- Andy Reid’s Chiefs résumé stands on the prime: Reid has Kansas City ready for seemingly each situation, and the crew used that to win all 12 of its one-score video games final season.
- Credit is due for Nick Sirianni: The Eagles’ head coach job is not any stroll within the park, and Sirianni shrugged off criticism to steer Philadelphia to a Super Bowl victory in 2024.
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Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Players in the end determine who wins and loses soccer video games, however teaching performs an enormous half in optimizing their efficiency. There definitely isn’t a scarcity of fantastic head coaches, each young and old, within the NFL, and we’re rating the very best amongst them.
This shall be a rating of head coaches returning to their incumbent positions in 2025. Newly employed coaches — Aaron Glenn, Mike Vrabel, Liam Coen, Pete Carroll, Brian Schottenheimer, Ben Johnson and Kellen Moore — won’t be included.
1. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Like Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots groups earlier than them, the Kansas City Chiefs are the masters of situational soccer. The Chiefs performed in 12 one-score video games final season, together with the playoffs, and gained all of them. They discovered a technique to attain the Super Bowl for the third straight season as a result of Andy Reid has his total crew ready for any state of affairs.
The Chiefs ranked seventeenth in PFF offensive grade through the first three quarters of video games however slotted into fourth in that very same class within the fourth quarter and time beyond regulation. They merely discover methods to step up their sport regardless of their flaws, accidents and lack of explosiveness. That’s a testomony to Reid’s levelheaded method to the sport and wealth of expertise.
2. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Payton inherited a catastrophe in Denver in 2023, and his quarterback, Russell Wilson, was clearly sad. After a 1-5 begin, Payton rallied the crew behind a powerful protection to win seven of their last 11 video games. Wilson was jettisoned, and the Broncos chosen their new quarterback, Bo Nix, within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Payton and Nix turned out to be a match made in heaven, giving Broncos followers a imaginative and prescient of Payton renewing the success he cultivated for thus lengthy in New Orleans. Denver’s protection was nonetheless robust final season, and Nix’s wonderful 1.8% turnover-worthy play charge completely represented a crew that didn’t beat itself. The Broncos misplaced solely two video games all season by multiple rating, defeats to AFC elites Baltimore and Buffalo. Denver has solely added extra expertise this offseason and may proceed to cope with its elite head coach main the best way.
Lowest Turnover-Worthy Play Rates in 2024
3. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
McVay isn’t but 40 years previous however is already coming into his ninth season because the Rams’ head coach. Los Angeles has made the postseason in six of the primary eight seasons with him on the helm, together with a Super Bowl 56 victory over the Bengals. The Rams had been the closest crew to upending the Eagles within the postseason earlier than their Super Bowl win this previous season.
McVay is called an offensive mastermind, however his changes to his dashing assault could also be his most spectacular feat but. McVay is a Shanahan disciple, which makes him fluent in outside-zone run schemes. From 2017 to 2022, the Rams ranked second in outside-zone charge. Over the previous two seasons, nevertheless, they rank simply fifteenth in that class whereas main the NFL with their utilization of man run schemes. That newfound downhill method has allowed Los Angeles to maintain the offensive steadiness wanted to be a Super Bowl contender.
4. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Harbaugh perpetually has Baltimore contending for championships however has not gained a Super Bowl for the reason that 2012 season. The Ravens have endured solely two shedding seasons since he took over in 2008. Baltimore’s consistency is extremely spectacular, contemplating the crew hasn’t misplaced a sport by multiple rating since Week 18 of 2022, a contest during which their starters didn’t even play.
At the middle of Harbaugh’s success is Lamar Jackson‘s growth. Coming off an injury-plagued 2022 season during which he earned only a 72.3 PFF passing grade, Jackson and his crew had been at a crossroads. Since Todd Monken was introduced in to be the Ravens’ offensive coordinator in 2023, Jackson has turn out to be an unstoppable drive, main the NFL with a 95.1 PFF total grade. As lengthy as Harbaugh and Jackson are within the constructing, the Ravens shall be AFC contenders.
5. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Despite latest criticism a couple of lack of playoff success, Mike Tomlin nonetheless finds a technique to squeeze each ounce of execution out of his groups. He nonetheless has but to undergo a shedding marketing campaign throughout 18 seasons as Pittsburgh’s head coach, although there have definitely been shut calls. Making the postseason in 2024 regardless of a turbulent quarterback state of affairs is a powerful feat.
The Steelers’ id, although, is their protection, which performed at an elite degree as soon as once more in 2024. They ranked fourth in PFF defensive grade and first in PFF pass-rush grade, led by future Hall of Famers T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward. They might use the occasional spurt of offense, although, as they went 8-0 when permitting 18 factors or fewer and 2-8 after they allowed 19 or extra.
6. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
Across 21 years as a head coach on the collegiate and NFL ranges, Jim Harbaugh has endured simply three shedding seasons — 2007 and 2008 at Stanford and a COVID-shortened 2020 at Michigan. His 2012 49ers outfit was a mere 5 yards wanting defeating his brother, John, and the Baltimore Ravens within the Super Bowl. He has since gained a nationwide championship at Michigan and has seemingly turned across the Chargers’ beforehand moribund tradition.
The major enchantment for Harbaugh taking the Chargers job was quarterback Justin Herbert. Harbaugh and Greg Roman recaptured the magic of Herbert’s talents of their first 12 months on the job. Herbert set profession highs final season with a 90.2 PFF passing grade, 7.7 yards per try and a 5.7% big-time throw charge. Also on the listing of accomplishments for Harbaugh is main a beforehand porous protection to the third-best PFF grade within the NFL in 2024.
All Jim Harbaugh is aware of is success, and he’s carried that custom with him to Los Angeles.
7. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Shanahan remains to be one of many sport’s best offensive minds and greatest head coaches. After showing of their second Super Bowl in 5 seasons in 2023, the 49ers took a giant step again final season. However, they began 5-4 earlier than shedding seven of their last eight video games. Those shortcomings took place extra because of accidents to star gamers and a scarcity of run protection than something inside Shanahan’s management.
Despite their difficulties, Shanahan’s 49ers nonetheless ranked ninth in PFF grade final season, the second-highest mark by any crew with a shedding document. Offensively, San Francisco nonetheless notched the fifth-best PFF grade within the league regardless of accidents to superstars Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Trent Williams. Shanahan’s playcalling and work to develop Brock Purdy are the most important elements in that success. If they’re wholesome, the 49ers are a professional bounce-back candidate this season.
8. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
Sirianni is commonly the goal of criticism when the Eagles lose, however credit score must be given when it’s due. He’s an impressive 48-20 within the common season as Philadelphia’s head coach and has made the playoffs in every of his first 4 seasons. The Eagles emphatically proved they had been the very best crew in soccer final season. They had been the NFL’s highest-graded crew and misplaced only one sport after Week 4.
Philadelphia’s dedication to the run sport in 2024 was its greatest adjustment from a confounding 2023. The offense ranked simply thirteenth in run-play share in 2023 however led the NFL with a 51.2% clip final season. The Eagles had been the one crew to run the ball greater than throw it. Of course, it helps to have Saquon Barkley, who racked up greater than 2,500 dashing yards final 12 months, together with the postseason. Sirianni and the Eagles dedicated to an old-school fashion of soccer, and it paid off with a championship.
9. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
When Dan Campbell was first employed in 2021, he emphatically introduced that he would change the Detroit Lions’ tradition. He’s performed that and a lot extra. After beginning 4-19-1 over his first 12 months and a half as head coach, Campbell discovered a technique to flip the swap, and the Lions have now gained 35 of their previous 44 regular-season video games.
Across that stretch, which began in Week 9 of 2022, the Lions rank second in PFF offensive grade as they’ve resurrected Jared Goff’s profession. They’ve carried an elite offensive line for a number of years and have a deep steady of weapons. The protection is extra of a piece in progress, however there’s hope with stars Aidan Hutchinson, Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph. Campbell’s greatest problem this season shall be dealing with the losses of coordinators Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, however he has confirmed that he can lead the Lions out of any abyss.
10. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Stefanski has handled a cascade of points in Cleveland, notably surrounding the Deshaun Watson commerce and subsequent contract extension. However, the two-time NFL Coach of the Year deserves respect as somebody who will get his crew to compete whatever the circumstances.
Stefanski broke the Browns’ lengthy playoff drought in 2020 and picked up the franchise’s first playoff win since reentering the league in 1999. He additionally led a surge to the postseason in 2023 with Joe Flacco as his quarterback from Week 14 onward. Stefanski has confirmed he can succeed if given even sufficient offensive instruments. The crew simply wants to offer him with that to enhance its wonderful protection.