NFL players get a lot of credit for their hard work and dedication, but where would they be without a good coach behind them? Football fans already know! A quality coach is absolutely essential. Even the best of the best players can’t shine without focused coaching. Their guidance and support lay the foundation for a winning season- even if their players aren’t expected to get past the playoffs. Check out our list of the top 2022 NFL coaches, ranked worst to best, to see where your favorite team’s leader lands.
Dennis Allen, New Orlean Saints
We still aren’t sure why Dennis Allen was the pick to replace Sean Payton as head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Sure, he has experience as a defensive coordinator for the Saints, but there are much more qualified people out there. Also, let us not forget that his time as the Raiders' head coach was less than thrilling! Some folks even say it was a disaster, but that’s for Raiders fans to decide. In the meantime, Saints fans will be gritting their teeth until Allen gives them a reason not to.
Matt Rhule, Carolina Panthers
Can the Carolina Panthers catch a break? It’s not likely. Their new head coach Matt Rhule sorely disappointed Panthers fans in his first two seasons. Will the third time be the charm? That’s even less likely. Rhule struggled during the draft and recruitment season almost as much as he struggled during football season. He doesn’t have a quarterback, and his roster is full of inexperienced (or disgruntled) players. There are even rumors that Rhule is on the chopping block. Yikes!
Brian Daboll, New York Giants
Brian Daboll is a fresh face for the New York Giants, but he is familiar with the New York football scene. Just last season, he absolutely transformed Josh Allen’s performance on the Buffalo Bills. Allen’s new groove was enough to convince the Giants that he is fit to lead. Now, he has an even bigger challenge ahead- turning David Jones’ career around. Both Daboll and Jones struggle with consistency, so our expectations aren’t too high. Resurrecting Jones’ talent is quite the feat!
Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Dan Campbell is no stranger to struggling teams. Before joining the Detroit Lions as their head coach, he coached the Miami Dolphins and the New Orleans Saints. Poor Campbell. Things only got worse for him when he joined the Lions. He didn’t have much to work with, though. His 2021 roster was severely lackluster. He didn’t have a single standout player join the team. One good thing that Campbell has going for him is his coaching staff. He managed to pick up a lot of former NFL players to help shape his team.
Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
The first of many fresh faces in the head coaching scene is Kevin O’Connell. The new Minnesota Vikings head coach doesn’t have much experience to pass judgment on, but that makes us even wearier. The 36-year-old has so much to prove this season. He isn’t entirely inexperienced, though. Vikings fans can expect him to bring his skills from all his time as quarterback coach for the Cleveland Browns and Washington Commanders to the team. He also spent time as an offensive coordinator for the Commanders and the Rams. We’ll keep our fingers crossed for him!
Robert Saleh, New York Jets
New York Jets fans were thrilled when Robert Saleh took over as head coach. Finally, they’d have a strong defense! Until they didn’t. The Jets' defense struggled all season, from start to finish. This was really disappointing because Saleh’s claim to fame is his defensive coaching skills. He spent twenty years as a defensive assistant and coordinator. There’s no excuse as to why the Jets' defense is so weak. Last season was a huge letdown for Jets fans. He’s going to have to work incredibly hard to change their minds.
Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears
Matt Eberflus is already making waves. The new coach of the Chicago Bears is ready to make the team relevant again! He even added Justin Fields to the team. Fields is a talented player, but this is especially beneficial because the Bears aren’t the youngest players on the field. But there is a catch. Eberflus is very traditional. He doesn’t stand for funny business, and he particularly doesn’t put up with fighting on the field. This could cause some tension on the team with the new players. Most of these college kids aren’t used to that level of discipline!
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Mike McDaniel is quite the character. His whip-smart quips during media conferences put his name on the map even before he accepted the head coach position for the Miami Dolphins. The team is in for quite a ride under his wing! Thankfully, he does have some experience. McDaniel worked with both Shanahans (father and son) and went to the Super Bowl twice. But he’s unpredictable! As long as he can hold his tongue and focus on the game, the Dolphins might make it to the playoffs. Just look at their roster!
Nathaniel Hackett, Denver Broncos
Nathaniel Hackett is a first-year head coach, so we can’t be too harsh. We still aren’t sure how he’ll lead the Denver Broncos, though. He’s certainly set up to win. His roster is bulked with superstars, Russell Wilson accepted his transfer deal, and Broncos fans are happy to have him. But could it be too much of a good thing? We’ve certainly seen how all that pressure can weigh on a fresh coach. But who knows? He could be the next Sean McVay!
Arthur Smith, Atlanta Falcons
While all the Georgia sports teams broke the state’s decades-long curse, the Falcons couldn’t deliver. Shocker. Will Arthur Smith be the one to finally turn things around? We aren’t betting on it. That curse is strong. Smith’s previous experience as the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator did break their sixteen-year scoring record, though. If he keeps that same energy in Atlanta, the Falcons could have a fighting chance! They did have a 7-10 record last year, which is actually impressive for the team.
Lovie Smith, Houston Texans
Lovie Smith made a name for himself while coaching the Chicago Bears. They had an impressive winning streak, and the Bears were back, baby! Their Super Bowl win set the Windy City on fire. But his fame soon faded away when he joined Tampa Bay. Even after taking over as the head coach of the Houston Texans, Smith hasn’t made any headway. How could he when his roster is a snoozefest (to put it lightly)? Texans fans can only hope for a miracle at this point.
Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas Raiders
Josh McDaniels would’ve ranked higher on our list of 2022 NFL coaches, but let’s face it, the man is a wild card! He’s going to have to work his tail off to get rid of the reputation he earned with the Denver Broncos. We’re still optimistic, though. Under his leadership, Mac Jones absolutely shined. Plus, new players like Derek Carr and Davante Adams could be exactly what he needs to pull the Raiders ahead. He also added the sleeper recruit, Brittain Brown, to the team during the draft. The running back was an absolute dream at UCLA.
Ron Rivera, Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders fans were more than happy to have Riverboat Ron as the new head coach. Rivera’s tenure as head coach of the Carolina Panthers showed his prowess for shaping up underdog teams. Sadly, Rivera received a cancer diagnosis shortly after joining the Commanders. This understandably slowed his speed. Since recovering in 2021, he hasn’t come back in full force just yet. Their offense is beyond disappointing, and Carson Wentz can only do so much as a center. We’ll give them some grace, but Rivera needs to pick up the slack sooner rather than later.
Kliff Kingsbury, Arizona Cardinals
Oh, Kliff Kingsbury… he could’ve had a ring! Sadly, the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals couldn’t maintain the team’s consistency. At the beginning of the season, the Cardinals put fear into all their opponents. Their offensive was unstoppable- until it wasn’t. The Cardinals quickly ran out of steam. They still made it to the playoffs, but that proved to be an even bigger challenge for the team. Kingsbury could have a legendary team if they actually built their endurance. Lesson learned! Hopefully.
Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bruce Arians dropped an absolute bombshell when he announced his retirement in March. Buccaneers fans just recovered from Tom Brady’s fake-out retirement news! Luckily, the team’s new coach Todd Bowles is up to speed. Bowles was Arian’s assistant coach, and the two are great friends. He also has some head coach experience from his seasons with the Jets. Not only that, but he was an NFL player for almost a decade! Nothing makes a better coach than hands-on experience. If all goes well, he could inch into a top ten spot next year.
Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys
Mike McCarthy’s time as head coach of the Dallas Cowboys hasn’t quite lived up to the franchise’s standards. Believe it or not, the Cowboys used to be one of the most intimidating teams on the field! Fans are really missing the team’s golden era these days. McCarthy does deserve some credit for his offense, though. They aren’t a total wash. If he’s able to get his defense up to speed, the Cowboys could be some serious competitors. Unfortunately, that’s not very likely. We’ll probably see Jerry Jones take over before the Cowboys make the playoffs!
Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
Nick Sirianni started his coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles in some hot water. People either absolutely loved him or absolutely hated him! He didn’t let all the talk get to him, though. In his first season, he managed a 9-8 record with the team. We’re sure Jalen Hurts' addition to the team didn’t hurt either. Coaches fought left and right to get the former University of Alabama quarterback on their team! Although he did get seriously injured in 2021, he’ll definitely bounce back with a vengeance.
Brandon Staley, Los Angeles Chargers
Brandon Staley is more than ready to bring a ring home for the Los Angeles Chargers. Did you see that viral press conference? He is absolutely amped for the season! Probably because he packed his roster full of brand new talent. We can’t forget Justin Herbert either. His performance last season was nothing short of stunning. He even ranked among the top 25 players under 25 in the whole league! Now with the Chargers’ bulked-up defense, the team is prepared for a winning streak.
Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Doug Pederson is back! After taking a year off post-Philadelphia Eagles fiasco, Pederson is ready to coach again. He has a lot to prove in the wake of his firing, and Jacksonville is the best place to do it. The Jacksonville Jaguars don’t have the best reputation. They’re more of a fun-time team than fearsome competitors. We’re sure Pederson is ready to change that. He’s too used to winning! There’s no doubt that Pederson is ready for another ring. Will the Jaguars finally shape up? Only time will tell!
Frank Reich, Indianapolis Colts
Frank Reich added Matt Ryan to his team, and Indianapolis Colts fans are ready to see how it all shakes out. Ryan and Reich have both struggled the past few seasons to stay above the water. That could all change, though! The pair has great chemistry. We’re still not sure where they’ll land. Reich had great quarterback power on his team in the last couple of years, but they couldn’t pull ahead of their competitors. Maybe Ryan will be more receptive to Reich’s pointed strategies and headstrong leadership.
Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
Zac Taylor ushered in a totally new era for the Cincinnati Bengals. It took him two years, but in 2021, he ended the Bengals’ decades-long losing streak. The team won their first playoffs in twenty whole years! Even though they didn’t win the Super Bowl, their progress is incredibly impressive. Taylor put the Bengals back on top. He has some stellar players on his roster too. Taylor formed great relationships with both Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. They’re not going anywhere anytime soon!
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Kevin Stefankski’s time with the Cleveland Browns hasn’t been the most consistent. His first season blazed the trail for a future Super Bowl win and won him the NFL Coach of the Year Award. But then he lost his quarterback. No one knew where the team would go from there. Deshaun Watson’s addition to the team set them back on track for success. Stefankski’s leadership and Watson’s athleticism have Browns fans itching for a winning season! The excitement is real.
Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
People will say that the Seattle Seahawks are slowing down, and while that is true, Pete Carroll is still chugging along! We’re excited to see how he pulls it off without Russell Wilson and Bobby Wagner. This challenge could be what Carroll needs to bring home another Super Bowl win for the Seahawks, eventually. Although Carroll gets a lot of flack for the Seahawks' recent performance, we can’t forget that he led the franchise to their first Super Bowl win ever. Carroll has great coaching skills up his sleeve. He just needs the right team!
Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills fans bodyslam tables no matter who the coach is, but we’d guess that the body-slamming never stops with Sean McDermott as the head coach. He took the Bills to the playoffs for the first time in 20 years! He managed to pull it off without an all-star roster too. Not only that, but he made the team a lot more attractive to recruits. New players know how valuable McDermott’s 20 years of coaching experience are. Will we see the Bills in the Super Bowl this season? Probably not, but there’s finally a glimmer of hope for the team.
Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers’ used to be the hottest quarterback on the field. As his performance faded, so did his potential to become one of the best quarterbacks of all time. That quickly changed with the addition of Matt LaFleur as head coach. Rodgers is back on his way to being on top! LaFleur has been with the Packers for only three seasons, but he breathed a new life into the team. They haven’t made it to the Super Bowl just yet, but that 39-10 record surely has them on their way.
Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans aren’t always a team that makes big waves during the season, but Mike Vrabel is doing his best to change that. He took the Titans all the way to a No. 1 seed team last season- even with the loss of potential MVP Derrick Henry. Vrabel managed to navigate this huge blow with grace. He took Ryan Tannehill under his wing, and the progress is evident. Tannehill only got more consistent throughout the season thanks to his coach.
John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
What do you do when your star quarterback gets set back by a devastating injury? Well, John Harbaugh takes life’s lemons and makes some killer lemonade. Last season, no one knew where the Ravens would go without Lamar Jackson as their quarterback. Instead of giving up, Harbaugh dedicated his time and effort to shaping up the undrafted Tyler Huntley. The Ravens got their footing back and started winning again! Even if they didn’t have the best record, this quick turnaround definitely shows how dedicated Harbaugh is to coaching.
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Is Mike Tomlin on your radar? He should be! The Pittsburgh Steelers head coach is one of the best in the NFL. Since joining the Steelers in 2007, Tomlin guided the team to ten playoff runs, seven division titles, three AFC championships, and a Super Bowl win. He’s actually never had a losing record during his fifteen seasons of coaching! It’s the longest current streak in the NFL. Another thing that makes Tomlin stand out is his keen eye during recruitment season. He is great at finding hidden talent to bring to the team!
Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
There’s no doubt that Bill Belichick is a coaching legend. He has eight Super Bowl wins under his belt, and he absolutely dominated the league. That all changed when his superstar Tom Brady left for Tampa Bay. Belichick is still a phenomenal coach, but his team struggles to perform without Brady’s backing. The pair was a match made in Heaven. Now, he’s playing catch-up and learning how to shape his new talent. Hopefully, he’s able to turn Hoodie into his next Brady.
Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay may be young, but he’s giving the old heads a run for their money. Since joining the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, he has already set plenty of records. McVay is the youngest head coach to win a playoff game, a Super Bowl, and the AP NFL Coach of the Year award! He’s already on his way to legendary status. Plus, everyone wants to play for him. The combination of McVay’s fresh approach and Matthew Stafford’s precision is irresistible to new recruits. He is redefining what it means to be a Ram!
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Shanahan has coaching in his blood. The current head coach of the San Francisco 49ers is the son of legendary Mike Shanahan. He’s following in his father’s Super Bowl-winning footsteps too. It didn’t take very long either. After only one season, the 49ers brought home a ring! While that was way back in 2017, there’s no doubt that his coaching skills are shaping up the 49ers for another successful season. We can’t wait to see what Shanahan does with his new talent this year.
Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
This could be controversial, but Andy Reid takes the top spot on our list of 2022 NFL coaches. You could be thinking, “but he didn’t even win the last Super Bowl,” and that is a fair point. There’s still no denying his success. He’s the only NFL coach in history to win 100 games! Reid took the once underestimated Chiefs and turned them into the team to beat. Of course, his decades-long experience certainly helped. Reid started coaching in 1992 as an offensive assistant for the Green Bay Packers and has only picked up speed since.