There have been some outstanding head coaching jobs done this year, but others are forgettable, frankly. Now-former Tennessee Titans' head coach Brian Callahan was the first coach to get fired this year, and there could be more on the way.
Some have wondered if Miami Dolphins' head coach Mike McDaniel will be the next one to be shown the door, but any team with one or two wins could be looking to make a major change. The one benefit to parting with a head coach in-season is that it essentially rips off the Band-Aid early and allows the front office to get started on finding the replacement.
Now that Week 9 is upon us, we've got our latest installment of our head coach power rankings. For the rankings, we're only using the 2025 season as a basis for the ranking and not using a head coach's total tenure - only 2025 is used.
Latest head coach power rankings approaching Week 9 action
Unranked: Mike McCoy, Tennessee Titans
Mike McCoy is the interim head coach for the Tennessee Titans, and I don’t believe it’s fair to attach a ranking to him. He’s a lame-duck coach and inherited the worst team in football, so he’s our lone ‘unranked’ coach approaching Week 9.
31. Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Another bad loss for the Miami Dolphins has us wondering when enough is enough with Mike McDaniel being in charge of this team. They had a relatively successful beginning part of his tenure, but it’s been downhill from there. You can’t fully blame him, though, as the Dolphins’ roster has been bad for a while now.
30. Pete Carroll, Las Vegas Raiders
Speaking of bad rosters, the Las Vegas Raiders have one of those, and Pete Carroll can’t seem to get much of anything going. You get the sense he has a huge hand in personnel, as Geno Smith and Ashton Jeanty arriving in the Silver and Black reeks of what Carroll likes to do.
29. Aaron Glenn, New York Jets
Aaron Glenn and the New York Jets won their first game of the season in Week 8, but it’s been a tenure to forget thus far. Like McDaniel, you can’t fully blame Glenn, as the roster is downright awful, but some of Glenn’s in-game decisions have been questionable.
28. Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints
Kellen Moore is the first-year head coach of the New Orleans Saints and has done what he can with what he was given, but it’s not been pretty, and now the Saints are turning to rookie QB Tyler Shough after some shaky performances from Spencer Rattler.
The Saints need a massive, rip-it-down-to-the-studs rebuild, and it’s going to be a huge shock and disappointment if they aren’t heavy sellers at the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
I also happen to believe that GM Mickey Loomis is probably out soon, so Moore might have to deal with what as well. He’s 28th in our head coach rankings.
27. Brian Daboll, New York Giants
Let’s not overthink this: Brian Daboll has been a bad head coach for a while now. Many of the New York Giants’ issues this year have been on defense, but Daboll has never really emerged as a consistently quality coach in this league, and you get the sense that major changes could come to the Giants this offseason.
GM Joe Schoen has made a series of puzzling roster moves, but if nothing else, the defensive line is talented, and Jaxson Dart might actually be someone worthwhile. I am not sure Daboll is the man for the job, as he’s done virtually nothing else but lose during his time with the team.
26. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
I don’t fully blame Kevin Stefanski for the mess that the Cleveland Browns have been in, as the defense has been top-tier for multiple years now, but the Browns have been stuck in the mud with the Deshaun Watson situation. Watson hasn’t played a snap for them in a while, but Cleveland is still dealing with the ramifications of making the trade.
Stefanski is an adult and a solid head coach, I believe, but it might be time for a change - there isn’t much to talk about with the offense, as it’s been pretty shaky for years now, and at the end of the day, the offense belongs to Stefanski.
25. Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
After a semi-encouraging 2-0 start, the Arizona Cardinals have since lost five games in a row, and in a season where progression was expected, the total opposite happened. The Cardinals were actually 6-4 at one point in the 2024 NFL Season and had gone from four wins in 2023 to eight in 2024, so many, including myself, predicted a breakout season.
That hasn’t happened, and the buck stops with the head coach in that regard, so Gannon is quite low in our latest head coach power rankings.
24. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals started 2-0 for the first time in the Zac Taylor era, but they lost Joe Burrow in the process and are now 3-5 on the season after a brutal loss to the New York Jets in Week 8. The Bengals had a double-digit lead late in that game and were staring down a 4-4 start, which would have been solid.
Taylor’s skill as a head coach has been in question for a while now, as some have argued that Joe Burrow is contributing to the success a lot more than Taylor is, but the Bengals’ front office has been hysterically bad for multiple years now, so, like others on this list, we can’t fully blame the coach.
23. Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
I am not sure Raheem Morris is the right man for the job, as the Atlanta Falcons change from week to week. They get blown out one week and get beaten by a bad team the other. A team that can’t play consistently or establish a solid identity is a team suffering at head coach.
Raheem Morris and the Falcons might be one of the more irrelevant teams in the NFL, as they aren’t good enough to make the playoffs but aren’t bad enough to pick first overall in the NFL Draft.
22. Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
It’s been a period to forget for the Minnesota Vikings, and I bet they regret not re-signing Sam Darnold, as Darnold is lighting it up with the Seattle Seahawks. They even had Daniel Jones in the building for a short time in 2024 and didn’t bring him back, either.
Both Darnold and Jones are enjoying career seasons, and the Vikings have not been able to get JJ McCarthy on the field consistently. The offense is falling apart and the defense has not played all that well in recent weeks, either.
21. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are now 3-5 on the season and could stack more wins since Lamar Jackson is back in the lineup, but they’re also a 3-5 team, so it’s not like they’ve done anything special this year. While many are thinking the Ravens can get back into the mix, there is no guarantee that that they actually do it.
20. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
Now 3-5 on the season, the Washington Commanders have matched their regular season loss total from the 2024 NFL Season, so they are very much regressing this year, but the injuries have been mounting all year. Right now, Washington is just nothing special - the roster is just OK and old, and the QB can’t get on the field consistently.
It’s also clear that Dan Quinn hasn’t been able to overcome these things, either, so he takes a hit in our latest coach power rankings.
19. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers have been the same exact team for multiple years now. They have an over-the-hill QB (although Aaron Rodgers has been good this year), and an outdated defense to boot. Pittsburgh has now lost two games in a row, and the defense has been the primary reason why.
Mike Tomlin has truly overstayed his welcome with the Steelers. They don’t really do anything consistently well anymore and have not been a legitimate threat for years. A reset has been long overdue.
18. Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
The offense has been elite, but the defense has been the worst in the NFL, so it’s a mixed back for Brian Schottenheimer this year. The Cowboys could get into the playoff picture this year if the defense could get just marginally better.
It’s clear that Schottenheimer knows what he’s doing on offense, so we have to give him some credit for that, but as a total body of work this year, it’s been just OK.
17. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans have won three of their past four games, but the Texans are still 3-4 on the season and did get off to a very shaky start earlier this year. Ryans absolutely knows how to coach, but it’s been pretty up-and-down thus far.
The defenses he’s fielded have always been great, but the shaky offensive line has really been the main sore spot for this franchise. Ryans is a modest no. 17 in our latest head coach power rankings.
16. Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are 4-3 and saw their four-game winning streak get snapped in Week 8, but a four-game winning streak from a rookie head coach is impressive. We are still seeing some of Caleb Williams’ rookie season issues present, so that’s concerning.
The defense also hasn’t been that special, so at the end of the day, this feels like an average team that might be able to squeeze into the NFC playoff picture as the seventh and final Wild Card seed.
15. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers might be alright, but they got blown out by the Buffalo Bills in Week 8, so this team is clearly a ways away yet, but second-year head coach Dave Canales appears to be building something worthwhile here.
I do wonder what their plan is with the QB position, as Bryce Young has been alright this year, and nothing more. The regime that brought Young into the mix in the 2023 NFL Draft isn’t there anymore, so the current regime really don’t have a connection with Bryce Young.
I would not be shocked to see the Panthers making a splash for a different QB and perhaps someone who fits what Dave Canales wants to do more than Young.
14. Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
Now 5-2 on the season, the Buffalo Bills are clearly not nearly as good as they were in the 2024 NFL Season. The defense is iffy, and the offense just hasn’t been that efficient. Buffalo is currently second in the AFC East, as they have already lost to the New England Patriots in Buffalo this year.
Among the Buffalo teams across this last half-decade, the 2025 team honestly feels the weakest right now. I am not sure Sean McDermott has much more in the tank as a head coach, either. He feels maxed out.
13. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
Now 5-3 on the season, the Los Angeles Chargers don’t feel any better than they were in the 2024 NFL Season when they went 11-6. As you can probably guess, the Chargers are on pace for 11 wins this year, and I think that’s the ceiling with this team, coach, and QB.
The roster itself also needs a ton of work, and I would guess that Jim Harbaugh has a huge say in personnel. It’s been an alright year for the Chargers in 2025.
12. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Todd Bowles and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are now 6-2 on the season and riding high, but you’d like to see this defense play a little bit better, and as good as this team has been in recent years, you’re never tricked into thinking they’re a legitimate juggernaut, and I think that’s an issue.
Bowles and QB Baker Mayfield are awesome, but it’s not a Super Bowl-caliber duo, and I have a feeling that Tampa is going to lose in the first or second round of the playoffs again, but the success they have sustained isn’t anything to scoff at.
11. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
The 5-3 Kansas City Chiefs are surging, but they’re in third place in the AFC West and have to walk uphill to take the division back and win it for the 10th year in a row. The Chiefs have looked sloppy at times, and it’s not like this team is 8-0 or anything. They lost two regular season games all of 2024 and are seeing some of their slim margins disappear, so let’s not act like this isn’t a slight regression thus far.
10. Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Liam Coen, a first-year head coach, has done a pretty impressive job with the Jacksonville Jaguars thus far, as the team is now 4-3 on the season and have multiple impressive wins on their record already. The defense is stingy and aggressive, and the run game has already come alive.
The Jags simply need more talent and also need to see their QB play a bit better as well, but the foundation is set for some long-term success.
9. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have lost a ton of quality players this season and haven’t had their starting QB out there much at all but are still 5-3 on the season. The roster is flawed, yes, but this team would be a juggernaut if they could simply stay healthy, and that’s been a theme for years in the Kyle Shanahan era.
He gets a ton of credit for being 5-3 despite all that the team has went through, though, so he’s no. 9 in our coaching power rankings.
8. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
Nick Sirianni has done a fine coaching job with the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2025 NFL Season. The Eagles are now 6-2 on the season and are again on track to win the NFC East this year. Thanks to the rest of the division kind of stinking it up so far, Philly might be able to cruise down the stretch, but they won’t.
I will say, though - this team does not feel nearly as dominant as they were in 2024, so I would not expect a Super Bowl run by any means, but they’re going to win 12 or 13 games, and that’s a huge reflection on their steady head coach.
7. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Speaking of steady head coaches, Dan Campbell is no. 7 in our power rankings. The Detroit Lions are again a top team in the NFL and have shown no signs of regression. They just inked Aidan Hutchinson to a long-term deal and would ideally love to get some of their injured defensive players back soon.
Detroit is plenty good enough, yet again, to win the NFC North and make a deep playoff run. Campbell has left his mark in a big way on this franchise.
6. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are one of the more balanced teams in the NFL - they can hurt you on offense and defense, and that’s a huge credit to Mike Macdonald, who went 10-7 in his first year in 2024 and is on track to improve on that win total in 2025.
Seattle does just about everything well, and I would keep an eye out for a guard addition at the 2025 NFL trade deadline.
5. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Now winners of five games in a row, Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos are peaking, and second-year QB Bo Nix has played his tail off this last month. At this point in 2024, the Broncos were 5-3, so they’re above their pace from last season, and they were actually 3-5 at this time in 2023.
Payton and the Broncos have been in first place in the AFC West for multiple weeks now, and Payton’s mark has been all over this franchise. He’s no. 5 in our power rankings.
4. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Sean McVay and the Los Angeles Rams are again one of the best teams in the NFL, as the Rams went into the bye with a 5-2 record in Week 8. In 2024, LA started 1-4 but finished the year 10-7, as they had to overcome some early-season injuries.
On paper, this is one of the best teams in the NFL, and McVay is already a Super Bowl champion. This 2025 Rams’ squad feels like the best McVay has had, and he’s done a great job with them so far.
3. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
One of two teams with just one loss, the 5-1-1 Green Bay Packers are atop the NFC North, and head coach Matt LaFleur is again doing an outstanding job. QB Jordan Love does appear to be hitting his stride, which is bad news for the rest of the NFC, and overall, this operation is just rock-solid.
I do wonder how far this team can go, as they haven’t had a ton of playoff success in the immediate past, but over the first eight weeks of the season, LaFleur’s stamp on this team is obvious.
2. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
Another team riding a five-game winning streak, Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots have been an excellent football team this year and are first in the AFC East right now. Now, yes, they have beaten up on bad teams, but what else do you want them to do?
Vrabel is a winner and has made quick work of this team in his first year as their head coach. The Pats could finish with a top-3 seed in the AFC this year if they can keep this up.
1. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
The best head coach in the NFL in 2025 has been Shane Steichen, as the Indianapolis Colts are 7-1 and own the best record in the league. The offense can hurt you on the ground or through the air, and the defense is solid and well-coached.
I am not sure Indy does a single thing poorly, and it’s crazy to think that all it took was Daniel Jones to stir the drink. This is very likely the vision that Steichen has had, and the Colts have been enjoying some Peyton Manning-era type of success in 2025.