It isn’t easy to keep your job as a coach in the NFL. The carousel spins and when it stops there are usually multiple people out of jobs. Harder to find a permanent seat than one in musical chairs. Here’s a look at each franchise’s top sideline boss in the Super Bowl era.
Arizona Cardinals: Bruce Arians
A two-horse race between Bruce Arians, now the coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Don Coryell, better known for his years in San Diego. Since Coryell will stand tall with the Chargers, the nod goes to Arians here.
Atlanta Falcons: Mike Smith
Dan Reeves got the Dirty Birds to the Super Bowl. It isn’t enough to offset his sub-.500 mark as coach in Atlanta. Mike Smith finished his run 20 games over .500, made the playoffs four times and won two NFC South championships. He also was AP Coach of the Year in 2008.
Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh
John Harbaugh and Brian Billick each brought a Super Bowl title to Baltimore. Harbaugh’s resume following Billick is impressive as it was not an easy act to come in and thrive.
Buffalo Bills: Marv Levy
Yes, there were the four Super Bowl losses. However, that also meant the Bills made it to four Super Bowls under Marv Levy. An incredible accomplishment.
Carolina Panthers: Ron Rivera
A slight edge goes to Ron Rivera over John Fox based on the better winning percentage (.559 to .507) despite Fox having more success in the postseason.
Chicago Bears: Mike Ditka
Four coaches after George Halas all had sub-.500 records. It was time to bring in someone who was the Chicago Bears. Mike Ditka delivered on all levels. A 15-1 season, a Super Bowl and memories that still linger from his 1982-1992 run. Easy pick.
Cincinnati Bengals: Paul Brown
He didn’t get them to a Super Bowl. But without Paul Brown there would be no Bengals. Two division championships and three playoff berth top Forrest Gregg and Sam Wyche advancing the Bengals to the big game. Marvin Lewis was around along time and that’s fine but not gonna win this honor.
Cleveland Browns: Marty Schottenheimer
Going to give the nod to Marty Schottenheimer over Blanton Collier, whose championship season came prior to the Super Bowl. Collier did win three consecutive Century Division championships. Schottenheimer won three Central Division crowns in a row. Not an easy pick but have to ignore the pre-Super Bowl success.
Dallas Cowboys: Tom Landry
Twenty-nine years and two Super Bowl championships and five NFC championships put Tom Landry on the Mount Rushmore of NFL coaches.
Denver Broncos: Mike Shanahan
Mike Shanahan erased the Super Bowl curse with two titles. He spent 14 years with the Broncos and had a winning percent better than .600.
Detroit Lions: Jim Caldwell
The Lions don’t have much of a positive history since the inception of the Super Bowl. They haven’t played in one. Jim Caldwell spent four years with the powder blue and got them to the playoffs twice. His .563 winning percentage defies the franchise pattern of losing.
Green Bay Packers: Vince Lombardi
Legendary. A man who defined champions and coaching.
Houston Texans: Bill O’Brien
Not much to choose from in Houston. Two other full-timers before Bill O’Brien, who gets the nod with a mark that is four games over .500.
Indianapolis Colts: Tony Dungy
This is a tricky one. Could have either been Don Shula or Dungy. However, Shula takes a knock for losing to the Jets in Super Bowl III. Dungy actually has a better winning percentage with the franchise than Shula. He was 7-6 in the postseason while Shula was 2-3. Don’t worry, though, there is a place for Shula on this list.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Tom Coughlin
Tom Coughlin coached the Jaguars as an expansion team. His time in Jacksonville saw him exit with a mark over .500. What is more remarkable is he is the only coach in franchise history to have more wins than losses.
Kansas City Chiefs: Hank Stram
A legend in Kansas City. Hank Stram was the guiding light of the team that stung the Vikings in Super Bowl IV. An innovator and the only coach to have sent the team to a Super Bowl.
Los Angeles Chargers: Don Coryell
Air Coryell. The term still hovers around the franchise with the move from SD to LA. He put the lightning strike into the Chargers offense. A narrow edge over Marty Schottenheimer.
Los Angeles Rams: Chuck Knox
It would be so easy to use recency bias and say Sean McVay. He could wrest the crown from Chuck Knox by the time he is through with the Rams. Chuck Knox was a remarkable 54-15-1 in his first go as Rams boss. Even with a poor return he still remained 21 games over .500. The second stint makes him vulnerable to McVay at the rate he is winning.
Miami Dolphins: Don Shula
Legend. Icon in Miami. Perfect season, something no one else has accomplished. Don Shula is a slam dunk.
Minnesota Vikings
Bud Grant got the Vikings to multiple Super Bowls. They didn’t win any but his presence remains revered in Minnesota.
New England Patriots: Bill Belichick
Six Super Bowl rings. Bill Belichick is the Secretariat of the Patriots coaches, 31 lengths better than everyone else.
New Orleans Saints: Sean Payton
Sean Payton brought a winning attitude and a Super Bowl crown to the Big Easy. He keeps the Saints marching.
New York Giants: Bill Parcells
Bill Parcells and Tom Coughlin both won two Super Bowls with the Giants. Parcells’ overall record bests Coughlin by a wide margin and earns him this spot.
New York Jets: Weeb Ewbank
Weeb Ewbank coached the Jets to victory in Super Bowl III. No other coach has brought the Jets to the big game. It was a monumental upset and cements Ewbank as the Jets’ iconic coach.
Oakland Raiders: John Madden
An absolute genius and force on the sideline, John Madden was the pride of the Silver and Black. His stay was far too short as coach but his influence remains.
Philadelphia Eagles: Doug Pederson
Andy Reid had a great run in Philly. No ring. Doug Pederson has had a far shorter tenure but has a ring and has the team mirroring the city’s attitude as in fight, fight, fight.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Chuck Noll
Talk about a tough call. Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin. Three absolute brilliant coaches. Noll brought pride and titles to Pittsburgh, winning four without a loss. He was 16-8 in the postseason. Remarkable stuff that tilts the scales in his favor.
San Francisco 49ers: Bill Walsh
The Genius. One of the great minds in the NFL, Bill Walsh was the maestro behind the 49ers’ dynasty.
Seattle Seahawks: Pete Carroll
Well, he wasn’t good enough for the Jets or Patriots to keep. A stop to build a force at USC and then off to Seattle, where Pete Carroll continues to churn out winners.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tony Dungy
Jon Gruden earned the ring with the Bucs. He did it with Tony Dungy’s players. That’s common knowledge and no one takes anything away from the job Dungy did in Tampa Bay.
Tennessee Titans: Bum Phillips
Bum Phillips is the only coach in Oilers/Titans franchise history with more playoff wins than losses. That didn’t translate into a Super Bowl. However, his time with the Oilers is the stuff of legend.
Washington Redskins: Joe Gibbs
Another easy call. Joe Gibbs was the man who made the rules in Washington and his players followed them and executed his mindset. The first go-round was a high point for the franchise.
