Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History

[jmt57]

The World Wide Leader is using up some of this dead time until training camps open to count down their list of who they consider to be the twenty greatest coaches in NFL history. (Apologies in advance for the link to BSPN).

Without even considering who else was or was not on the list, the first name I saw caused me to literally close my eyes and shake my head. While he did indeed finally win a championship, to me he was a vast underachiever. The personnel on that Tampa Bay defense was so very good that to me that team should have done much more during those years, even after taking in to consideration how very difficult it is to get to the Super Bowl, and even more difficult to win one. Players drafted under the Sam Wyche regime that was just about to turn the corner laid the groundwork for the success that followed, and they never would have sealed the deal unless he was let go and Jon Gruden was brought in.



Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Tony Dungy - ESPN

The Buccaneers, who hadn't reached the playoffs since 1982, made Dungy their head coach in 1996. One of Dungy's first moves in Tampa Bay was to hire Monte Kiffin, who had been linebackers coach with Dungy in Minnesota, as the Bucs' defensive coordinator. Dungy and Kiffin implemented their version of the Cover 2 defense to combat the West Coast offenses of the day. The Bucs' defense ranked in the top 10 in yards allowed in five of Dungy's six seasons.

Dungy led Tampa Bay to the playoffs four times, including a trip to the 1999 NFC Championship Game. The Bucs fired Dungy after back-to-back first-round playoff losses, and the team he left behind won Super Bowl XXXVII the following season.

Indianapolis wasted no time in hiring Dungy and became a perennial championship contender. In Dungy's seven seasons, the Colts earned five division titles, won 76 percent of their regular-season games and registered double-digit victories each year. They went to two AFC Championship Games, winning in the 2006 season on their way to a Super Bowl XLI victory over Chicago. The Bears were coached by Smith, whose first NFL job was as linebackers coach for Dungy's Buccaneers.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Mike Shanahan #19

Interesting story about Shanny's collegiate playing days and a near brush with death that I do not ever recall hearing about previously.

Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Mike Shanahan - ESPN

In 1984, Shanahan got his first NFL job with the Denver Broncos as receivers coach under Dan Reeves, beginning a relationship with the franchise that would span nearly a quarter of a century. He became offensive coordinator the next season, working closely with quarterback John Elway. The Broncos had the league's No. 2-ranked offense in 1987 and reached Super Bowl XXII, where they lost to the Washington Redskins.

In 1988, Shanahan left Denver to become head coach of the Oakland Raiders. But his relationship with owner Al Davis, as well as the team's fortunes, quickly went south, and Shanahan was fired after a 1-3 start in 1989.

Shanahan rejoined Reeves' staff in Denver until moving to the San Francisco 49ers as offensive coordinator under George Seifert from 1992-94. The 49ers led the NFL in scoring all three of Shanahan's seasons and capped the stretch by beating the San Diego Chargers 49-26 in Super Bowl XXIX behind Steve Young's record six touchdown passes.

Shanahan started his third tour in Denver in 1995 -- this time as head coach, a position he would hold for 14 seasons. Shanahan's Broncos won 62 percent of their regular-season games, went to the playoffs seven times and were victorious in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII, a double exclamation mark at the end of Elway's Hall of Fame career. Shanahan initially kept the Broncos competitive after Elway's retirement, reaching the playoffs in four of the next seven seasons. However, after Denver blew a three-game AFC West lead with three games to play in 2008 to miss the playoffs for the third consecutive year, Shanahan was fired.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Sid Gillman #18

Considering how innovative he was and how far ahead of his time he was, personally I would have ranked Gillman a bit higher; he probably gets a bit of a short shrift because he was an AFL coach.

Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Sid Gillman - ESPN

The run game was king when Sid Gillman began his football career, but he believed in the potential of the pass. Al Davis, the late owner of the Oakland Raiders, once called Gillman "the father of modern-day passing."

"Sid Gillman is still the father of the modern-day passing game at all levels of football: the National Football League, collegiate football, high school football, and even down to Pop Warner," said longtime NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, who played under Gillman for three seasons. "The concepts that he developed are still being used at every level of football."

"We would sit in our installation meetings as an offensive team and for about two hours the offensive line coach would install all these running plays, and so finally that would be over and all the offensive lineman would leave and it would be the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends," said Jaworski. "And Sid would go right up in front of the team and say, 'All right, offensive guys, we just wasted two hours trying to gain 3 yards. Now we're going to put in the passing plays.'"​

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Marv Levy #17

Some Marv Levy trivia from the article:
- has a master's in English history from Harvard
- gave Bill Walsh his first college job
- was on George Allen's staff with the Rams and Redskins
- as a CFL head coach he went to three Grey Cup championships, winning twice

Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Marv Levy - ESPN

Levy coached the Buffalo Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990s, an unprecedented feat, but his teams never won the big game.

In 1988, the Bills reached the AFC Championship Game in what would be the first of six consecutive playoff trips, a streak that was capped by four straight Super Bowl appearances. The most heartbreaking of Levy's four championship losses was the first, when Bills kicker Scott Norwood missed wide right on a 47-yard field goal attempt with seconds remaining in what would be the New York Giants' 20-19 Super Bowl XXV victory. The other three losses were each by at least 13 points.

Levy retired after the 1997 season (one year after Kelly's career ended), having taken the Bills to the playoffs eight times in his 11 full seasons. At the time, Levy was 10th on the list of career coaching victories. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001, and later returned to the Bills in a front-office capacity.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Hank Stram #16

Matriculating his way to number sixteen...

Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Hank Stram - ESPN

As an AFL coaching pioneer whose success carried over to the NFL, Hank Stram made his mark on the sport as both a winner and an innovator.

Stram's teams won three AFL championships and played in two of the first four Super Bowls, winning one.

His coaching innovations can still be seen in today's game. He is credited for developing the moving pocket, which he used to take advantage of quarterback Len Dawson's mobility. He also was the first to use two-tight-end sets to provide extra protection against the pass rush. On the other side of the ball, Stram was the first to stack his defensive front seven with the linebackers right behind the down linemen.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Bud Grant #15

Bud Grant trivia: although he never won a Super Bowl as an NFL head coach, he was a player on an NBA championship team and also won four CFL Grey Cups as a head coach. As a player or coach he took part in eleven professional championship games.

Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Bud Grant - ESPN

In 28 seasons as a head coach in Canada and with the Minnesota Vikings, Grant's teams reached the playoffs 20 times, played in 10 championship games and won four championships. The biggest knock against Grant is that none of those titles came in the NFL.

He was one of the CFL's top receivers for four seasons, making such an impression with his on-field adjustments that he was offered the head-coaching position in 1957. It was a smart move by the Blue Bombers, who would advance to six Grey Cups -- winning four -- in Grant's 10 seasons as head coach.

Starting in 1973, the Vikings went to the Super Bowl three times in four years, but each time, they came up short. Minnesota reached the NFC Championship Game in 1977, but that turned out to be Grant's last, best chance. He took the Vikings to the playoffs two more times but never advanced beyond the second round again.​

 

[ctpatsfan77]

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.

 

[captain stone]

Re: Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Hank Stram #16

Matriculating his way to number sixteen...

Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Hank Stram - ESPN

As an AFL coaching pioneer whose success carried over to the NFL, Hank Stram made his mark on the sport as both a winner and an innovator.

Stram's teams won three AFL championships and played in two of the first four Super Bowls, winning one.

His coaching innovations can still be seen in today's game. He is credited for developing the moving pocket, which he used to take advantage of quarterback Len Dawson's mobility. He also was the first to use two-tight-end sets to provide extra protection against the pass rush. On the other side of the ball, Stram was the first to stack his defensive front seven with the linebackers right behind the down linemen.​

Stram was also one of the first HCs to see beyond skin color when choosing players for certain positions,
e.g.: Willie Lanier at MLB.

 

[captain stone]

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.

Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll & maybe Joe Gibbs all say hello.

 

[mgteich]

I'd add Papa Bear Halas for consideration.

Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll & maybe Joe Gibbs all say hello.

 

[Fencer]

I'd add Papa Bear Halas for consideration.

I don't see how either Landry or Gibbs could deserve to be over BB. And I would disagree with putting Noll over him.

I have no problem with putting Brown, Halas, or Lombardi ahead of BB, nor vice-versa. That's just a choice between early innovators vs. later improvers. I think BB himself would rank Brown over BB.

I actually lean to Walsh over BB, but I also wouldn't much object to the reverse order.

 

[lurker1965]

Paul Brown, Vince Lombardi, Bill Walsh, Tom Landry, Chuck Noll & maybe Joe Gibbs all say hello.

It is E!SPN. Current time is favored. Heck, I'm amazed new coaches don't make it.

Heck, I would not be surprised by #2 Mangini and #1 Rex Ryan.

 

[lurker1965]

I'd add Papa Bear Halas for consideration.

And Curly Lambeau. But E!SPN will have no coaches that coached before 1982 except maybe Lombardi and Knoll. Knoll because he retired in like 1985 or something and Lombardi because of the trophy.

 

[robbomango]

Dungheap at 20?!

http://gifsoup.com
"I'm so confused"

 

[SVN]

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

ESPN "Greatest Coaches in NFL History" voting panel: Chris Berman, Jeffri Chadiha, John Clayton, Colin Cowherd, Mike Ditka, Gregg Easterbrook, Herm Edwards, David Fleming, Ashley Fox, Greg Garber, Mike Golic, Suzy Kolber, Eric Mangini, Chris Mortensen, Sal Paolantonio, Bill Polian, Rick Reilly, Mike Sando, Adam Schefter, Ed Werder, Seth Wickersham, Trey Wingo.

Cowherd ? Rick Reilly ?Chadiha ?

 

[jmt57]

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.

The series wraps up on Vince Lombardi's birthday, so that should erase any doubt just in case anybody was wondering who number one will be.

Personally I would put Paul Brown number two, but as mentioned above there tends to be more weight given to here and now. My guess is that Bill Walsh takes second place; between how good he was and how long ago it was that Brown coached, the number of complaints will be minimal.

Beyond that Belichick still has plenty of competition for the top five:

- George Halas
- Don Shula
- Chuck Noll

That is seven head coaches that I have listed above, so a couple of fan bases are not going to be happy regardless of the results - and don't forget that means that neither Tom Landry nor Joe Gibbs are any better than number eight.

It's really not as simple as it initially seems to put this ranking together.

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Tom Coughlin #14

Hats off for the two Super Bowl victories, but somehow this ranking seems to be a bit high; as mentioned previously, that may be due in large part to the weight given to what has happened most recently in these types of lists.


Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Tom Coughlin - ESPN

Coughlin is a resilient, old-school coach with two Super Bowl titles highlighting a long, successful career. Known as a strict disciplinarian, Coughlin quickly built the Jaguars into contenders from scratch before turning the Giants into two-time champions.

Four seasons into his tenure as New York's head coach, while many were questioning his job security, Coughlin led the wild-card Giants on an improbable 2007 postseason run that culminated with a stunning victory over the previously unbeaten and heavily favored New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.

History repeated four seasons later. With Coughlin again on the hot seat, the Giants eked out the NFC East title with a 9-7 record, then went on an out-of-the-blue run to a Super Bowl XLVI victory over the Patriots. The Giants set a record for worst regular-season winning percentage for a Super Bowl champion.​

 

[jmt57]

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.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: John Madden #12

Although it is true that Madden has the best winning percentage of all time for those that have coached over 100 games, I can't help but wonder if he would be ranked this high if not for his post-NFL career as a broadcaster and face and voice of many commercial endorsements.


Greatest Coaches in NFL History - John Madden - ESPN

In 10 seasons as head coach of the Oakland Raiders, Madden never had a losing record and won 17 straight games at one point. His teams won seven division titles, including five in a row, and one Super Bowl. They made eight playoff trips and got at least as far as the conference championship game seven times. He compiled a regular-season career winning percentage of .763, best in NFL history among coaches with at least 100 games. Only George Halas and Curly Lambeau reached 100 career wins at a younger age than Madden.

Madden played both offense and defense at Cal Poly and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, but an injury cut short his playing career. His main coaching experience before reaching the pro level came on Don Coryell's staff at San Diego State in the mid-1960s.

At the age of 30 in 1967, Madden joined the Raiders staff as linebackers coach under John Rauch. That season, Oakland won the AFL championship and lost to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl II. The Raiders went 12-2 the next season and lost in the AFL Championship Game. Rauch, tired of Al Davis' hands-on ownership style, resigned and became head coach of the Buffalo Bills. Davis handed over the reins to Madden, who helped the Raiders establish themselves as an NFL power in the post-merger era.

Madden retired from coaching at age 42 after the 1978 Raiders failed to make the playoffs. He was succeeded by receivers coach Tom Flores, who would lead the team to two Super Bowl victories. Madden then began a storied career in broadcasting and eventually reached new levels of fame thanks to the video game bearing his name. Madden was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.​

 

[jmt57]

Top 20 Greatest Coaches in NFL History: Bill Parcells #11

Something tells me that a few people here will have strong feelings - both positive and negative - about this ranking. I had forgotten that Sean Payton had at one time been one of Parcells' assistant coaches.


Greatest Coaches in NFL History - Bill Parcells - ESPN

Bill Parcells is one of the most influential and successful coaches in NFL history and is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2013 class. He gained a reputation for turning struggling franchises into winners and was the first coach to take four franchises to the postseason.

In 19 seasons as a head coach, he won two Super Bowls (1986, '90) with the New York Giants and led the New England Patriots to a third (1996). He took the New York Jets within one game of his fourth Super Bowl in the 1998 season.

His teams finished .500 or better 14 times, made 10 trips to the playoffs and won five division titles. With an overall regular-season record of 172-130-1, he ranked 10th in career wins when he retired for good from the Dallas Cowboys in 2006. (He also had "retired" after leaving the Giants in 1990 and the Jets in 1999.) After he left Dallas, he helped build a playoff team as an executive with the Miami Dolphins.

Each team he took over had won five or fewer games the previous season. And all four times, Parcells had the team in the playoffs by his second season. His most extreme turnaround was with the Jets, who were 1-15 in 1996 before hiring Parcells. They went 9-7 in his first season and 12-4 in his second, when they won the division title and reached the AFC Championship Game. It was the best two-year turnaround for a 1-15 team in NFL history.​