Five Longest-Tenured NFL Head Coaches (Updated 2024)

August 19, 2024

RotoBaller highlights NFL head coaches with the longest tenures entering the 2024 season. Most of them have delivered division titles and Super Bowl championships for their respective franchises.

NFL head coaches can dictate the culture and identity of their squads. Therefore, they will always be at the forefront of a team's success or failure.

Multiple reports reveal that the average tenure of an NFL head coach is three years. Despite their established resume, some of these hires might not last an entire season. Meanwhile, other owners give their coaches a longer leash, allowing them to stay for several years despite initial setbacks.

However, the highly successful ones last in their jobs for more than a decade. In addition to turning their team into a constant playoff contender, they might have won a Super Bowl or two. Here are the head coaches who have stayed the longest with their squad as of the 2024 season.

Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh Steelers (2007)

“I just decided long ago to not be resistant to change, to not be adaptable. I never wanted to be the dinosaur. To not be resistant to growth. Growth is a lifelong thing and I want to reflect that,” Mike Tomlin
🎥@thepivot pic.twitter.com/VMfp1A4QDo

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) August 9, 2024

Tomlin takes the top spot on this list after Bill Belichick's 24-season tenure with the New England Patriots ended this offseason. The long-time Steelers mentor took over from Bill Cowher in 2007, making him only the third head coach since 1969.

Tomlin won Super Bowl XLIII with Pittsburgh, edging the Arizona Cardinals in a closely-fought game. He also holds the record for most consecutive non-losing seasons to start his head-coaching career. He hasn't experienced a losing season as he enters his 18th season with Pittsburgh.

John Harbaugh – Baltimore Ravens (2008)

Ladies and gentlemen... John Harbaugh 😂

(via @Ravens)pic.twitter.com/BHn4BetREz

— NFL (@NFL) August 6, 2024

Harbaugh took over from Brian Billick in 2008, making him only the third head coach in Ravens history. Before joining Baltimore's NFL franchise, he was a long-time special teams coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Harbaugh helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII against the San Francisco 49ers to end the 2012 season. Seven years later, he won the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year after leading the Ravens to a 14-2 regular season record.

Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs (2013)

Andy Reid is definitely Team Travis Kelce on the back throw (🗣️ said it twice, just to be clear 😂) #traviskelce #patrickmahomes #chiefskingdom pic.twitter.com/lnv6W9jWTH

— 87KillaTrav (@87KillaT) August 18, 2024

Reid didn't take long to find employment after the Eagles ended his 13-year tenure. Four days after Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie announced his release, Reid signed a five-year contract to join the Chiefs. This hire paid massive dividends, especially in recent years.

Reid guided the Chiefs to three Super Bowl titles in the last five seasons. In 2024, they will have a chance to become the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowl titles. Regardless of what happens this season, Reid won't go anywhere after signing a contract extending his tenure until 2028.

Sean McDermott, Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan (2017)

The Buffalo Bills hired McDermott on January 11, 2017, taking over from interim head coach Anthony Lynn, who replaced the fired Rex Ryan. He missed the playoffs only once and led the Bills to four AFC East division titles in his first seven seasons with Buffalo.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Rams hired McVay a day after the Bills hired McDermott. While the former Washington Redskins offensive coordinator became the youngest head coach in the league's modern era, he proved that age is just a number.

Since joining the Rams, he's won three division titles and led his squad to two Super Bowl appearances. McVay and the Rams won Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Sean McVay is loving what he sees from rookie DL Tyler Davis so far!@SoFi Coach Cam. 🎥 pic.twitter.com/KaZIplgWrf

— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) August 11, 2024

Finally, the San Francisco 49ers hired Shanahan on February 6, 2017, one day after Super Bowl LI. He has led the Niners to three division titles and two Super Bowl appearances. However, they've lost both Super Bowl berths to Reid and the Chiefs.

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