results as his predecessor, sparking significant changes to the roster. Known for his defensive creativity, Macdonald will have work to do on offense but should field one of the best defenses in the league.

25: Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons

Passed over during Atlanta’s last hiring cycle despite a successful run as interim head coach, Morris was serving as the Rams’ defensive coordinator when the Falcons brought him back in 2024. Given preseason expectations, his first season was a bit of a letdown, as they were the favorites in their division and ended up missing the playoffs. Part of this was due to free agent-signee QB Kirk Cousins not fully rebounding from an Achilles injury, and rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. did show some promise to end the year. Expectations to win the division remain in 2025.

26: Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans

Callahan spent four years as the offensive coordinator in Cincinnati, where he was often credited for helping scheme their explosive offense and put Burrow in positions to succeed. Son of legendary OL coach Bill Callahan, Brian brought his dad with him to Tennessee. After fielding the worst team in the NFL last year and earning the No. 1 pick, Callahan is now tasked with shepherding the career of the young QB Cam Ward and guiding this team through a rebuild.

27: Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears

The ever-elusive Johnson had many thinking he would never take a head coaching job. He got his start with the Lions in 2019 and was promoted to offensive coordinator prior to the 2022 season. For the past several cycles, he’s been the top name on the coaching market, but he was very choosy about his destination. Johnson’s offensive schemes and innovations had the Lions dominating the league, and the early reports out of Bears camp indicate Johnson is providing some much-needed fire and accountability.

28: Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints

An all-American quarterback at Boise State, Moore retired from the NFL in 2018 to become the Cowboys’ quarterback coach. He was eventually promoted to offensive coordinator, also filling that role with the Chargers and the Eagles, before getting the Saints’ job this offseason. He has a tall task in front of him, with a depleted roster and limited financial flexibility this year. It’s looking like a long rebuild in New Orleans, but Moore is considered one of the more talented offensive schemers in the league.

29: Aaron Glenn, New York Jets

After a prolific professional playing career and four years as the defensive coordinator in Detroit, Glenn takes over the head coaching gig for the Jets. He’ll be tasked with turning around a franchise that has been languishing for years despite decent talent on the roster. In his first season, he’ll have a team quarterbacked by Justin Fields, and a strong defense that leans into his roots.

30: Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars

Coen bounced back and forth between offensive coordinator jobs with the Los Angeles Rams and the University of Kentucky before joining the Buccaneers in the same role in 2024. After a great season in Tampa Bay, the Jaguars zeroed in on him as one of their top choices. Coen faces a rebuild in Jacksonville, but he has some nice pieces to work with, including QB Trevor Lawrence and rookie WR/CB Travis Hunter.

31: Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys

The most surprising hire of the 2025 cycle, Schottenheimer was an internal promotion after former HC Mike McCarthy was not retained. A longtime offensive assistant with a variety of NFL teams, Schottenheimer joined Dallas in 2022 before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2023. The Cowboys have a good roster and an established quarterback in Dak Prescott, so Schottenheimer’s job will be to make a run in the playoffs, something McCarthy could never do.

32: Brian Daboll, New York Giants

The former offensive coordinator of Alabama and the Bills, Daboll joined the Giants in 2022 with a lot of promise. He was credited for sparking Bills QB Josh Allen’s career and was a well-respected offensive mind, and the hope was that he could do that for former Giants QB Daniel Jones. It didn’t pan out, as though Daboll won a playoff game in his first season, the Giants have been one of the worst teams in the NFL since. Daboll has struggled to deal with losing, throwing his players and assistants under the bus, and was surprisingly retained after 2024.