13. Chuck Knox
Regular-season record: 186-147-1
Postseason record: 7-11
Los Angeles Rams, 1973-1977
Buffalo Bills, 1978-1982
Seattle Seahawks, 1983-1991
Los Angeles Rams, 1992-1994
A football fundamentalist above all else, Knox was known for his “run-run-pass” offensive philosophy and stout defenses. In 13 of his 22 years as a head coach, his defenses ranked in the top 10 in points allowed, and his 1974 and 1975 Rams led the NFL in that category. The 1973 Rams were probably Knox’s best team — they finished first in points scored and fourth in points allowed and featured a rushing attack led by Lawrence McCutcheon and Jim Bertelsen that was extremely tough to stop. The Rams tied with the Dolphins and Vikings that season for the NFL’s best record at 12-2, but while Miami and Minnesota went on to face each other in Super Bowl VIII, the Rams were summarily dismissed in the divisional round of the playoffs by the Cowboys. That was the way for the Rams in the 1970s — they couldn’t get past the logjam of great NFC teams, and from 1974 through 1976, they lost three consecutive conference championship games. Knox also found success with the Bills and Seahawks, leading Seattle to its first conference title game in the 1983 season, but the Super Bowl turned out to be his white whale.