National Football League

NFL Coaching Power Rankings: It is Bill Belichick and everyone else

Published Jun. 5, 2015 1:00 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Alex Marvez

It's Bill Belichick and then everyone else.

That was the first thought that went through my head when asked by my editors at FOXSports.com to provide a ranking of the NFL's active head coaches.

Figuring out the rest of the order beyond Belichick wasn't nearly as easy.

Here is my list excluding the NFL's three new head coaches -- Atlanta's Dan Quinn, San Francisco's Jim Tomsula, Todd Bowles of the New York Jets -- who have never held the position before on a full-time basis (Bowles and Tomsula both had brief stints previously on an interim basis).

1: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots

Say what you will about Spygate or Delfategate. Those scandals cannot completely tarnish Belichick's accomplishments. No other coach in NFL history has won more Super Bowls (four, tied with Chuck Noll) or postseason games (22). And as long as Tom Brady remains as quarterback, those numbers may get even gaudier.

2: Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers

In nine seasons, he has the second-highest winning percentage in the regular season (65.4) among all active coaches as well as a Super Bowl victory and four consecutive NFC North titles. While most coaches would stick to the formula that brought them such success, McCarthy deserves credit for not being complacent and realizing he may be able to do more on his end to help the Packers become even better. McCarthy ceded the offensive play-calling responsibilities this offseason to concentrate more on other areas of his team -- particularly special teams --“ after last season's NFC title game collapse against Seattle.

3: John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens

Besides posting a 72-40 record in seven seasons with the Ravens, Harbaugh has done his best work in the playoffs. Harbaugh's 10 postseason wins rank behind only Belichick and the New York Giants' Tom Coughlin (12) among active head coaches -- and both of them have held the post for almost triple the amount of time. Harbaugh also guided Baltimore to victory in Super Bowl XLVII.

4: Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks

Carroll's third incarnation as an NFL head coach has proven his most successful. Seattle has averaged 12 wins over the past three seasons with a Super Bowl win and another appearance. Carroll, though, now faces his greatest challenge: Getting the 2015 Seahawks past the fallout of Seattle's Second-and-Dumb play call in Super Bowl XLIX that likely cost the franchise a second straight Lombardi Trophy.

5. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

Safe to say the Steelers know how to pick head coaches. In 2007, Tomlin became only the third coach in franchise history: Chuck Noll (1969-1991) and Bill Cowher (1992-2006) being the other two. He hasn't disappointed. Pittsburgh is 82-46 under Tomlin with one Super Bowl win and another appearance.

6: Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints

Clearly the greatest head coach in this franchise's history, Payton first showed his talent when leading the 2006 Saints into the playoffs in his first NFL season as the region recovered from the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately for Payton, his year-long NFL suspension for Bountygate in 2011 cost him a season working with quarterback Drew Brees in his prime.

7. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants

The Giants have fallen on hard times the past three seasons but that is more the result of injuries and shaky personnel decisions by the front office than Coughlin's coaching. Coughlin is the only other active head coach besides Bill Belichick with two Super Bowl victories.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians.

8: Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals

One of life's great mysteries -- why did it take Arians until he was 60 years old to get his first full-time NFL head coaching gig? When finally given the opportunity in Arizona two seasons ago, Arians took full advantage of it. The Cardinals won 10 games in 2013 and 2014 and appear poised to make even more noise this season with a healthy Carson Palmer (knee) slated to return at quarterback.

9. Chuck Pagano, Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have advanced progressively further in the postseason during each of Pagano's three years on the sideline. Pagano also deserves credit for fostering an environment that has helped Andrew Luck blossom into the NFL's top young quarterback.

10: John Fox, Chicago Bears

Detractors will point to opening playoff losses in two of Denver's past three seasons and a dreadful showing against Seattle in Super Bowl XLVIII as examples that Fox struggles to get his teams properly prepared to play at the most critical points of the season. The Bears, though, didn't wait long to name Fox their head coach earlier this year shortly after his surprising offseason dismissal in Denver. Both the Broncos and Carolina Panthers enjoyed immediate improvement after Fox joined their downtrodden franchises. Another sign of his prowess: In a league full of head-strong head coaches, Fox is flexible enough to adopt different offensive and defensive systems to best take advantage of the personnel at his disposal.

11: Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys

Garrett was thrust into a head coaching position before he was truly ready -- midway through the 2010 season -- but has steadily grown on the job. A 12-4 record and second-round postseason appearance in 2014 proved that Cowboys players have finally bought into the coaching philosophies Garrett has been stressing.

12: Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers

The fortunes of "Riverboat Ron" changed early in the 2013 campaign when Rivera became less conservative than during his first two-plus seasons on the job. The Panthers are the NFC South's first back-to-back champions since the NFL adopted its current division format in 2002. This was achieved despite general manager Dave Gettleman having to rectify the salary-cap mess left behind by predecessor Marty Hurney.

13: Mike McCoy, San Diego Chargers

Although the Chargers didn't enjoy a second consecutive playoff appearance in 2014, that failing was because of injuries rather than McCoy's coaching. The Chargers appear poised for another postseason run after offseason personnel acquisitions -- especially veteran guard Orlando Franklin and rookie running back Melvin Gordon -- that should allow McCoy to once again field a formidable ground attack like in 2013.

14: Chip Kelly, Philadelphia Eagles

Even after consecutive 10-win seasons, there are still plenty of questions about whether Kelly's offensive philosophy can work over the course of an entire year in the NFL. The 2015 campaign should help provide answers after Kelly's radical offseason roster makeover.

15: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

From a win-loss standpoint, Reid remains one of the NFL's top coaches with a 53-43 record since 2009 with both the Eagles and the Chiefs. Reid, though, also failed to win a playoff game in three postseason appearances during that span. There are growing doubts about whether Reid still can lead a team into a Super Bowl like he did with the 2004 Eagles.

16: Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

Lewis will always be remembered as the coach who helped lift the Bengals from NFL laughing stock to perennial playoff contender. However, the heat is on Lewis to help Cincinnati win its first postseason game since 1990. The Bengals are 0-6 under Lewis, including first-round losses in each of the past four seasons.

17: Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions

With the Lions finishing 11-5 last season, Caldwell proved he didn't need to play with Peyton Manning to flourish as an NFL head coach.

18: Bill O'Brien, Houston Texans

Yes, the Texans have a beastly defense led by end J.J. Watt. But not many coaches could lead their squad to a 9-7 record when forced to use four different quarterbacks because of injuries. Such a promising debut makes O'Brien a coach to watch for future greatness.

19: Jeff Fisher, St. Louis Rams

With 19-plus seasons under his belt, Fisher has a proven track record as the second-longest tenured active head coach behind Bill Belichick. Fisher, though, hasn't posted a winning record or reached the playoffs in his past five seasons with the Rams (2012-present) and Tennessee (2009-2010). Fisher could be ready to break that personal drought with St. Louis set to field a fierce defense and potentially improved offense.

20: Rex Ryan, Buffalo Bills

After four straight seasons without a winning record or playoff appearance with the New York Jets, it's time for Ryan to actually walk the walk rather continuing to talk the talk about how good his teams will be.

21: Gary Kubiak, Denver Broncos

Here's hoping that Kubiak learned from his mistake of running too loose a ship in Houston that helped lead to his demise there as head coach.

22: Lovie Smith, Tampa Bay Bucs

Smith could easily skyrocket back up this list in 2016, but first things first. Smith has to get the Buccaneers' ship righted after finishing an NFL-worst 2-14 in his Tampa Bay debut.

23: Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders

Jacksonville hasn't won more than four games in any season since Del Rio's departure during the 2011 campaign. Making the Raiders a credible franchise once again is Del Rio's next challenge.

24: Ken Whisenhunt, Tennessee Titans

He led Arizona to Super Bowl XLIII but lost 27 of 32 games in his past two seasons as a head coach for the Cardinals (2012) and Titans (2014). To regain his "Wiz" status, Whisenhunt must develop first-round pick Marcus Mariota into becoming a quality quarterback -- something that he has sorely lacked as a head coach since Kurt Warner's retirement in Arizona following the 2009 season.

25: Mike Zimmer, Minnesota Vikings

Zimmer did a great job guiding the Vikings through the Adrian Peterson controversy last season and coaxing the disgruntled running back to recently return for offseason workouts. The next step for Zimmer is lifting a 7-9 team into the playoffs this season.

26: Joe Philbin, Miami Dolphins

No head coach entering this season is on a hotter seat than Philbin, who is entering his fourth year in Miami without having made the playoffs. The good news: Philbin has his most talented roster to date.

27: Gus Bradley, Jacksonville Jaguars

Bradley and general manager David Caldwell inherited a train wreck of a roster when hired in 2013. Bradley's team plays hard and is well-coached defensively, but at some point soon, the Jaguars have to start winning more games after records of 4-12 and 3-13.

28: Mike Pettine, Cleveland Browns

Pettine had the Browns in playoff contention at 7-4 before the bottom fell out with five straight losses. The collapse could be a harbinger of things to come in 2015 with the NFL's worst quarterback situation and no game-breaking speed at wide receiver.

29: Jay Gruden, Washington Redskins

Two promising quarterbacks (Robert Griffin III and Kirk Cousins) regressed took at least temporarily in their first season playing in Gruden's offense. Gruden needs to find a solution under center and hope new defensive coordinator Joe Barry helps make a difference for the Redskins to significantly better last year's 4-12 record.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League