Top 5 NFL Coaches
Posted by Don M. Dumas on 07.11.2007
If you think your favorite team has enough talent to win it all, you're probably right. However, with the right head coach your team's chances of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy increases dramatically. 411mania's Don M. Dumas has compiled a list of the top 5 coaches in the NFL. So if your team's head coach is on this list, you might have to plan a celebration for February '08.
As I've mentioned in a previous article, all NFL teams have talent. Often times what separates a championship caliber team from a mediocre team is the man calling the shots.
So, for your reading pleasure I have compiled a list of the NFL's top-5 head coaches. The list only considers what these coaches have accomplished as head coaches; all success as an assistant or coordinator does not factor into this list.
Although not every coach on this list has won a Super Bowl, the teams they lead are consistently in the playoff picture. Therefore, if you find the head coach of your favorite team on this list, you can rest easy knowing that your team has the best man available leading your squad. So here they are…
Bill Belichick- New England Patriots
This choice is a no-brainer. Coach Belichick is the mastermind behind the NFL's latest dynasty. He has coached the Patriots to 3 Super Bowl victories and his poised for another run at the title in 2007.
Belichick started his head coaching career in Cleveland in 1991, where he made huge improvements. In his first year he doubled the Browns' win total (from 3 to 6). By his third season in Cleveland, the Browns were 11-5 and made the playoffs, where they advanced to the second-round. After a disappointing 1995 season, Belichick was fired.
His next head coaching gig was with the New England Patriots and the NFL hasn't been the same since.
After struggling in his first season in New England in 2000, Belichick led the Patriots to their first ever Super Bowl title in just his second season at the helm in 2001. That was just the beginning…
After failing to make the playoffs with a 9-7 record in 2002, the Patriots went on an improbable run in 2003 and 2004. The team won back-to-back Super Bowls and set a myriad of NFL records along the way.
In that two-year span, the Belichick-led Patriots set NFL records for the most consecutive overall wins (21) and the most consecutive wins during the regular season (18). From 2001-2005, the Patriots also set a record for most consecutive playoff victories (10).
I will admit, I was one of the skeptics who didn't know whether or not Belichick would have success after the departure of his two coordinators after the 2004 season. Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel left New England to coach the Cleveland Browns and offensive coordinator Charlie Weis is now coaching Notre Dame. Although the Patriots haven't won a title in the two years since the two left, they have won 2 division titles and advanced to the AFC title game once.
It is quite clear that Belichick is the glue that keeps this franchise together. His business-like approach is infectious in the locker room. All egos are checked at the door and the players just go out and get the job done.
If you need any further proof of how well Belichick coaches, consider that since 2002, the Patriots are 32-10 in games decided by 8 points or less. That reveals a lot about the never-say-die attitude of the team.
The only knock on Coach Belichick is: What's up with that headband?
Tony Dungy-Indianapolis Colts
Coach Dungy finally got his ring last February. But even without it, he would still be on this list.
Dungy began his coaching career in Tampa Bay in 1996. Not only did he take over a team with the ugliest uniforms in the history of organized sports, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had the ugliest track record in the NFL.
Perennial losers were the Bucs before Dungy's arrival, but things were about to look up in a hurry. His first season in Tampa Bay, the Bucs only won 6 games, one game less than they won the year prior to Dungy's arrival. That was the one and only time that a Dungy-coached team finished under .500.
After coaching the Buccaneers to the playoffs 4 out of 6 years in Tampa Bay, including three consecutive seasons from 99-2001, Dungy was fired. He was replaced by Jon Gruden in 2002 and the Bucs went on to win the Super Bowl with the team largely assembled by Dungy. Gruden deserves credit for fixing the Buccaneers' offense, but Dungy made that team believe that they could win.
The Dungy era in Indianapolis began in 2002 and his legacy continues to grow. The Colts have made the playoffs every year under Dungy, stretching his streak to 8 consecutive seasons (including his last 3 in Tampa Bay). The Lombardi Trophy currently calls Indianapolis home after the Colts beat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI. The way in which Dungy succeeds is almost as impressive as the feats themselves.
What Dungy has done is dispel the old myths of the coaching profession. It was believed that coaches had to be the tough, in-your-face, yelling type to succeed. Dungy takes a different approach.
Dungy always remains calm. You will not see him yelling and screaming on the sideline, or dressing down players in the media. His players respect that and it is manifested on the field. Dungy-coached teams are not the overly celebratory during good times, or overly somber during bad times. Level headedness is a hallmark of Dungy's teams.
As I mentioned before, Dungy would be on this list even without winning the big game last season. Before his title, in 2005, he became only the 6th coach to amass 100 victories in his first 10 seasons and he is the only head coach to defeat all 32 teams.
At the tender age of 51, Tony Dungy has a lot of coaching ahead of him. The only thing uncertain about his march to Canton is just how many Super Bowls will accompany him there.
Mike Shanahan-Denver Broncos
Along with Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, Mike Shanahan is the longest tenured coach in the NFL (not including Fisher's clean up job as interim head coach in the last half of the 1994 season). Both were hired as head coaches before the 1995 season but only one has hardware.
It might seem like ages ago, but Shanahan coached the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl victories following the '97 and '98 seasons. In 1999, the Denver Broncos went 6-10; their only losing season under Shanahan.
In 12 seasons, Shanahan's Broncos have made the playoffs 7 times. Year in and year out, they are around the top-10 in offense and defense, leading the AFC in total offense 5 times.
They are notorious around The League for having one of the most dominant running games in football. Running the ball is more of an attitude than anything else, and the Broncos certainly have attitude. That is a testament to good coaching.
What Mike Shanahan does is raise expectations in Denver. Second best is never enough. Either is trying hard. With Shanahan, a player either performs hard and at the highest level possible, or he's gone. Blown assignments, mental lapses, and fumbling the ball are the fastest ways out of the Mile High City.
What really impresses about Shanahan is, he's been successful with a lot of roster turnover. Coaching the same team for 12 years, roster turnover is inevitable. But Shanahan consistently gets his players to perform; whether they're new to Denver or have been there forever.
In the 2007 season, and far beyond that, we can expect Shanahan to be on the sideline, with that cold, steely glare, getting the most out of his team again.
Mike Holmgren-Seattle Seahawks
Mike Holmgren is heading into his 16th season as an NFL head coach. He spent his first seven years as the head coach for the Green Bay Packers, where he won his lone Super Bowl as a head coach following the '96 season.
In 1997, Holmgren led the Packers back to the big game but fell short of a repeat (Denver Broncos). In 2005 he led the Seattle Seahawks to their first Super Bowl appearance.
So, in 15 seasons, Holmgren has taken his teams to 3 Super Bowls. That's an average of one every 5 years; meaning Holmgren has adapted to the many changes that have occurred in the NFL since he became a head coach way back in 1992.
During his 15 seasons, Mike Holmgren as coached his teams to the playoffs 11 times. That is undoubtedly an impressive accomplishment. Even more impressive is the fact that in 7 out of those 11 playoff appearances, Holmgren's teams have won at least one playoff game.
That type of playoff success puts Mike Holmgren in the upper echelon of coaches.
Andy Reid-Philadelphia Eagles
Coach Reid is the only selection on this list without a Super Bowl title. However, his accomplishments in Philadelphia still warrant his being on this list.
In Reid's 8 years in Philly, the Eagles have made the playoffs 6 times. From 2001-04, the Eagles won an amazing 4 straight division titles. In the NFC East, that is no small feat.
During that spectacular run the Eagles made 4 straight NFC Championships games, with one appearance in the Super Bowl. In today's era, that type of conference domination is extremely rare and admirable.
What Andy Reid does is go against the grain. It is still the norm in the NFL to run the ball first and pass second. Reid passes first, and runs the ball second. It is said that the key to a championship is a good running game and a strong defense. Although that still might be the case, Reid has proven that there is always an exception to every rule.
Another telling statistic about coach Reid is his success after bye weeks. In his eight seasons, Reid has never lost a game after a bye week, compiling an 8-0 record. His preparation is uncanny, which helps explain his postseason success.
Since 2000, Reid's Eagles have endured only two 3-game losing streaks, including last season, where his team still recovered to win another division title. His ability to bounce back after losses is what separates Reid from the pack.
The only knock on Andy Reid is his questionable play calling at crucial moments late in the game. His pass first mentality has been criticized at times, with some people believing he should run the ball more late in games. I really can't fault the guy for doing what has been successful for him in the past.
Although new offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg (hired in '06) is now calling the plays, and Philly's running game now plays a bigger role in the game plan, Reid's go-for-the-jugular mentality is entrenched in the Eagle psyche.
With many years of coaching ahead of him at age 49, it is only a matter of time before Andy Reid wins the big game. If the Philadelphia Eagles are smart, they'll hold on to him until he does.
