Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History

[PatsFanInVa]

As much as we all still have permanent butthurt over the "Hey why don't I talk to the JEST instead of getting ready for Green Bay" thing, it's worth remembering the last line of that write-up - from 1-15 to a Super Bowl appearance... and the Pats stayed a contender almost every year thereafter. Of course, the Belichick era stands apart... but all hate aside, Parcells made us a consistent contender.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

If Bill Belichick isn't in the top 5, it'll be a travesty. The entire league has spent the last decade either copying him or trying to respond to him.

I can list a top four:
Belichick, Brown, Lombardi, Walsh.
Alphabetically there, but you can make an argument for just about any order.
Belichick, Brown and Walsh all transformed the game during their eras. Lombardi = Five NFL titles...it's why his name is on the trophy.

 

[thechris]

Parcells way overrated. Shouldn't even be on the list IMO

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Come on. At least give him props for the classic line over the headset, "That's why you'll never be a head coach"

 

[captain stone]

Personally , when I saw the Voting 'Panel' of 'Experts' I stopped paying much attention to this list.

Cowherd? Rick Reilly? Chadiha?

Trey Wingo? And who the hell are David Fleming and Ashley Fox?
Is Suzy Kolber getting tips from Joe Namath?
Was Stu Scott too far up LeBron's azz to provide a list?

Basically the 4-letter network didn't seek any opinions other than those in Bristol.
Not that credibility really matters to them anyway.

 

[captain stone]

Re: Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Jimmy Johnson #13

There is an extremely short list of people who have won a championship as head coach in both the NCAA and in the NFL. Trivia that I previously did not know: Jimmy Johnson was a high school classmate of Janis Joplin.


Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Jimmy Johnson - ESPN

After spending two seasons (1977-78) as defensive coordinator/assistant head coach under Jackie Sherrill at Pittsburgh, Johnson got his first head coaching job at Oklahoma State, which he took to two bowl games in five up-and-down seasons. In 1984, Johnson was hired at the University of Miami to replace Howard Schnellenberger, who had just led the Hurricanes to their first national championship before accepting a job with the USFL. Miami went 8-5 in Johnson's first year but lost only four games the next four seasons, which included the 1987 national championship and two No. 2 final rankings.

In 1989, Jones bought the Cowboys, who had fallen on hard times under longtime coach Tom Landry. Jones' first order of business was to fire Landry -- who had led the team since its inception in 1960 and won two Super Bowls -- and replace him with his longtime friend.

Johnson's pro coaching career got off to a shaky start with a 1-15 season. Shrewd drafting helped Johnson restore the Cowboys to prominence, and he had them in the playoffs by his third season. In the 1992 season, the Cowboys won their first of back-to-back Super Bowls. But Johnson and Jones had been feuding over control, leading to Johnson's departure before he could pursue an unprecedented third consecutive championship. The team Johnson left behind was strong enough to win a Super Bowl two seasons later under Barry Switzer.​

Yeah, they both attended school in Port Arthur. I lived in Dallas from 1992-95, so I heard a lot
about that connection.

 

[captain stone]

Come on. At least give him props for the classic line over the headset, "That's why you'll never be a head coach"

To whom was he speaking when he said that?

 

[Froob]

Will be interesting how the top 4 go. Something like Lombardi and some order of BB, Walsh, and Noll. Lombardi's name is on the damn trophy, the guy's gotta be first. Kind of like the Red Aucherbach of the NFL.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

To whom was he speaking when he said that?

No names, but his initials are BB

 

[Ring 6]

As much as we all still have permanent butthurt over the "Hey why don't I talk to the JEST instead of getting ready for Green Bay" thing, it's worth remembering the last line of that write-up - from 1-15 to a Super Bowl appearance... and the Pats stayed a contender almost every year thereafter. Of course, the Belichick era stands apart... but all hate aside, Parcells made us a consistent contender.

I disagree with that. Parcells took us from bad to 2 playoff berths and a .500 record in 4 years.
We were 32-32 the first 4 years after he left.
We became a consistent contender 5 years after he was gone.
Many teams go from the cellar to decent, but we didn't become a consistent contender until BB and wouldn't have. The effect of Parcells was almost zero by 2001, unless you want to give him credit that a handful of players were acquired in his 4 years here that contributed after he was gone, but then every coach that failed and was followed by a winner would get that credit.

 

[mgteich]

Papa Bear Halas had SIX NFL titles.

I can list a top four:
Belichick, Brown, Lombardi, Walsh.
Alphabetically there, but you can make an argument for just about any order.
Belichick, Brown and Walsh all transformed the game during their eras. Lombardi = Five NFL titles...it's why his name is on the trophy.

 

[AzPatsFan]

Will be interesting how the top 4 go. Something like Lombardi and some order of BB, Walsh, and Noll. Lombardi's name is on the damn trophy, the guy's gotta be first. Kind of like the Red Aucherbach of the NFL.

Vince Lombardi was very smart and also very lucky. He took over a team with ten years of high draft picks when there was no AFL competition. The team was very mis-managed, and to his credit he straightened out the team with great coaching.

Among his decisions is one that might apply today to Tim Tebow. He took the ball away from Notre Dame golden boy QB, and former #1 draft pick, and said you are my RB now. Paul Hornung had a HOF career from there, whereas he was failing as a QB.

But Lombardi turned all that mis-used and latent talent into an all winning club for seven years or so, just like Belichick thru 2007. He had lots more talent when he started, than Belichick did in 2000.

But he quit, and got out of town, when the team was obviously getting old and fading. He let others clean up the subsequent mess, and do the reconstruction. The dirty work of rebuilding was not for him, and it protected his leading winning percentage.

Both Paul Brown and Bill Belichick built two winning teams from scratch, reducing their winning percentages. In Browns case, literally from nothing for the Browns, and an expansion club for his Bengals. Both were fired only ONCE. Surprisingly, by the same goofball owner.

I still think it is PB and BB #1 and #2 respectively.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Papa Bear Halas had SIX NFL titles.

Thanks.
Brain fart on my part.
I can't believe I left him off my list, especially when I'm literally staring at his biography on my bookshelf.
So, make it five:
Belichick
Brown
Halas
Lombardi
Walsh

Any order works for me.

 

[lurker1965]

Papa Bear Halas had SIX NFL titles.

Different than your point, but just to clear up any closet Bear fans.

And none of those were Super Bowls. (Yes, that is not his fault. But it is true nonetheless.)

Oh, Paul Brown has 7 (3 NFL, 4 AAFC that merged with the NFL) but none ended with Super Bowls so his name is not on the trophy.

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Curly Lambeau #10

Going deep into the archives for number ten. 226 wins and six championships, no matter what the era was, is very impressive; so is twelve consecutive winning seasons to start a coaching career, and after one losing season that was followed by fourteen consecutive winning seasons. Ironic coincidence that Lambeau and Lombardi both finished their legendary coaching careers with mediocre seasons as HC of the Washington Redskins.


Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Curly Lambeau - ESPN

Lambeau's Packers won a record six NFL titles, a total later matched only by fellow NFL pioneer George Halas with the Bears. Green Bay also advanced to two other championship games under Lambeau and had only one losing record in his first 27 seasons.

Lambeau's Packers were the first pro team to use the forward pass as an offensive weapon. Lambeau also is credited as the first coach to run daily practices and utilize pass patterns. He stands in fourth place in NFL history in games coached and victories.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Joe Gibbs #9

He may not have done much in his comeback in the 2000s, but Gibbs did coach his teams to three Super Bowl victories. Gibbs is the only person in NFL history with at least fifteen appearances to have a higher career winning playoff percentage than Bill Belichick: .708 (17-7) to .692 (18-8).


Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Joe Gibbs - ESPN

During a 12-season run as Washington's head coach that began in 1981, Joe Gibbs led the Redskins to four Super Bowls, winning three. His teams went to the playoffs eight times, and his worst record in that period was 7-9.

Gibbs played and coached under Don Coryell at San Diego State. Both men were greatly influenced by then-San Diego Chargers coach Sid Gillman, who recommended Gibbs for his subsequent job as offensive line coach at Florida State.

Gibbs served as a Coryell assistant two more times, from 1973-77 as running backs coach with the St. Louis Cardinals and 1979-80 as offensive coordinator of the Chargers. He was also offensive coordinator with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1978 under John McKay, whom he also served at USC for two seasons (1969-70). Gibbs' final stop in the college ranks was at Arkansas, where he worked under Frank Broyles for two seasons (1971-72).

In 1981, Gibbs took the job in Washington, where he won Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks -- Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Mark Rypien -- a feat which hasn't been duplicated.​

Note: the article states that "is the best out of the 14 coaches with at least 10 postseason appearances.". The key words are "of the 14 coaches", which probably refers to something that I am overlooking - but I am going to call them out regardless. Three other coaches with at least ten postseason appearances have better career playoff winning percentages: Vince Lombardi, .900 (9-1 in 10 games); Tom Flores, .727 (8-3 in 11 games); Bill Walsh, .714 (10-4 in 14 games)

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Tom Landry #8

It is too bad they coached in different eras, because a Landry vs Belichick Super Bowl would have been great for football purists, and even greater for those that enjoy watching the media not know what to do with themselves.

A few stats:
- two Super Bowl championships won
- five conference championships
- 36 career playoff wins (tied for most in NFL history)
- 18 years in the playoffs (2nd most in NFL history)
- 250 wins (3rd most in NFL history)


Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Tom Landry - ESPN

Landry was the head coach when the Dallas Cowboys played their first game in 1960 and held the job for 29 seasons. During his tenure, the team won two Super Bowls and played in three others. Landry was known both for his unflappable personality and his on-field innovations.

As head coach of the Cowboys, Landry perfected the flex defense and the shotgun offense. His teams had 20 consecutive winning seasons, a stretch that included 13 division titles, 18 playoff berths and victories in Super Bowls VI and XII. The Cowboys also played in Super Bowls V, X and XIII.

Landry served in World War II before finishing his collegiate career at Texas. He had a seven-season professional career as a defensive back, one season for the New York Yankees of the All-America Football Conference and six with the New York Giants. Although Landry was still an active player, head coach Jim Lee Howell made him a coach in charge of the Giants' defense in 1954. Landry implemented changes in the alignment, going from a 5-2 front to a 4-3 and creating the middle linebacker position.

His playing career ended a year later, and he remained on the coaching staff. The Giants' offensive coordinator at the time was another future coaching legend, Vince Lombardi. The two would match wits against one another in the 1966 and '67 postseasons, when Lombardi's Packers denied Landry's Cowboys spots in the first two Super Bowls.​

Program Alert: if anybody is interested, espn2 is broadcasting the list right now.

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Tom Landry #8

It is too bad they coached in different eras, because a Landry vs Belichick Super Bowl would have been great for football purists, and even greater for those that enjoy watching the media not know what to do with themselves.

A few stats:
- two Super Bowl championships won
- five conference championships
- 36 career playoff wins (tied for most in NFL history)
- 18 years in the playoffs (2nd most in NFL history)
- 250 wins (3rd most in NFL history)


Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Tom Landry - ESPN

Landry was the head coach when the Dallas Cowboys played their first game in 1960 and held the job for 29 seasons. During his tenure, the team won two Super Bowls and played in three others. Landry was known both for his unflappable personality and his on-field innovations.

As head coach of the Cowboys, Landry perfected the flex defense and the shotgun offense. His teams had 20 consecutive winning seasons, a stretch that included 13 division titles, 18 playoff berths and victories in Super Bowls VI and XII. The Cowboys also played in Super Bowls V, X and XIII.

Landry served in World War II before finishing his collegiate career at Texas. He had a seven-season professional career as a defensive back, one season for the New York Yankees of the All-America Football Conference and six with the New York Giants. Although Landry was still an active player, head coach Jim Lee Howell made him a coach in charge of the Giants' defense in 1954. Landry implemented changes in the alignment, going from a 5-2 front to a 4-3 and creating the middle linebacker position.

His playing career ended a year later, and he remained on the coaching staff. The Giants' offensive coordinator at the time was another future coaching legend, Vince Lombardi. The two would match wits against one another in the 1966 and '67 postseasons, when Lombardi's Packers denied Landry's Cowboys spots in the first two Super Bowls.​

Program Alert: if anybody is interested, espn2 is broadcasting the list right now.

Landry was a legend and an innovator. Few realize that he was DC and Lombardi was OC on the Giants before they went to Dallas and GB.
Landry, for whatever reason, struggled in the big ones. He got to an awful lot of them, and would have a much different legacy if he did better in them.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

For Halas you don't really go by the number of titles, so much as his personal innovations -- I mean, invented the T formation? What's football without that?

But if you think about it, he was a coach since the 20s, so getting 6 titles is almost underperforming. (I believe he hung up the clipboard in the 60s?)

Add to that that the early titles were in miniscule leagues. Like it or not, it's just way easier to win a title by having the best W/L record out of 10 teams, or to win a single-game championship, than to basically beat out 32 other teams (3-4 of them in succession in the post-season tournament.)

He's more the guy who was there for the whole early history of the league, & helped invent it (including helping to invent the game itself.)

 

[JMC00]

Belichick not even in ESPN's top 5

Greatest Coaches: Belichick No. 7 - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston