Top 10 Head Coaches in NFL History
By Richard Diaz
Love of NFL Editor
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There’s no doubting the fact that every single NFL fan will bring their own favorite head coach to this debate. I mean it’d be impossible to find a Dolphin fan who’ll disagree with this list, but I guarantee every cheesehead around will be cursing me for ranking their pre-Favre NFL God where I did.
Top 10 Head Coaches in NFL History
10. Bill Cowher
Perhaps a surprise addition to this list, but he led the Steelers to 10 playoff appearances in 15 seasons and retired with a regular season record of 149-90-1, a playoff record of 12-9 and a Super Bowl win.
9. Tony Dungy
I know the popular choice would be Bill Belichick, but deep down inside you know Dungy’s the better coach. He boasts a regular season record of 127-95 going into the 2008 season, which gives him the highest winning percentage for a head coach since John Madden. He’s led Indianapolis to 10 or more wins in every season as their head coach (2002-present) and holds a 9-9 record in the playoffs with a Super Bowl ring.
8. John Madden
Madden was a Hall of Fame coach long before the popular video games made him a pop-culture icon. He retired with a 103-27-7 regular season record, which gives him the best winning percentage in NFL history (.763), and also went 9-7 in the playoffs with a Super Bowl victory.
7. Joe Gibbs
He led the Washington Redskins to three Super Bowl titles, and his 17 playoff victories are the third-most in NFL history (17-7). Odds are I’d have ranked him higher had he stayed away from the game, because each of his seasons from 2000 and beyond weren’t very impressive.
6. Bill Walsh
There are only three coaches in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with less victories than Walsh, who finished with a regular season record of 92-59-1. He led the San Francisco 49ers to three Super Bowl championships between 1979-88 and coached them to 10 or more victories in each of his final eight seasons as head coach.
5. Paul Brown
The man finished with an impressive regular season record of 213-104-9, a playoff record of 9-8 and brought home three NFL titles. Also worthy of note is the fact he only coached one losing season in the 17 he spent with Cleveland.
4. Tom Landry
His 20 playoff victories remain a record in the NFL (20-16). He also won two Super Bowls. Landry coached the same team from 1960-88, retired with a regular season record of 250-162-6 and won five conference championships. There’ll never be a better one in Big D.
3. Vince Lombardi
First off, I know what you’re thinking, and yes I agree he’s one of the most inspirational sports figures ever. Having said that, I couldn’t rank him higher than a guy who won four Super Bowls. Of course, there’s no denying his superiority in the playoffs, as he finished with an incredible 9-1 postseason record and brought Green Bay two Super Bowl championships.
2. Chuck Noll
He’s the only coach in NFL history with four Super Bowl rings and was the guy who led Pittsburgh to their first taste of true victory after 30 years of failure. He retired with a regular season record of 209-156-1, a playoff record of 16-8 and no one will ever forget his four titles in the span of six seasons.
1. Don Shula
Did you really think anyone else could take the #1 spot? Shula’s 328 regular season wins are the most for any coach in NFL history (328-156-6). On top of that you’ve got his 19-17 playoff record, two Super Bowl titles and ... oh yeah ... the only PERFECT SEASON in NFL history! If that’s not enough, he only coached two losing seasons in 24 as a head coach. Not too shabby, eh?
Honorable Mention
Bill Belichick
I’ll be honest and admit he lost points on this list for cheating. However, I’m not naive enough to contribute his coaching ability to that, and odds are he’ll climb much higher on this list before retiring. For now, the man’s 127-81 in the regular season going into this season, 15-4 in the playoffs and has won an impressive three Super Bowls. I guess his major drawback would be the four losing seasons he coached in Cleveland, but I guess they can’t all be perfect, right?
Marv Levy
Marvelous Marv coached the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. Even though they lost each of them, there’s something to be said for getting to the top of the mountain over and over and over and over; isn’t there?
Well, folks, I know I’m going to draw the ire of critics who think I ranked a certain coach too high or another too low, which is cool. I’m very much looking forward to your comments.
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hmmm, Shula failed to get Dan his ring....I donno about #1....
LOL @ no ring for Marino, but couldn’t agree more with the winningest coach ever receiving a top nod!
Great List guys!
Where is Papa Bear at? Curly Lambeau. You know the only coach to have a staduim named after him? How can you put Levy in there, as a honorable mention without naming Shcottenjeimer or Dan Reeves. Heck, where is Shanahan, he has got more rings and wins than Dungy. This is a BS list, evedentally you dont figure in coaches before 1970
It’s like I said, no one’s ever going to agree on this type of list. Levy has to be mentioned for leading his team to FOUR straight Super Bowls...I know he lost each one, but making it there that consistently is impressive. As for the other guys...all worthy candidates; but to your 1970’s comment, I’m pretty sure each guy between #2 - #5 was coaching before then.
Hmmm… Dungy ahead of Belichick? And Parcells is nowhere to be seen?
You stated Dungy had the best winning percentage since Madden with a record of 127 - 95 (57%) and Cowher who was ranked behind Dungy with a record of 149 - 90 - 1 (63%)......who’s doing your math? Poor listing with Cowher....should be ahead of Dungy.
I gotta throw Mike Shanahan into the argument. At least as an honorable mention.
146 W 98 L
8 Playoff Wins
Division Championships: 4
Super Bowl Wins: 2
Stunning list. Grade A stuff right there.!
vince lombardi was and is my all time favorite.
Dungy had the best winning percentage since Madden with a record of 127 - 95 (57%) and Cowher who was ranked behind Dungy with a record of 149 - 90 - 1 (63%)......who’s doing your math?
yes this is the best list possible . i agree with u griederon .
thanks for providing videos .
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Vince Lombardi +1
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