Without a good head coach, an NFL team is going to fail. Let's power rank all 32 head coaches as preseason approaches. There is a ton of turnover with head coaches in the leagues, as there are mutliple openings each cycle.
This cycle was a bit different, as two proven head coaches who were out of a job for a little bit latched onto new teams, and there were also other first-time head coaches that honestly got some high-profile jobs.
As preseason approaches, let's unveil our head coach power rankings.
Ranking all 32 head coaches approaching preseason
Unranked: Kellen Moore, Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn, Brian Schottenheimer, Liam Coen
All of these head coaches are first-year head coaches. This is their first HC job in the NFL, and they're all in different scenarios, but for now, since they've never coached a regular season game, we cannot really rank them at the moment.
27. Brian Daboll, New York Giants
A bad head coach on for a desperate and dysfunctional franchise, Brian Daboll does seem to be in over his head, but his GM, Joe Schoen, really hasn't done him any favors. He's among the worst head coaches in the NFL and is probably needing to lead this team into the playoffs this year.
26. Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans
Brian Callahan now has a legitimate QB to work with in Cam Ward, who the Titans took with the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ward is a bit of a project, but most of us can see how high the ceiling is with this player.
25. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
Dave Canales has worked his magic with Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield in recent years. Bryce Young could be his next successful project. The third year of the Bryce Young era is going too be massive for the Carolina Panthers, but things are trending in the right direction.
24. Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
A shaky 2024 NFL Season from Raheem Morris has him down quite far in our head coach rankings, but the Falcons going backwards into Michael Penix Jr might end up saving their franchise for years to come. Morris is 24th in our head coach rankings.
23. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Kevin Stefanski is definitely one head coach who could be a lot higher on this list, as he's got a track record of success but did see the Deshaun Watson trade blow up in his face. I do believe Stefanski is the right man to lead this franchise, but it's going to take a while for the Cleveland Browns to dig out of this.
22. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
Shane Steichen definitely did not get a fair shake, as GM Chris Ballard has botched the QB room for years now. Steichen is probably needing to see Anthony Richardson take that next step if he wants to continue serving as the Colts' head coach beyond the 2025 NFL Season.
21. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
Mike Macdonald lead the Seattle Seahawks to a 10-win season in his first year but was the only head coach with double-digit wins to not make the playoffs, so his first year was a bit of a mixed bag. Macdonald is 21st in our power rankings, as we just need to see a bit more.
20. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
No one loves slow starts more than Zac Taylor. The Cincinnati Bengals were 4-8 at one point in the 2024 NFL Season but did win the final five games to finish 9-8. Cincy has not been to the postseason since 2022, as they have gone 9-8 in each of the last two years.
19. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
Back as a head coach, Mike Vrabel obviously played for the New England Patriots and is now tasked with trying to revive this franchise once and for all in the post-Tom Brady era. Vrabel probably rises up this ranking a bit, but we'll give him a modest 19th ranking for now.
18. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll is another great head coach who was not coaching in 2024. Carroll is back on the sidelines and is likely finishing his head coaching career with the Las Vegas Raiders, who desperately need some stability, and Carroll should be able to provide that.
17. Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
Jonathan Gannon and the Arizona Cardinals went from four wins in 2023 to eight in 2024, so this team is on the right track. At one point in the 2024 NFL Season, the Cardinals were 6-4, so it's not wise to sleep on this team in 2025.
16. Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
You get the sense that the 2025 NFL Season could be Mike McDaniel's last if he can't get his Miami Dolphins into the playoffs. Miami is in a bit of a regression, but their roster has also gotten a lot worse, which surely can be attributed more to GM Chris Grier, who is surely on the hot seat.
15. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Todd Bowles has hung around in the NFL for quite a while as a coordinator and a head coach, and he saw his Tampa Bay Buccaneers' team win 10 games and again capture the NFC South title. Bowles and the Bucs should again be a good team in the 2025 NFL Season.
14. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans have gone 10-7 and won the AFC South in each of the previous two seasons, which is very impressive, but the third year of the Ryans' era may truly tell us just how good of a head coach he truly is. Houston rebuilt their offensive line this offseason, and that could be a catalyst for success.
13. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
A top head coach for quite some time, Matt LaFleur and the Green Bay Packers have been a very good team for a while now, but where is the legitimate playoff success? Is this all we're going to get out of LaFleur's Packers' teams? He's 13th in our head coach power rankings.
12. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
I struggled with where to put Kyle Shanahan on this list, and I settled on 12th. It's obvious that Shanahan does have a large say in personnel, and it also is obvious that the San Francisco 49ers struggle with depth at times. Another injury-riddled season in 2024 had the 49ers with a losing record, and the team isn't quite as talented on paper as they have been in previous seasons.
11. Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
Sean McDermott and the Buffalo Bills have taken ownership of the AFC East in recent years but obviously cannot slay the dragon in the playoffs. I would personally advocate for the Bills to get rid of McDermott after the 2025 NFL Season if Buffalo again falters in the postseason.
10. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Having never finished with a losing record, Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers clearly only care about winning records at this point, as they have not won a playoff game in nearly a decade. Tomlin is now trotting out Aaron Rodgers as his starting QB in a year you feel like is 'make or break' for so many people and coaches.
9. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
Back in the NFL after a decade, Jim Harbaugh wasted no time, as he led the Los Angeles Chargers to a strong 11-6 record and a playoff spot. Harbaugh and LA are again likely to be a top team in 2025. He's inside the top-10 in our head coach power rankings.
8. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
If nothing else, John Harbaugh has been a top-tier head coach for quite some time but has also not won multiple games in the postseason since 2012, so it seems like things have topped-off with the Baltimore Ravens. If the team endures another early playoff exit, you'd have to think that they'd consider making a change, right?
7. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
Nick Sirianni was able to win the Super Bowl this past season and is a bit of a controversial figure. Some don't really think he's much of a head coach since he doesn't do the play-calling and has a loaded roster. However, Sirianni wins, and most head coaches never come close to the Super Bowl. He's seventh in our power rankings.
6. Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings
A QB guru, Kevin O'Connell is one of the best head coaches in the NFL and now gets to work with JJ McCarthy, the young QB they took in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. O'Connell was able to help Sam Darnold play the best football of his career in 2024 and earn a payday from the Seattle Seahawks.
5. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton just knows how to coach a football team, as he won eight games in his first year as the Broncos' head coach and then won 10 games in the 2024 NFL Season, rebuilding the team in a short period of time and hitting on a QB in the NFL Draft in Bo Nix. Payton and the Broncos are likely contenders in 2025 and beyond.
4. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
While some have said the Detroit Lions' Super Bowl window is closed, Dan Campbell has been the perfect coach for the franchise and is likely again fielding a top team in the 2025 NFL Season. Campbell is fourth in our power rankings.
3. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
In his first year at his second head coaching stop in the NFL, Dan Quinn got the Washington Commanders within one game of the Super Bowl with a rookie QB and a roster short on talent in some spots. Quinn and the Commanders could capture the NFC East title in the 2025 NFL Season.
2. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay won the Super Bowl back in 2021 and is still among the youngest head coaches in the NFL even though he's been the Los Angeles Rams' head coach since the 2017 NFL Season, which is insane. McVay is likely ending his NFL career with a bust in Canton.
1. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Andy Reid is now a three-time Super Bowl champion and has a Hall of Fame coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs. Reid and the Chiefs have won three Super Bowls since the 2019 NFL Season, and it does not appear that they're slowing down anytime soon.