10. John Madden: More Than a Game

John Madden, the legendary icon had arguably the largest impact on the NFL than any coach in history. Not only did he boast a stout .759 winning percentage he also was a legend in the broadcast booth. On top of his accolades, many in today’s world recognize him as the face of the most popular football video game. Make no mistake, John Madden’s impact has him worthy of making this list.

• Career Winning Percentage: .759

9. Bill Parcells: The Big Tuna’s Impact 

Bill Parcells, known as “The Big Tuna,” left a long-lasting impact on multiple franchises during his coaching career. With two Super Bowl victories and a reputation for turning struggling teams into contenders, Parcells’ emphasis on building a strong foundation and maximizing player potential solidified his status as a coaching legend. 

• Career Winning Percentage: .569

8. Joe Gibbs: Three Super Bowl Triumphs 

Joe Gibbs, the esteemed head coach of the Washington Redskins, guided his team to three Super Bowl victories. Gibbs had the ability to adapt to different personnel while he emphasized strong team unity. There was no one more loyal to his franchise than Gibbs. He went on to coach the team for a second stint from 2004-2007.

• Career Winning Percentage: .621

7. Tom Landry: The Mastermind of the Flex Defense 

Tom Landry, the legendary coach of the Dallas Cowboys, revolutionized defensive strategy with the introduction of the Flex Defense. He also created the 4-3 defense which has become a standard in today’s NFL. Landry’s innovative formations and calm demeanor on the sidelines made him one of the most respected figures in the game. 

• Career Winning Percentage: .607

6. Paul Brown: The Innovator

Paul Brown, an unparalleled innovator, left his mark on football as both a coach and an executive. Brown was the first Head Coach in history to study game film and test his players on the playbook. Brown’s groundbreaking contributions to the passing game, unwavering attention to detail, and emphasis on fundamentals paved the way for future generations of coaches.

• Career Winning Percentage: .672

5. Chuck Noll: The Builder of Dynasties 

Chuck Noll, the legendary coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, crafted a dynasty that dominated the NFL throughout the 1970s. Garnering four Super Bowl victories, Noll instilled a culture of resilience and discipline, while building one of the best dynasties in football history. Noll built his teams through the draft and insisted on developing his players. A system the Steelers continue to utilize to this day.

• Career Winning Percentage: .566

4. Bill Walsh: Architect of the West Coast Offense 

Bill Walsh, a true visionary, transformed the landscape of offensive football. As the mastermind behind the San Francisco 49ers, Walsh orchestrated three Super Bowl victories and popularized the West Coast Offense. This system is still used today by many NFL teams with great success.

• Career Winning Percentage: .609

3. Don Shula: The Epitome of Consistency 

Don Shula’s extraordinary career spanned over three decades while he left his imprint on the NFL. As the winningest coach in league history (328), Shula’s unwavering dedication to preparation and consistency propelled the Miami Dolphins to unprecedented success. The Dolphins are of course still the only team to complete a perfect season. 

• Career Winning Percentage: .677

2. Bill Belichick: The Maestro of Strategy 

Bill Belichick, the great mastermind behind the New England Patriots dynasty, is widely regarded as the greatest strategic genius in NFL history. Already the winner of a record six Super Bowl victories, Belichick’s meticulous game planning and attention to detail have solidified his status amongst the greats. Now the only question left on his illustrious resume is if he can win one without Tom Brady. 

• Career Winning Percentage: .662

1. Vince Lombardi: The Epitome of Excellence 

Vince Lombardi, the iconic coach of the Green Bay Packers, epitomized the essence of excellence in the NFL. He went on to capture five NFL Championships, including the first two Super Bowls. Lombardi’s unwavering commitment to discipline and work ethic laid the groundwork for future generations of coaches. Lombardi never had a losing season in his 10-year career. The Super Bowl trophy is named in his honor and rightfully so. Lombardi is still the greatest NFL Head Coach we have ever seen.

• Career Winning Percentage: .738

Looking for more all-time great lists? Check out our top 10 tight ends of all time feature.

The post Top 10 NFL Coaches of All Time appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jeremy Trottier

The New England Patriots over the last two decades have been revered for two people, those being now Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady and head coach Bill Belichick.  With head coaching becoming more and more notable by the day and being the primary focus of if a team succeeds or not, we now have the chance to look back into history.  In this article, I will be ranking the top 3 Patriots head coaches of all time and explaining why they are ranked in that spot.  So without further ado, let’s start off with the obvious:

#1: Bill Belichick ”“ 2000 ”“ present

This is about as easy as it gets in ranking any position or coaching group.  There is an immediate and clear-cut answer, and we all know why.  Some may argue Bill just got lucky by drafting Brady, and that his coaching skill is lackluster.  That is all but the truth, as the teams he was coaching were never necessarily the big-name players outside a few exceptions, I mean a 7th-round quarterback was their WR1 for the latter half of their dominance, that being Julian Edelman.  Belichick was able to take Tom Brady, put anyone around him, and just work with the strengths of Brady until they won the championship each and every year.  Many will want to doubt his greatness and find ways to dampen his accomplishments, even I do from time to time, but it is not arguable that he is one of, if not the best head coach of all time.  The list of accolades goes on and on:

• 6x Super Bowl winner
• 3x coach of the year
• 2000s & 2010s all-decade team
• Executive of the year
• Most Super Bowl wins, Super Bowl appearances, playoff wins, and divisional championships as a head coach ever
• 291-146 head coaching record (.666)
• 31-13 in the postseason (.705)

If there is an accolade a head coach can achieve, Bill has it, and frankly he will probably continue to be the Patriots’ head coach for years to come. 

#2: Bill Parcells ”“ 1993-1996

Bill Parcells is widely regarded as one of the best head coaches of all time, yet many forget his stint in New England compared to his time with the New York Giants and as an executive later on.  His record may not show his strengths, going 32-32 in his time with the Patriots, but his accolades do.  Parcells turned the Patriots around from a team who had not been to a playoff game in 8 years to a team that was competing for a Super Bowl in the span of 2 seasons. 

In his first season with New England, Parcells struggled, coaching the team to 5-11 and 4^th in a division of 5 at the time.  However his 1994 campaign is his most notable, with Drew Bledsoe now steering the ship at QB, Parcells led New England to a 10-6 record, and their first playoff game in 8 seasons.  He also won coach of the year by 4 different standards (NFL, AP poll, Pro Football Weekly, Maxwell Football Club) which are the primary companies that have opinions on this debate.  Parcells would have another tough season in 1995 going 6-10 as Drew Bledsoe missed time, and then 1996 happened.  11-5, first in the division, a Super Bowl appearance for the first time in 11 years, and the 2^nd time in team history.  This was primarily a coaching endeavor as well, as Bledsoe struggled that season throwing 15 interceptions to accompany his 27 touchdowns, only had a Quarterback Efficiency Rating of 83.7 (QBR was not measured at this time) and a sub-60% completion percentage at 59.9%.  Overall, Parcells should be revered for kickstarting the Patriots’ era of winning. 

#3: Raymond Berry ”“ 1984-1989

Finally, we have Raymond Berry, who was essentially “that guy” for the Patriots before Parcells and Belichick came along.  Berry was widely renowned for his playing career, but he also coached 87 games for the Patriots later on.  87 games are the 3^rd most in New England history, and he also coached the 2^nd most playoff games for them at 5 and won the 2^nd most for New England with 3.  His most notable moment was bringing the Patriots to their first AFC Championship and Super Bowl in the 1985-1986 season, as well as a 48-39 overall record with the team.  Even though he never won a Super Bowl or a head coach of the year award with New England, he was a quality coach who had a lot of the firsts for the Patriots. 

The post Who are the top 3 head coaches in New England Patriots history? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jake Rajala

The football genius and Bill Parcells apprentice Sean Payton stepped away from football in 2022, but he stated that he could make a return to the football sphere in the future. It was a major surprise that Payton stepped away from the New Orleans Saints after unveiling a winning season “without Jameis Winston for 10 games”. Sure, Payton witnessed the struggles of coaching a Brees-less Saints team, as NO ranked 32nd in passing last season. Nonetheless, the Saints would likely have a floor of Jameis Winston at quarterback, a healthy Michael Thomas, Alvin Kamara (after a potential suspension), and a defense that features elite talent in each position group. Furthermore, the Saints have consistently drafted really well each offseason in the Payton-Mickey Loomis era.

It was surprising to witness Payton exit his beloved Saints team in 2022. Although, it’s Payton’s heart and burnout is real for every person on this green planet. It’s also safe to say that the fact that the Saints had 57 different starters (an NFL record) in 2021 took a toll on Payton’s well-being in a short period of time. Outside of the Saints having musical chairs in many positions, the Saints sadly played four different QBs last season (Winston, Taysom Hill, Trevor Sieman, and Ian Book). Kevin James Payton will take a break from football and the Saints are full steam ahead with their familiar, bright face at the helm.

The Saints are relying on their former long-time defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to lead them into the battlefield moving forward. Allen was the HC behind the Saints 9-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season and he will be a strong, unique coach for the Saints.

Allen has really made his presence felt in the Big Easy thus far. He’s ended the “Taysom Hill experiment at QB” and the Saints have acquired another first-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft. Allen may not be Payton, but he will continue to roll the dice in his style.

I feel like Allen will truly bring the Saints back to the playoffs (at least) and the 49-year-old profile will remain their HC for many years to come. If the Allen-led Saints are coming off a season with at least one playoff victory, I don’t expect the Saints GM to have a chair open for Payton to return.

Allen is one of the best defensive minds in the NFL, he will have a sharp vision of the Saints, and he will know the right buttons with the defense to unleash havoc.

If Payton doesn’t have a realistic path available back to NO, I expect him to be a perfect candidate to land with the Dallas Cowboys beyond 2022. Tom Brady made a comeback and I wouldn’t be shocked if the 58-year-old Saints legend made a nearby return to the NFL and Cowboys. The Payton ties to Dallas have clearly been on fire in each of the past few seasons. As widely enunciated, Payton was a former Cowboys assistant with Bill Parcells from 2003 until 2005. The Dallas Cowboys are also a greek god-like football franchise and Austin, TX eats, breathes, and sleeps football. It would be poetic if Payton returned to the Cowboys as a wiser and more confident coach.

The most important attraction for Payton is unequivocally Dak Prescott. The Cowboys QB threw for 4,449 passing yards and 37 passing touchdowns in 2021. Prescott literally broke Tony Romo’s single-season passing touchdown record last season. He was also on pace for a career-best season in passing yards in 2020 prior to his season-ending injury. The 28-year-old is still scratching the surface and his potential is off the charts. It’s also fascinating that Payton had a positive impression of Prescott in his very early career. In Nov. of 2018, Payton called Prescott “an exceptional leader” and he held a positive notion of his dual-threat ability, per Saints Wire. I do believe Winston and Allen will be a great HC-QB combination, but the Cowboys would display the more potent HC-QB combo with Prescott and Payton.

The Dallas Cowboys defense that led the league in takeaways last season also has a d-unit that may have younger, more superb talent than the Saints defense. The 2021 Defensive Rookie of The Year Micah Parsons is “11 years younger than Saints LB Demario Davis” and CB the 23-year-old Trevon Diggs is also a bit more efficient than the veteran Marshon Lattimore. The Cowboys top edge rusher Demarcus Lawrence is a few years younger than Cameron Jordan and playing at an extremely high level, as well.

The electric 23-year-old Ceedee Lamb (1,102 yards in 2021), the recently extended Michael Gallup, and Zeke Elliot (979+ rushing yds in each season) are also blue-chip offensive pieces for Payton. The Cowboys still have their rockstar LT Tyron Smith, while the cap-strapped Saints lost Terron Armstead to the Miami Dolphins this offseason. The Cowboys arguably have the easiest divisional competition in the NFL and Payton has to be enticed about playing the NFC Least squads. The 2021 second-place NFC East team in the Philadelphia Eagles is the opposite of the 2021 NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers (and every other division champion), which was evident in the Buccaneers thrashing of the Eagles in the recent NFL wildcard game.

If Mike McCarthy can’t utilize the Cowboys properly and lock in an elusive playoff victory, I believe Jerry Jones will be interested in upgrading the head coach spot by inking the shiny, offensive mind Sean Payton. If Payton is open to being an OC for the Cowboys, Jones could still replace Kellen Moore with the former middle school offensive coach. The other former NFL QB Moore could also have a terrific 2022 season with the Boys offense and potentially be hired as a head coach next offseason, which would surely open the OC door for Payton. All in all, the reigning NFC East champions are honestly the perfect combination of destination, QB, and roster talent for the former Cowboys coach.

The post Why Sean Payton should join the Cowboys in the future appeared first on Pro Football Mania.