To the surprise of no one, the head coach and quarterback are the two most important pieces on an NFL sideline. Sure, many other positions have to come together, but for teams that have these two spots settled, most everything else slowly gets figured out.
And while there are many strong duos in the NFL, there are some that are... rough at best. We also see many unproven duos that could tilt one way or the other, and since we're in the season of NFL power rankings, we have another thorough one here.
Let's power-rank all 32 quarterback/head coach duos for the 2026 NFL Season, and even though we have some rookie head coaches, we've given each duo a ranking and have tried to sprinkle in some projection for the first-time head coaches without getting too unrealistic.
Power-ranking every QB/HC duo for the 2026 NFL Season
32. Deshaun Watson/Todd Monken, Cleveland Browns
Deshaun Watson should be able to win this starting job, and with a first-year head coach also in the mix, it would not be a shock if both Watson and Todd Monken were not in the picture in the future. Watson hasn't been good in what feels like five years and Monken, while a successful offensive coordinator, is not at all guaranteed success as a head coach.
31. Malik Willis/Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins
Another brand-new duo, Malik Willis and Jeff Hafley come in at No. 31 in our power rankings. Willis enjoyed some very efficient backup games in relief of Jordan Love in Green Bay, but Willis has never really been an unquestioned starter like this, and Hafley, like Monken, was a good coordinator but has no guarantee for success.
Willis' efficiency was on display in 2025, so this duo does get a slight bump from being at the very bottom for 2026.
30. Jacoby Brissett/Mike LaFleur, Arizona Cardinals
Another first-time head coach, Mike LaFleur was actually the last head coach hired this cycle, as the Arizona Cardinals clearly had the least desirable head coaching vacancy in the entire NFL. Trapped in the best division in football, the Cardinals are years away, at best, from finding success and becoming a playoff team.
LaFleur does have a strong offensive background, but I am not sure even someone like Andy Reid could get this team into a solid spot. It's going to be a nearly impossible feat for the Cardinals to win more than five games.
Jacoby Brissett, though, is a very reliable low-end starter/high-end backup, and he'll be able to keep the offense in a functional state, at best. That doesn't really accomplish much of anything given their specific situation, but Brissett isn't a slouch and will have a stellar game from time to time.
29. Kirk Cousins/Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders
Yet another brand-new duo, Kirk Cousins and Klint Kubiak both joined the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason. It is clear that Cousins' stay as the starter is not going to be for a ton of time, as Fernando Mendoza is waiting in the wings, and the Raiders might eventually feel the outside pressure to start Mendoza some time in 2026.
Kubiak just won the Super Bowl as the Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator, so that definitely goes in his favor, and Cousins, despite clearly being a bit washed up, was not inefficient for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2025 NFL Season.
This duo could end up playing spoiler here and there, but no one is going to mistake the Raiders as a team that we need to keep an eye out for. We're still likely a year away from that. This duo is No. 29 in our power rankings.
28. Geno Smith/Aaron Glenn, New York Jets
Aaron Glenn is in his second year as the New York Jets head coach here in 2026, and it feels like he could be coaching for his job. While the Jets weren't set up for success roster-wise in 2025, Glenn's odd in-game decisions and even weird sparring with the media made it quite obvious that he just was not cut out to be a head coach.
That could absolutely change in 2026, as the Jets did add a lot of talent this offseason, and Glenn could definitely progress in the right direction. The former Detroit Lions defensive coordinator will need to lead this team in a clear 2025 improvement - that can't be denied.
And while Geno Smith was flat-out bad for the Raiders last season, he might end up being a noticeable upgrade for the Jets. The Raiders were a mess last year, and if nothing else, the Jets have a young, good offensive line and some fun weapons as well.
At best, the Jets win a little bit more, take a step forward on offense, and set the stage for a rookie quarterback to enter the picture in the 2027 NFL Draft.
27. Cam Ward/Robert Saleh, Tennessee Titans
I am high on the Tennessee Titans, but this team has to go out and prove it in 2026 - simple as that. Cam Ward made some big-time throws down the stretch in his rookie season, and now, he'll have Brian Daboll as his offensive coordinator, which could be great for a year two break out.
Robert Saleh now has his second head coaching job, so there is reason to believe he could learn from his failed stint with the Jets. All in all, the Titans did have a strong offseason, but there isn't much more going in their favor for me to rank them higher.
It's really all about taking a step in the right direction when 2026 begins.
26. Tua Tagovailoa/Kevin Stefanski, Atlanta Falcons
I would be shocked if Tua Tagovailoa did not win the Falcons starting quarterback job. Outside of the 2025 season with the Dolphins, Tagovailoa does have a winning record in each year of his career, and he's averaged 10 wins across a 17-game season. He also as a passer rating of 96.4, so he's not a slouch. Yes, the injuries and inconsistencies over the years are a cause for concern, but the Falcons could present a great chance for the first-round pick to reset his career.
The Falcons have a ton of great weapons on this side of the ball, and new head coach Kevin Stefanski is a two-time Coach of the Year. He was definitely trapped in Cleveland and is probably a much better head coach than the record indicates. This could be a division-winning duo in 2026 if all goes well, but two major changes at these positions also open the door for a lot more that can go wrong in 2026.
25. Tyler Shough/Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints
I really like what the New Orleans Saints did in the 2025 season. They won four of five games to end the year and actually finished with the same record as the Kansas City Chiefs, as we all predicted. Tyler Shough was a slick quarterback as a rookie. He made a lot of big-time throws and appears to have that Bo Nix-ian off-schedule, clever ability to his game.
Moore was also enjoying a rather strong first season as the head coach. The defense was sneaky-good, and it just feels like this operation is trending in the right direction. Shough and Moore are bring an offensive-focused mindset into New Orleans, which is not something the team has had for quite some time.
Still, though, both are rather unproven and take a lower spot in our rankings.
24. Jaxson Dart/John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Jaxson Dart and John Harbaugh come in at No. 24 in our power rankings. Harbaugh was fired by Baltimore this offseason, but it's no shock that he latched on with the New York Giants. Yes, Harbaugh is a great head coach, but his Ravens teams actually had not won multiple games in the playoffs since that Super Bowl year in 2012.
It's worth wondering if, at this point in his head coaching career, Harbaugh is more of a floor-raiser. To be fair to the Giants, though, that could be what this franchise needs, as they have been a dysfunctional mess for years. Harbaugh knows how to win games, so the Giants should quickly benefit.
As a rookie in 2025, Dart amassed 24 total touchdowns in just 14 games and was making some plays with his legs, and also had some big-time throws, too. Dart is a dual-threat passer who needs to learn how to better protect himself, but he definitely has the skill set to break out in 2026.
23. Bryce Young/Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers won the NFC South in 2025 with an 8-9 record. Bryce Young played the best football of his career last year, but he was still rather mediocre. Young and the Panthers probably have to sniff 10 wins to prevent major change from taking place.
Head coach Dave Canales to see some growth from year one into year two, but this is a duo and team that just do not really scare you - Carolina doesn't do anything particularly well, and it's really important to keep in mind that this was a losing football team last year.
Sure, another step forward would be two years in a row of positive growth, but the 'best' we saw from this team last year is not nearly good enough.
22. Aaron Rodgers/Mike McCarthy, Pittsburgh Steelers
Coming in at No. 22 in our power rankings, the duo of Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy are present and are the new duo for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The thing here is that this duo would rock if it were 2016, but it's not. McCarthy was not a head coach in the league in 2025, and Rodgers, in his first year with the Steelers last year, was rather mediocre.
Like other teams around this tier in our ranking, Pittsburgh's offense just did not do much of anything that well. Rodgers was statistically efficient, but the offense was not scaring anyone. With Rodgers a year older, and McCarthy more of a floor-raising head coach, this duo could, at best, led the Steelers to nine wins.
What I would be more interested in is the youngsters also in the room in Will Howard and Drew Allar. The future could be one of those players, but Rodgers is not nearly the player he once was and could again see a statistical regression.
Rodgers clearly seeing his age catch up with him, and that is going to be even more evident in 2026.
21. Jayden Daniels/Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
After a breakout season in 2024, where the Washington Commanders went 12-5 and got within one game of the Super Bowl, things broke down in the worst way. Washington won just five games, and quarterback Jayden Daniels only suited up for seven contests.
The duo of Daniels and Dan Quinnn are suddenly in a situation where no one really cares about the 2024 success anymore. We're now approaching the 2026 season, already this duo's third year together. There's clearly a lot on the line, but Quinn himself hasn't really cemented himself as a great head coach, and Daniels not being able to stay on the field is a huge red flag as well.
20. Kyler Murray/Kevin O’Connell/Minnesota Vikings
This is a duo that I believe could skyrocket up these rankings during the 2026 season. After a moderately successful tenure with the Cardinals from 2019-2025, Kyler Murray is now on the Minnesota Vikings, and it would be a massive shock if he did not start.
Murray has always been a dual-threat weapon, so he'll be able to make plays with his legs, but he'll also have some great weapons like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Kevin O'Connell is a reliable head coach, and the Vikings are also competent along the offensive line, at running back, and at tight end.
This team also managed to win nine games with bottom-5 quarterback play last year, so I'd be shocked if the team didn't at least reach that win total again. Obviously, there is no guarantee that Murray pans out with the Vikings, and O'Connell himself is a very good head coach, but he's not great.
This duo is 20th right now, but that could surely change.
19. Daniel Jones/Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
At one point during the 2025 season, the Indianapolis Colts were 7-1, and it felt like this franchise had finally figured things out. It all fell apart after that, as the Colts limped to just one more win the rest of the way, and Daniel Jones tore his Achilles.
The Colts are now in a spot where it would feel like a massive stretch to see that first-half 2025 success in 2026. Shane Steichen is a fine head coach, but he has been rather average at his job thus far, and Jones suffering yet another major injury throws a wrench into things.
Even before that injury, there were certain games where Jones was beginning to play sloppy football, so this entire operation kind of needs to start from square one and prove themselves again.
18. Lamar Jackson/Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens
You might be shocked that this potentially great duo is ranked so low, but once again, we have a first-time head coach. Jesse Minter came over after some great seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers as their defensive coordinator.
There is reason to believe that a defensive-minded head coach could find success in the NFL as a head coach, as defenses typically have advantages over offenses, so not only could Minter make quick work of Baltimore's defense, but the offense is already in a high-floor spot with Lamar Jackson at the helm.
Jackson dealt with some injuries in 2025, and it was unfortunately one of those years for the Ravens, which just isn't ideal. The style of play that Jackson has could shorten his prime years, and as he gets older, it becomes less and less likely that a potential Super Bowl run could be in the realm of possibility.
I would be shocked if this duo would not have risen in our power rankings if he did this exercise months from now, but I don't believe it's right to rank them super high right now.
17. Baker Mayfield/Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Maybe the most average, yet reliable duo in the NFL, it's probably close to a 100 percent, indisputable fact that Baker Mayfield and Todd Bowles are going to lead this Tampa Bay team to 8-10 wins in any given season.
A shaky eight-win season back in 2025 had the team out of the playoffs, but we've seen a very high-floor from both. Mayfield and Bowles are both good at what they do, but they're not great. That isn't really going to change, either, as both men are rather deep into their careers, so this is kind of what you get from them at this stage.
16. Dak Prescott/Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys won seven games last year, but the offense was seventh in points scored per game, so this is a threatening unit. The main issue with the Cowboys last season was obviously not the offense, as the team sported a league-worst defense.
With Christian Parker now as the defensive coordinator, that coaching change could be enough to get that defense into an average place in 2026. As for Dak Prescott, he again was quite efficient and keeps doing this.
He gets a lot of criticism thrown his way simply because he’s the Cowboys quarterback, but much of it is not fair. Sure, the playoff performances aren’t always the best, but there are so many inferior quarterbacks in this league.
Brian Schottenheimer’s first year as the team’s head coach was rather solid. Seven wins is a good start, and it’s clear that his long tenure as an assistant coach is going to pay off for this franchise. I would expect this duo to rise a bit in 2026.
15. Josh Allen/Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills
Josh Allen and Joe Brady come in at No. 15 in our power rankings. We have yet another first-time head coach, but Brady’s ascension was a bit different, as he was already with the franchise and simply got promoted.
This is the first time Brady is taking the reins of an NFL team, so there is simply a lot of unknown at play here. You would think that being an assistant for years in the NFL would help transition Brady into this role, so it would not be a major surprise if that was indeed the case and the Buffalo Bills didn’t really skip a beat.
Allen is an MVP and among the best in the NFL. He is slowly getting up there in age, so the urgency for winning continues to tick up with each passing season, and we can’t not mention the years of playoff heartbreak that continue to be a stain on this franchise.
Allen and Brady will likely end up leading the Bills to double-digit wins, but with how many solid head coaches are in the league right now, being ranked 15th is about as high as we can slot them at the moment.
14. Caleb Williams/Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
What a year it was for the Chicago Bears. After a majorly dysfunctional 2024 season, which was Caleb Williams’ rookie campaign, the Bears ‘won’ the head coach sweepstakes in 2025, making the right hire in Ben Johnson.
Let’s talk about Williams first. While the completion percentage decreased, Williams tossed more touchdowns in 2025 and continues to simply not throw interceptions. He was also sacked a lot less, so we saw tangible progress from the now third-year player.
Williams has the makeup to be a truly elite quarterback, but we’ll need to see that completion percentage rise, the winning to continue, and for it all to come together in 2026. He’s on the cusp of this, though, and the sharp-minded Johnson is going to help him get there.
Johnson now has years of stellar, top-10 offensive success as a coach in this league, even dating back to his days with Detroit. It was only one year, so I’m not going to get carried away and rank them higher than they need to be.
At the same time, not a single soul would be shocked if the Bears built on 2025 and ended up winning more in 2026.
13. Joe Burrow/Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
We have seen this duo in the playoffs in two separate seasons, making it to the title game, at minimum. In 2021, the Cincinnati Bengals had a bit of a Cinderella run to the Super Bowl and almost won it all. The Bengals came out of nowhere.
In 2022, they followed that up with a trip to the AFC Championship Game, but the playoffs have evaded the Bengals since, so this duo takes a hit for that reason and falls outside our top 10. Not only has Joe Burrow struggled to stay on the field consistently, but what has Zac Taylor done to be viewed as a great head coach?
I would say that Burrow is doing a ton of the heavy lifting here, but his inability to stay on the field for a full 17 games consistently is a huge issue. With the Bengals front office having gone out in free agency and aggressively improved the defense, this could be a year similar to 2021, which would be ideal for both Burrow and Taylor, who could be playing and coaching for a lot this year.
12. Jordan Love/Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
As we inch closer to our top 10, Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur make their debut. The main issue we have seen with Green Bay is not winning games - this franchise is all about winning games and finishes with a winning record almost yearly.
What the issue clearly is would be the overall lack of playoff success and what appears to be a very clear ceiling. Jordan Love has actually won exactly nine starts in his three seasons as the Packers starter.
Green Bay has been in a Wild Card spot in all three seasons, having gone one-and-done in the playoffs the past two seasons. This is who the Packers are, and while it’s great to at least sustain competence, there does not appear to be a path to becoming a Super Bowl contender.
Both Love and LaFleur are quite good at what they do, but neither is particularly close to being the best. There’s a lot of ‘good’ with this franchise and operation overall, but not much great.
11. Trevor Lawrence/Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Trevor Lawrence and Liam Coen come in at No. 11 in our power rankings of quarterback/head coach duos for 2026. Lawrence was on fire over the last month and a half of the 2025 season, finishing the year as an MVP candidate.
If Lawrence can sustain that kind of success for most of 2026, the Jacksonville Jaguars might win more games than they did last year. It’s rare to see the kind of success we saw from the 2025 Jaguars from a first-year head coach, but that may only further prove that Coen was the right man for the job.
I am not totally sold on the roster and actually think a slight regression is coming, but winning 13 games in 2025 and seeing both quarterback and head coach thrive is cause for optimism for the long-term.
10. Jalen Hurts/Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
Some may disagree with my ranking of this duo here, but I’d argue it’s quite fair. Despite appearing in two Super Bowls and winning one of them in the 2024 season, the Philadelphia Eagles can’t seem to shake the dysfunction.
In 2021, 2023, and 2025, this team has gone one-and-done in the playoffs, and in 2023 and 2025, the offense was a mess, and the entire operation just felt off. What is interesting, though, is that in both seasons, Philly won 11 games.
You’d not think that anything was really wrong, but with Jalen Hurts, he’s a limited passer who really needs a lot of personnel help around him. He’s actually never thrown for more than 25 touchdown passes in a season, and he’s never thrown for 4,000 yards in a season, either.
He’s an average quarterback who is elevated (or not) by who is around him.
Nick Sirianni is a fine head coach, but he’s overseeing this ‘every other year’ dysfunction. The roster is too good to be an early playoff exit, and Sirianni himself likes to dip his nose into some of the drama sometimes.
I am not sure Hurts nor Sirianni would be able to sniff the same amount of success if they were on a different team.
9. Justin Herbert/Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
This duo has gone 11-6 and lost in the first round of the playoffs in both years together. The regular season success is good, but the playoff success is non-existent. That’s even more true for Justin Herbert, who is now 0-3 in the playoffs.
Head coach Jim Harbaugh wins wherever he goes, which is great, but Los Angeles doesn’t appear to have a Super Bowl structure in place.
Herbert’s continued regular season efficiency, followed by a playoff collapse, is a cause for concern and limits this franchise’s potential.
8. CJ Stroud/DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
Coming in at No. 8 in our power rankings, CJ Stroud and DeMeco Ryans make their debut and are quite the duo. In all three seasons together, Stroud and Ryans have helped lead the Houston Texans to double-digit wins and a berth into the Divisional Round.
Houston has oddly lost in the Divisional Round in all three years, clearly displaying an inability to advance past that. It’s a weird, but stable trend. Many franchises would love to get into the second round of the playoffs each year, but we all know that is not the goal.
Stroud has been a rather average player the last two seasons after a stellar start in 2023, but Ryans, on the other hand, is clearly one of the better head coaches in the league and a defensive wizard.
As a former player himself, it’s not surprising that Ryans knows what he’s doing on defense. Houston is a great operation and should again enjoy double-digit win success in 2026.
7. Bo Nix/Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Bo Nix and Sean Payton may have very well won the Super Bowl this past season had Nix not broken his ankle in the Divisional Round victory over Buffalo. If nothing else, most should agree that Denver would have beaten the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game if Nix was on the field.
Nix and Payton have helped the Broncos win 24 regular season games, which included a 14-win season in 2025 and an 11-game win streak. Payton has a long track record of winning, even dating back to the 2000s with New Orleans, and Nix has done nothing but prove people wrong this far.
This duo should be able to win it all at some point and could rise in these power rankings when 2026 gets going.
6. Brock Purdy/Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan were probably not the original plan. Purdy was the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft but has since emerged as one of the more stable starters in the NFL. Purdy is not great, but he’s been an efficient passer his entire career and has helped the San Francisco 49ers win a lot of games.
He’s already started in a Super Bowl before, and while an ‘almost’ win does not count, they did almost beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Purdy is not going to be an elite passer at any point of his career, but his very, very high floor will allow him to sustain success as he ages through his 20s and into his 30s.
Shanahan appears to be a better head coach than Purdy is a quarterback, if that makes sense. He’s already started in two Super Bowls, and typically wins double-digit games unless injuries plague the roster. Even with mounting injuries in 2025, the 49ers won 12 games, which is quite impressive.
They settle in at No. 6 in our power rankings.
5. Jared Goff/Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Jared Goff and Dan Campbell have helped this franchise become truly great. Goff has thrown no fewer than 29 touchdown passes over the last four seasons, and continues to be one of the more prolific passers in the NFL.
Detroit has also finished with a winning record in each of the past four seasons, which included combining to win 27 regular season games in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Goff has been an impressive player for years now and is honestly a bit underrated.
Sure, he’s not been that special in the playoffs, but many quarterbacks don’t break through in the postseason until later in their career, so there is still plenty of time for Goff.
Campbell is one of the more reliable head coaches in the NFL, and his rugged culture is perfect for the Lions. He’s absolutely someone I could see remaining as the Lions head coach for years to come, and given how talented this roster is, a Super Bowl should be very possible in the near future.
4. Drake Maye/Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel are No. 4 in our power rankings, and it’s clear that the New England Patriots are quite the controversial team. The Patriots won 14 games in 2025 and rode through a rather easy playoffs until the Super Bowl, where they got throttled by Seattle.
Many had wondered if this team wasn’t nearly as good as the record indicated, as the schedule was insanely easy. What can’t be disputed, though, is just how good Maye played. He finished second in the MVP voting, which is significant, and Vrabel continues to be a great head coach and stack wins.
This is his second stint, as he was a successful head coach for Tennessee. Maye and Vrabel are nearly as good as it gets in the NFL. Not many would be shocked if a tougher schedule led to a bit of a regression, but getting a taste of that type of winning can help this team replicate it in the 2026 season.
3. Sam Darnold/Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
How many of you truly thought Seattle was going to win the Super Bowl in 2025? After not making the playoffs in 2024, the Seahawks made a major quarterback change, signed Sam Darnold, and rode that, coupled with a great defense, to a Super Bowl title.
While Darnold did turn the ball over more times than you would like, he’s won 28 games as a starter in the regular season the past two years and has emerged as one of the best throwers in the game.
Darnold has finally put it together, which started back in 2024 with Minnesota. While not an elite player, he’s quite good. Mike Macdonald, on the other hand, could be a top-3 head coach in the sport right now. He’s a wildly intelligent defensive mind and runs the type of defense that will continue to sustain in the NFL.
Given how good the roster is, too, it is not hard to see how the Seahawks could flirt with repeating in 2026.
2. Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid take the No. 2 spot in our power rankings. Both Mahomes and Reid are going to end up in the Hall of Fame one day, and it would not be a shock if both finished their respective careers as top-3 all-time in their roles.
Mahomes has not been special statistically the past two seasons, but some have wondered if that’s due to some below-average personnel. That could be the case, and with Mahomes now coming off a major knee injury, there isn’t a guarantee that we’ll see the high-end production we’re used to seeing.
Still, though, Mahomes is a future Hall of Famer and is an all-time great already - it would just depend on where you would personally slot him.
Reid is a great head coach, but things just went south in 2025. Many have wondered if the game has passed Reid by, which I guess could be possible, but both have earned the benefit of the doubt as the 2026 season approaches.
1. Matthew Stafford/Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
As of right now, Matthew Stafford is the best quarterback in the NFL, and Sean McVay is definitely a top-3 head coach. Stafford won the MVP this past season and had quite the season for the Rams. McVay leads the charge and has become one of the best head coaching hires any team has made in the 21st century.
If it wasn’t for some poor defensive showings near the end of 2025 and even into the playoffs, the Rams probably would have won it all. With a much-improved defense and both Stafford and McVay returning to their respective roles, the Rams are largely viewed as the Super Bowl favorite, and for good reason.
Like Mahomes and Reid, Stafford and McVay are both likely ending up in the Hall of Fame one day.