The 2025 NFL Season hasn't even ended yet, and there are already seven head coach openings. Being a head coach in the NFL has to be one of the hardest jobs in all of sports, and this is evidenced by the insane amount of turnover the spot has year after year.
There is also a chance that some playoff teams could part ways with their head coach. For example, the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers could legitimate consider moving on from Sean McDermott and Mike Tomlin if both teams go one-and-done, which is a strong possibility.
Good head coaches in the NFL come in all different shapes and sizes, and it's clear that there isn't a one-size-fits-all coach. For the final time in 2025, let's unveil our latest head coach power rankings. We're ranking coaches based on their performance in the 2025 season only.
Final head coach power rankings of the 2025 NFL Season
Fired: Brian Callahan, Brian Daboll, Raheem Morris, Kevin Stefanski, Pete Carroll, Jonathan Gannon, John Harbaugh
Right now, there are seven openings across the NFL, and some firings were perhaps a bit shocking. The most shocking one has been John Harbaugh, as after nearly 20 years on the job, he was let go by the Baltimore Ravens.
Most of the other firings were completely justified, and there are some appealing parts of each team that has an opening so far. There could be more if certain teams falter in the playoffs, as teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Buffalo Bills might be motivated to make some changes if they can't get over the hump.
Brian Callahan and Brian Daboll were the first two head coaches that got fired in 2025. The other coaches that were shown the door were all fired recently. Some of them, like Kevin Stefanski and John Harbaugh, might be able to immediately find a new head coaching job.
Harbaugh is the one to watch out for, as if he wants to coach in 2026, it seems like he'll have some suitors. This coaching cycle already appears to be a dramatic one, as the interview process has already begun.
25. Aaron Glenn, New York Jets
It's honestly a bit surprising that Aaron Glenn was not fired by the New York Jets, as his tenure was a downright disaster this year even if you take away how bad the Jets' roster was. It seems like Glenn won't be fired simply because the team previous said they believe in him, even if we all know that isn't the case. It's also not necessarily a good look to fire a coach after just one season, but it feels like it's only a matter of time before Glenn is given the boot.
24. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
Zac Taylor is returning to the Cincinnati Bengals even with having missed the playoffs for the third year in a row. The Bengals have not found stable success with Taylor at the helm, and missing the playoffs three years in a row with Joe Burrow at QB is simply inexcuable.
23. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders did a total 180 this year, but in a bad way. Quinn has parted ways with his offensive and defensive coordinators in an effort to get this operation on the right track, but after a very strong year one, the Commanders all of a sudden have a massive hill to climb even if they hope to sneak into the playoffs in 2026 as a Wild Card team.
22. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Not being able to adapt and put players in the right roles to success was a huge reason why the Kansas City Chiefs had a down year. The roster itself is average, and that is being generous, but with how highly regarded Reid is held, you'd have thought that he would have been able to dig out of this. It's clear that Reid's time in the NFL might be about up, as this operation has been carried by Patrick Mahomes for years now.
21. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Todd Bowles is clearly not a great head coach and has a ceiling in this role. He can be a great defensive coordinator and is absolutely a better coordinator than coach. Bowles seems to be returning to the Buccaneers for 2026, but the coaching job he did doesn't really reflect his deserving to return.
20. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
After a 7-1 start, Shane Steichen and the Indianapolis Colts were primed for something special, but Daniel Jones tore his Achilles, and the rest of the season just totally collapsed. Indy missed the playoffs and now have way more questions than answers, but we have to give Steichen credit for the wicked-hot start, as it's clear that Indy is talented and Steichen can be a winning coach in this league. But we can't rank him too high given how the season ended.
19. Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings
Kevin O'Connell and the Minnesota Vikings won nine games this year after a brutally tough start, and one year after winning 14 games in the regular season. The QB position was a sore spot for this team this year, but O'Connell's coaching job was good enough for this team to at least eek out a winning record in 2025. If the Vikings can't find stability at QB in 2026, O'Connell's ability to get that position shored up will be questioned.
18. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
It was a down year for the Detroit Lions after a 15-win season in 2024. Dan Campbell clearly didn't bring in the right coordinator replacements, as the defense was bad, and Campbell had to take play-calling duties away from John Morton, who also got fired. Detroit has all the talent in the world, but the team barely scraped by with a record above .500, and they missed the playoffs.
17. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
Dave Canales is a losing head coach so far, but being able to win the NFC South with this team clearly paints a good picture for his chances to last. The Carolina Panthers don't have a good enough QB to consistently win, which is a problem, but the regime that drafted Bryce Young isn't there anymore, so I believe they could eventually make a change.
16. Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints
Kellen Moore and the New Orleans Saints definitely took a noticeable step in the right direction in 2025, as it seems like Moore and rookie QB Tyler Shough can both stick around. Shough played quite well over the last month of the season, and the Saints could have ended the season on a five-game win streak. New Orleans could absolutely compete for the NFC South title in 2026.
15. Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins had a bit of a surge in the middle-late part of the season, but it was not enough. It feels like this was a relatively average coaching job. McDaniel seems to be sticking around in 2026, and that appears to be the right move at the moment.
14. Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys had the offense in a great spot, but it was the defense that ended up hurting this team in the end. Brian Schottenheimer's first year on the job was not a bad one at all, as all this team has to do is field an average defense, and they'll contend for the NFC East title in 2026.
13. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Yet another 10-7 season and playoff berth, the Pittsburgh Steelers keep the non-losing season streak alive under Mike Tomlin. If the team goes one-and-done in the playoffs again, I don't see how Pittsburgh can keep Tomlin, but he deserves credit for a double-digit win season and an AFC North title.
But if you think about it, the Steelers may have been a Tyler Loop made field goal away from massive changes...
12. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are the seventh seed in the NFC playoffs for a third year in a row, which is definitely a reflection of the head coach at this point. Matt LaFleur doesn't appear to be a great head coach, but he's at least good enough to be a yearly staple in the playofs.
11. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles definitely hit a Super Bowl regression this year, but an NFC East title and no. 3 seed in the playoffs is worth something. Nick Sirianni's true skill as a head coach has been in question for years, as he does not call plays and doesn't appear to always hire the right coordinators.
10. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
Another 11-6 year for Jim Harbaugh again has the Los Angeles Chargers playing in Wild Card Weekend. It was a nice coaching job, but this team has been nothing more than 'good' in the Harbaugh era, as it again feels like they'll go one-and-done in the playoffs. Harbaugh does win wherever he goes, but can he get over the hump?
9. Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
If the Buffalo Bills lose to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the playoffs, I am not sure how Sean McDermott gets brought back in 2026. There appears to be a ceiling with the McDermott-led Bills in the postseason. He's absolutely an above-average head coach and has won double-digit games with ease.
8. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans began the year 0-3 and are now 12-5 heading into the postseason. Ryans clearly knew changed needed to be made, and that change was made. The 12-2 stretch was incredible and further proves how good of a coach Ryans is. This is only his third year on the job, too.
7. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay and the LA Rams felt primed to win the NFC West and earn the top seed in the NFC, but two late-season loses ended those changes. McVay is still among the best at what he does, but a non-division title season can only rank him so high in our final head coach power rankings of the season.
6. Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
Ben Johnson inherited a bit of a mess in Chicago and has this team atop the NFC North and in the second seed for the playoffs. The Bears are clearly still a year away, but Johnson helping this team do a complete 180 is a testament to just how good of a job he did this year and will likely continue to do beyond 2025.
Johnson is just outside the top-5 in our head coach power rankings.
5. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers got bullied by the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18, but that doesn't take away from the outstanding coaching job that Shanahan did this year. The Niners roster wasn't special to begin with, as the piling up injuries made things worse, but this team ended up controlling their own destiny for the NFC's top seed. Shanahan should receive some Coach of the Year votes.
4. Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
The AFC South champion Jacksonville Jaguars won 13 games in 2025, and we really saw Trevor Lawrence heat up as the season ended. The Jags are welcoming the Buffalo Bills to town in the Wild Card Round, as Coen's first year was truly a historic one. With head coaches, you can typically tell almost immediately if they have 'it' or not. Coen clearly does.
3. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Just two years ago, the Denver Broncos were 1-5 in 2023. Now sitting at 14-3 and atop the AFC, the Broncos have gotten some elite coaching and culture-changing from Sean Payton. For as much as Bo Nix gets hammered by the media, you'd think Payton's coaching job would be seen as the best in the league!
The Broncos are in good hands with Sean Payton, as the team is just two wins away from the Super Bowl and have home field advantage.
2. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
A year after going 10-7 and missing the playoffs, the Seattle Seahawks went 14-3 this year and are the first seed in the NFC. Mike Macdonald is already one of the best head coaches in the NFL, as he's a defensive mastermind and appears to be a top-tier motivator as well. Seattle is just two wins away from a Super Bowl berth.
1. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
Given the situation, the best head coach this year has been Mike Vrabel. The Patriots quite literally went from a bottom-3 team to top-3 team in the matter of one season. Vrabel consistently gets the most out of his players, as the Pats' roster really isn't all that special, but that's just a reflection on how masterful of a job he did this year.
Vrabel takes the top spot in our final head coach power rankings of the season.