With the parity in the NFL this season, there are lots of potential playoff-bound coaches on teams that may either win the division or take the wild card. In this article, however, I'm going to focus on the teams that I feel have a real chance at deserving a playoff berth, which means that all teams from the NFC West and a couple of other teams like the Raiders are suspect. While they all may have a legitimate chance at the division, they are all so flawed that many of those teams won't be considered here.
But for the rest of the teams, they all have coaches, some of whom are good and some are not so good. Let's rank them and then see where you disagree. Feel free to state your case as this is only one man's opinion based on watching a lot of football and based on things I've been able to glean from other sources through the course of the season.
My ratings are based on the talent he surrounds himself with, how the team is playing (consistency), decision making, experience, dealing with the media and leadership. Oh, and success plays a role, too, come to think of it.
But for the rest of the teams, they all have coaches, some of whom are good and some are not so good. Let's rank them and then see where you disagree. Feel free to state your case as this is only one man's opinion based on watching a lot of football and based on things I've been able to glean from other sources through the course of the season.
My ratings are based on the talent he surrounds himself with, how the team is playing (consistency), decision making, experience, dealing with the media and leadership. Oh, and success plays a role, too, come to think of it.
16. Raheem Morris, Bucs
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In parts of just two season as a head coach, Morris hasn't distinguished himself yet. He has led the Bucs to a much improved 2010, however, as he has Tampa Bay at 7-5 and on the fringes of the playoffs after a miserable 3-13 showing last season.
He is very young and the players like him, so if he can win in Florida, he may eventually move up this list.
15. Jim Caldwell, Colts
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Well, if anyone ever doubted that Indy's success was largely due to a fella by the name of Peyton Manning, try this on for size: in the last three games, Manning has thrown for 11 interceptions and the Colts have lost all three.
Maybe even the great Tony Dungy wasn't quite as good as he seemed.
Caldwell is 20-8 in less than two seasons with two playoff wins, but we all know who really coaches this team.
14. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
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It's not so much that Carroll isn't a good coach, it's that he seems to be more master motivator than Xs and Os coach. His Seahawks sit at 6-6 and only a crummy division keeps them in the hunt.
Carroll is 1-2 in the playoffs, but his last year coaching a team in the postseason was in 1998.
13. Steve Spagnuolo, Rams
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This former Giants D coordinator has led the Rams to a good defense which has kept them in the running in a weak division despite a 6-6 record. He seems to be a creative coach but he just hasn't had time to rank higher on this list. He could use some more talent of course.
12. Todd Haley, Chiefs
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Sure, Haley is another coach without any postseason success. In fact, he has no postseason experience whatsoever. But you really have to be impressed with the improvement the Chiefs have shown under the second year coach.
Following a 4-12 rookie campaign, Haley has KC at 8-4 and in the playoff hunt this season.
11. John Harbaugh, Ravens
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Harbaugh's assistant coaches are questionable at this point, though he does have the Ravens sitting at 8-4. Though his time management skills have been questioned and some believe he got out-coached in a couple big games this season, you can't argue with his success thus far.
In three seasons as a head coach, Harbaugh is 28-16 with a 3-2 record in the playoffs.
10. Lovie Smith, Bears
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Lovie has coached his best so far this season, as he has looked past his tendency to be stubborn and has actually been open to making adjustments and holding players accountable.
In his seventh season as a head coach, Smith is 61-47 and took his Bears to the Super Bowl, though he lost to the Colts. Still, he has had three consecutive seasons missing the playoffs and his time management and challenges have left a lot to be desired. He seldom displays any emotion, lies to the media, and seems arrogant to fans.
His players love him and play hard for him, but he simply does not match up with the top 10 on this list in my opinion.
9. Rex Ryan, Jets
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Ryan ranks just ahead of Lovie despite a lot less experience and a tendency to be somewhat flamboyant. He's the type of personality that you either love or hate, but at least he has a personality unlike the stoic Smith.
I happen to think he's good for the league and seems solid with the Xs and Os. He has a great pedigree for defense form his father and despite Monday night's embarrassment, he has his Jets at 9-3. He also won two playoff games last season.
8. Jack Del Rio, Jags
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Sure, Del Rio is just 1-2 in the playoffs as a head coach, but the man is a solid Xs and Os coach who really understands the game. In his eighth year as coach of Jacksonville, he has his team on the outskirts of the playoffs and has compiled a 64-60 career record.
7. Mike Smith, Falcons
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Smith is only in his third season as a head coach and has only one loss to show for the playoffs, but you can't argue with success. He is 30-14 with the Falcons and his 2010 team has the best record in the NFC and just may be going to the Super Bowl this year.
6. Mike McCarthy, Packers
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McCarthy is only 1-2 in the playoffs but he had the foresight to know that Aaron Rodgers was more than capable of taking over the team, and he's 46-30 so far in his career. His 2007 team won 13 games and this season he is one game behind the Bears in the North yet looks to be a force if they can get in.
5. Andy Reid, Eagles
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No Super Bowls yet but Andy Reid is a solid football coach who can coach with the best of 'em. 12 seasons in the NFL gives him a lot of experience and his 18 playoff games makes him tough if his Eagles make it this season.
Oh yeah, he's also won 126 games counting the playoffs. Not bad.
4. Tom Coughlin, Giants
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Say what you will about Coughlin—he's too rigid, too much of a perfectionist, too this, too that. But the man can coach and win football games in a very tough city. It is why he has lasted into his 15th season as a head coach, the past seven with the Giants.
He has one Super Bowl to his credit, and has gone 8-7 in his playoff career. His teams had four consecutive losing seasons from 2000-2004, but this season could become the seventh time his teams have won in double digits. His Giants boast an attacking defense and at 8-4 have a chance to make the playoffs this year. If they do, they will be a team no one wants to face.
3. Mike Tomlin, Steelers
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Tomlin is the type of coach who lets the players play and lets his assistants do their job. He surrounds himself with good people and has learned how to be a good coach after a rough first season. He was considered too demanding and inflexible but to his credit he changed, and the players responded accordingly.
In just his fourth season as a head coach, his Steelers have won the Super Bowl and he is the owner of an impressive 40-20 record. After missing out last season, he once again has Pittsburgh in position to make some noise.
2. Sean Payton, Saints
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Sean Payton has had quite a ride in less than five full seasons as a head coach with the Saints. He is 47-29 and 4-1 in the playoffs, winning the Super Bowl last season.
Despite injuries, he has the Saints in position to make some noise in the playoffs again this season, though the Falcons are ahead of them in the division.
Payton is tough yet a people person who gets the most out of his players. Sporting News had this quote from QB Drew Brees about his coach: "Hey, we’re going to have fun, and we’re going to enjoy what we do. (That's what makes him a great coach).”
That's good enough for me. But not quite good enough to beat this next guy.
1. Bill Belichick, Patriots
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Sporting News may have said it best about Belichick: "The smartest coach in the league. No one does a better job of adapting schemes and personnel to the opponent on a week-to-week basis. He always finds a way to win the match-up game."
All I know is that this is his 16th season as a head coach, the 11th with the Pats. On the one hand, his career demonstrates that even the best coaches need talent to win. He had only one winning season in his five years with Cleveland. But with New England, he has had only one losing season.
Three Super Bowl victories and a 16-0 season means something. Here, it means you rank atop the power ranking of
By Bob Warja
