As one legendary NFL coach once put it: Leaders are made, they are not born.
In the rich tapestry that is pro football history, we’ve seen a lot of different personalities roam on NFL sidelines. The league has not been short on firebrands willing to start contentious feuds all over the country on a whim. It’s had more than its fair of eccentrics whose singular focus on football served them and their players quite well. More often than not, in fact, the classic “Football Guy” coach is who our obsessive American culture has lionized as a hero time and again.
There have also been a lot of awful coaches in NFL history. “Black Monday” doesn’t become a de facto “holiday” for the sport without a consistent churn of incompetence. Some folks just don’t deserve that famous headset. They are not leaders, and they can’t be made into them.
But, every now and then, we’ve seen a truly great coach rise from previous irrelevance. That person with an undeniable charm, drive, and a forward-thinking approach to the games. That person who resonates with their team and fans. These are the sideline leaders we revere. These people elevate the sum of their parts, wring out every last drop of talent and effort from their squads, and become a staple of their city’s history.
The list below breaks down the best-ever coach for all 32 NFL teams. It accounts for performance, cultural impact, longevity, and even whether someone was simply the most prudent pick of an otherwise forgettable litter. Some of these selections are obvious no-brainers, ones who are probably already on your mind. Others, there was a bit more debate.
Let’s dive in.
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