Throughout the month of June, we’ve ranked the NFL coaches in each division. Some divisions — like the AFC East with Bill Belichick — had obvious choices at the top. Others — such as the AFC South and NFC North — inspired some debate.
Now, we are ranking the top five coaches in the NFL. Belichick obviously made the list, but the other spots required plenty of deliberation. Three Super Bowl winning coaches didn’t make the list; meanwhile, a head coach without a Super Bowl ring cracked the top three.
Let us know if you disagree with our order or our selections. It was tough to omit a few coaches, but the NFL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league. These five coaches are the best five in the NFL heading into the 2018 season.
NFL Top 5 Coaches
- Doug Pederson, Philadelphia Eagles
It only took Pederson two seasons as a head coach to win his first Super Bowl. Now, he joins a very short list of current head coaches with a Super Bowl ring, and he has a roster ready to compete for another title in 2018. When Pederson took over in 2016, the Eagles weren’t exactly ready to contend, and they finished 7-9 in his first year.
However, they exploded for 13 wins last season, and Pederson won his first title despite losing MVP candidate Carson Wentz during the season. Pederson and backup quarterback Nick Foles outmaneuvered Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, and Pederson silenced any doubters in the process.
Doug Pederson is one of the best coaches in the #NFL. The 2018 #eagles… https://t.co/v5gceQ8Fai
— Louis Riddick (@LRiddickESPN) June 17, 2018
It only took Pederson two seasons to establish himself as one of the best coaches in the league. Now, he has plenty of job security and time to guide the Eagles to another Super Bowl.
- Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
Following three consecutive 7-9 seasons, Payton finally righted the ship and led the Saints back to the playoffs. New Orleans was a mainstay in the playoffs until Payton was banned from the league for a year as a result of Bountygate. It was an absurd suspension to begin with, and it took Payton and the Saints a few years to recover.
Last year, New Orleans tinkered with its offense a bit and relied less on Drew Brees and more on the combination of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram out of the backfield. Brees was still impressive despite being 38, and the Saints should be an explosive team again in 2018 unless he shows signs of aging.
Payton nearly had New Orleans back in the NFC Championship Game, but Minnesota’s last second Hail Mary ended the Saints’ season. He revamped the roster, and last year he reestablished himself as one of the best coaches in the NFL.
- Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Even with the playoff woes, Andy Reid is still one of the top coaches in the league. Reid has been a consistent winner in both Kansas City and Philadelphia, and he is perhaps the top offensive mind in the game. No one is better at scripted drives to start games or halves, and Reid has had success with nearly every quarterback who has played for him.
Reid is 53-27 in five seasons with the Chiefs, and he was 130-93-1 with the Eagles. He’s made the playoffs in 13 of 19 seasons as a head coach. Reid has a remarkable track record with developing teams, coaches and quarterbacks.
In the postseason, Reid is 11-13 — which isn’t necessarily bad. However, Reid’s teams have lost several playoff games they should have won, including last season’s home loss to the Tennessee Titans. Reid had a few terrific teams in Philadelphia, and they made the NFC title game in four straight seasons.
In 2004, the Eagles finally broke through and made it to the Super Bowl. Though they lost to the Patriots, it was an overwhelmingly positive step for Reid and the franchise. Reid hasn’t had much playoff success in Kansas City. He’s only 1-4 despite having great teams in the regular season.
Meanwhile, former Reid assistant Doug Pederson just defeated the Patriots in the Super Bowl with the Eagles. It’s a testament to Reid that his assistants have done well elsewhere. John Harbaugh, Ron Rivera, Pederson, Sean McDermott, Pat Shurmur, Todd Bowles and Matt Nagy are all current head coaches who were assistants under Reid.
Reid will have a new quarterback to develop this season in Patrick Mahomes. Given Reid’s track record, Mahomes will probably have success this season. There aren’t many coaches in the NFL better than Reid, but it’s worth wondering if he’ll ever have postseason success again.
- Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle’s run is coming to an end sooner rather than later, and despite Carroll’s youthful personality, he probably doesn’t have many years left in coaching. Carroll’s tenure in Seattle hasn’t been without some missteps, but overall he’s had an overwhelmingly successful eight seasons with the Seahawks.
There aren’t many coaches in the NFL who have accomplished more than Carroll. He is 79-48-1 in Seattle. He’s won a Super Bowl, nine playoff games, two NFC championships and four division titles with the Seahawks.
Before taking over in Seattle, Carroll began his head coaching career with the Jets in 1994. He then coaches the Patriots from 1997-1999, and he was 27-21 with two playoff trips in New England. When Carroll took over at USC, it only took him two seasons to turn the program into a contender. The Trojans won back-to-back national titles under Carroll, and they were the top program in the country during the 2000s.
Carroll was one play away from winning back-to-back Super Bowls. The Russell Wilson interception on the goal line might haunt him and Seattle fans for a long time, but they can at least look at the previous year’s Super Bowl triumph fondly. Carroll built a terrific team in Seattle, and they’ll still be a threat as long as he and Russell Wilson are in charge.
- Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Even though Belichick was outcoached in the Super Bowl by Doug Pederson, the New England coach is still the GOAT. Belichick has accomplished more than any coach in the history of the league.
Through 18 seasons with the Patriots, Belichick is 214-74 with five Super Bowl wins and eight Super Bowl appearance. The Pats have won nine straight division titles and 15 AFC East titles overall.
Belichick probably doesn’t have much longer left in the NFL. The franchise values Brady over Belichick, which isn’t much of a surprise. But if Belichick starts losing some control, he could decide to retire within the next few seasons.
"Belichick's genius isn't that he can react at the time. His genius is that he can prepare for the time." – @mlombardiNFL
— Bob Walsh (@CoachBobWalsh) June 26, 2018
Whenever Belichick does retire, he’ll leave behind a legacy unparalleled by any coach in NFL history. His legacy and Tom Brady’s legacy will forever be intertwined, and it’s probably true that neither would have become the greatest ever without the other.
Belichick is still sensational in every aspect of coaching. He’s a brilliant tactician and strategist both in-game and during weekly preparation. As long as Belichick is roaming the sidelines, the Patriots will be a Super Bowl contender.
