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The 15 Best NFL Coaches of All-Time, Ranked

(Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Published Oct 12, 2023

So you're wondering who the best NFL coaches of all-time are? Let's talk about it!

Football is one of the most tactical and exciting games of all the big-four American sports. It may be played out by 11 offensive and 11 defensive players at a time, but those players are deployed with a meticulous game plan that's mapped out, changed, and perfected leading into that game. In reality, football is a giant game of chess. NFL head coaches are the real prowess behind the NFLs greatest games and comebacks, and they are well compensated for it!

Over the 100+ year history of the NFL, it has produced some of the smartest and toughest coaches seen in any professional sports league.

Here is our list of the 10 best NFL head coaches of all-time, ranked.

15. Mike Tomlin

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers
Years Active: 2007- present
Accomplishments: Super Bowl XLIII, Most consecutive non-losing seasons to begin coaching career

In 2007, Mike Tomlin was hired as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, making him the youngest head coach in the NFL at the time. Under Tomlin's leadership, the Steelers have been highly competitive, consistently making the playoffs and contending for Super Bowl championships. Mike Tomlin's long and successful tenure as the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers has solidified his status as one of the premier coaches in the NFL.

14. Bud Grant

Teams: Minnesota Vikings
Years Active: 1967- 1985
Accomplishments: 1969 Coach of the Year

In 1967, Bud Grant was hired as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings, making the transition to the NFL. He would go on to become one of the most respected and successful coaches in the league. Under Bud Grant's leadership, the Minnesota Vikings became a dominant team in the NFL. He was known for his strong defensive strategies, and the Vikings' "Purple People Eaters" defense became legendary.

13. Tony Dungy

Teams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts
Years Active: 1996- 2008
Accomplishments: Super Bowl XLI, 2x Coach of the Year, George Halas Award

In 1996, Dungy was hired as the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. During his tenure, he transformed the Buccaneers into a formidable team, known for their strong defense. He coached the Bucs from 1996 to 2001 and led them to multiple playoff appearances.

Dungy's most significant achievement came with the Indianapolis Colts, where he became the head coach in 2002. In 2007, Dungy and the Colts won Super Bowl XLI, defeating the Chicago Bears. This victory was historic as it made Dungy the first African American head coach to win a Super Bowl.

12. John Madden

Teams: Oakland Raiders
Years Active: 1969- 1978
Accomplishments: Super Bowl XI, 1969 Coach of the Year

Madden's most notable coaching stint was as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders, where he served from 1969 to 1978. He took over as head coach at the age of 32, making him one of the youngest head coaches in NFL history at that time. Madden was known for implementing innovative and aggressive coaching strategies. He was particularly noted for his emphasis on physical, hard-hitting football and his strong focus on a punishing running game.

11. Chuck Noll

Teams: Pittsburgh Steelers
Years Active: 1969- 1991
Accomplishments: 4x Super Bowl Champion, 3x NFL Champion, 1989 Coach of the Year

Chuck Noll is often considered one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history. He is primarily associated with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he served as head coach from 1969 to 1991. Under Noll's leadership, the Steelers became a dominant force in the NFL, winning Super Bowl IX, Super Bowl X, Super Bowl XIII, and Super Bowl XIV.

10. Andy Reid

Teams: Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs
Years Active: 1999- Present
Accomplishments: 2x Super Bowl Champion, 2002 Coach of the Year

During his tenure with the Eagles, Reid guided the team to nine playoff appearances, including five NFC Championship Game appearances and one Super Bowl (XXXIX in 2005), where they fell short to the New England Patriots. Under Reid's leadership, the Eagles developed a reputation for their strong passing offenses.

In 2013, he was hired as the head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Since joining them, he helped turn the team into a perennial playoff contender, leading them to numerous division titles, multiple AFC Championship Game appearances, and multiple Super Bowl victories.

9. Bill Parcells

Teams: New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys
Years Active: 1983- 2006
Accomplishments: 2x Super Bowl Champion, 2x NFL Coach of the Year

Bill Parcells is widely recognized for his ability to turn struggling teams into contenders and his strong leadership skills. He coached in the NFL for 19 seasons, serving as the head coach of four different franchises: the New York Giants (1983-1990), the New England Patriots (1993-1996), the New York Jets (1997-1999), and the Dallas Cowboys (2003-2006). He also had various advisory and front-office roles with different teams.

8. Tom Landry

Teams: Dallas Cowboys
Years Active: 1960- 1988
Accomplishments: 1x NFL Champion, 2x Super Bowl Champion, 1966 NFL Coach of the Year

Tom Landry's coaching career spanned 29 seasons, all with the Dallas Cowboys from 1960 to 1988. During his time as head coach, he transformed the Cowboys from an expansion team into one of the most successful franchises in NFL history.

Under Landry's leadership, the Cowboys achieved 20 consecutive winning seasons (1966-1985), won two Super Bowl championships (VI and XII), and appeared in five Super Bowls overall. The team also made the playoffs 18 times and won 13 division titles.

7. Paul Brown

Teams: Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals
Years Active: 1946- 1975
Accomplishments: 3x NFL Champion, 3x NFL Coach of the Year, 4x AAFC Champion

Paul Brown is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history and played a pivotal role in the development of modern football strategies and coaching methods. He was known for his meticulous attention to detail, innovative offensive schemes, and emphasis on discipline and organization.

Brown's coaching career began in the collegiate ranks, but his most notable success came in the NFL. He founded and coached the Cleveland Browns from 1946 to 1962. During that time, the Browns were highly successful, winning seven league championships in the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) and NFL, including four AAFC titles and three NFL championships. Brown's teams were known for their precision passing attacks, intelligent play calling, and strong defensive units.

6. Joe Gibbs

Teams: Washington Redskins
Years Active: 1981- 1992
Accomplishments: 3x Super Bowl Champion, 2x NFL Coach of the Year

Joe Gibbs is most renowned for his successful coaching career in the NFL, primarily with the Washington Football Team (formerly known as the Washington Redskins). He served as the head coach of the Redskins from 1981 to 1992.

During his tenure in D.C., Gibbs led the team to three championships, winning Super Bowl XVII in 1983, Super Bowl XXII in 1988, and Super Bowl XXVI in 1992. He guided the Redskins to eight playoff appearances and reached the postseason in all but two of his seasons as head coach. Gibbs was known for his meticulous game planning, strong leadership, and ability to adapt his offensive strategies to suit his personnel.

5. George Halas

Teams: Chicago Bears
Years Active: 1920- 1967
Accomplishments: 8x NFL Champion, 2x NFL Coach of the Year

George Halas, also known as "Papa Bear," was an influential figure in American football and one of the founding members of the NFL. Halas was a player, coach, owner, and pioneer of the sport. In 1920, he helped found the Decatur Staleys, which later became the Chicago Bears, one of the most storied franchises in NFL history. He played for the team as an end, and was instrumental in shaping its early success.

As a coach, Halas led the Bears for a total of 40 seasons, spanning from 1920 to 1967, with interruptions due to his military service during World War II. Under his guidance, the Bears won eight NFL championships, including the famous 1940 team that went undefeated in the regular season.

4. Bill Walsh

Teams: San Francisco 49ers
Years Active: 1979- 1988
Accomplishments: 3x Super Bowl Champion, 1981 NFL Coach of the Year

Bill Walsh is best known for his tenure as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, where he achieved great success and revolutionized the game of football. He coached the 49ers from 1979 to 1988. Under his leadership, the 49ers won three Super Bowls (XVI, XIX, and XXIII) and appeared in the playoffs ten times. Walsh's teams were known for their "West Coast Offense," which heavily relied on short, quick passes and precise route running.

3. Don Shula

Teams: Baltimore Colts, Miami Dolphins
Years Active: 1963- 1995
Accomplishments: 2x Super Bowl Champion, 4x NFL Coach of the Year, Most regular season wins (328)

There are no NFL coaching careers that span the length of former NFL head coach Don Shula, who won two Super Bowls across his time as a head coach and secured the all-time record for regular season wins with 328. Shula was most remembered for his time coaching the Miami Dolphins and helping them win two Super Bowls, even overseeing the only undefeated team in the history of the NFL in 1972.

2. Vince Lombardi

Teams: Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins
Years Active: 1959- 1969
Accomplishments: 2x Super Bowl Champion, 3x NFL Champion, 2x NFL Coach of the Year

When talking about what a coach in any sport should exemplify, the golden standard is Vince Lombardi, who helped turn the Green Bay Packers into the most successful NFL franchise throughout the 60's, winning a number of championships. Lombardi never had a losing season as an NFL head coach and complied an overall record of 105-35-6 in his coaching days.

More important than the tactical advantage Lombardi gave the Packers, he was a true master of the spoken word. Some of Lombardis pregame speeches still remain the most iconic in the NFL's history. Lombardi was a true coaches coach on and off the field.

1. Bill Belichick

Teams: Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots
Years Active: 1991- Present
Accomplishments: 8x Super Bowl Champion, 3x NFL Coach of the Year,

There is no head coach in NFL history whose dominance stretches as far as the great Bill Belichick. He began his career in football in 1975 as a special assistant with the Baltimore Colts. After bouncing around teams working different coaching positions, Belichick got his first chance as a head coach in Cleveland. He was actually fired by the Browns after four relatively unsuccessful seasons culminated in the franchise moving to Baltimore. It wasn't until he joined the New England Patriots that his true legacy began.

Shortly into Belichick's tenure as the Patriots head coach, a scrawny back-up quarterback by the name of Tom Brady stepped in for an injured Drew Bledsoe. What happened next was the greatest head coach and quarterback duo the NFL has ever seen. I don't think Belichicks record of 8 Super Bowl victories will ever be replicated.

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