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Out of the 170 NFL head coaches since 2000, these 10 geniuses revolutionized the game and reached unforeseen heights. Aidin Ebrahimi ranks the top 10 NFL head coaches in the 21st century.
170. That's the number of every single NFL head coach who has coached at least one NFL game since the year 2000, including interim head coaches.
Among that list are some Super Bowl-winning coaches, some solid coaches who led good teams who could never get over the hump, and some truly terrible coaches who prevented their team from achieving greatness. But who were the best? Those head coaches who you feared whenever your team played against them. Those coaches who could always make the best out of a bad situation and lead their teams to successful seasons.
Let's answer this question together and rank the top 10 NFL head coaches since the start of the 21st century. Keep in mind that this list is entirely subjective!
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The Criteria and the Honorable Mentions:
This was a very difficult list to make, so I decided to rank these coaches based on a combination of these factors: How many times they led their team to the playoffs, their Super Bowl wins and appearances, how many "bad" seasons they had, and how many seasons they spent as head coaches since 2000.
For example, Bill Cowher was a legendary coach and won a Super Bowl in the 2005 season, but only had seven years as an NFL head coach in the 21st century.
Also, the resume alone won't cut it. Mike McCarthy has an awesome resume since 2000, leading his teams to 12 playoff appearances and winning Super Bowl XLV.
Despite that, most fans would agree that he held his teams back from winning even more throughout his time as a head coach. He should have more than one Super Bowl ring right now, and his inability to live up to expectations prevents him from making this list.
But he was close, so let's look at the honorable mentions who just missed the cut.
Honorable Mentions: Bill Cowher (Steelers), Mike McCarthy (Packers, Cowboys), Jon Gruden (Buccaneers, Raiders), Kyle Shanahan (49ers), John Fox (Panthers, Broncos, Bears)
No. 10: Bruce Arians (Colts, Cardinals, Buccaneers)
Before we start, let's make it clear that I'm counting Arians' time as the interim head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2012 season since he was there for the majority of their games and even won the Coach of the Year award.
Bruce Arians going into the Ring of Honor in the halftime ceremony. #NoRiskItNoBiscuit. #Bucs pic.twitter.com/sejc0ojdsT
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) January 1, 2023
The No. 10 spot on this list was a tough battle between the Buccaneers' only Super Bowl-winning head coaches, Arians and Jon Gruden. And although Gruden spent more time as a coach since 2000, he has too many mediocre seasons on his resume.
They both made the playoffs five times and won a ring in their only Super Bowl appearance. But what sets Arians apart for me is that he never coached a "bad" team, never winning less than seven games in a season.
His style of play is also iconic and has encouraged several younger head coaches to take more risks during games. Also, unlike Gruden, you'd struggle to find many former players of his with anything bad to say about him. It's a shame that his head coaching career started so late.
No. 9: Tom Coughlin (Jaguars, Giants)
My heart wanted to place Coughlin higher due to his two unlikely Super Bowl wins in just two appearances, but he'll have to settle for ninth place. That's mainly due to his terrible time with the Jaguars from 2000 to 2002, as the team he had once led to the Conference Championship game in 1999 plummetted down the standings.
His late-season collapses with the Giants and his 0-3 playoff record outside of his Super Bowl-winning years are also big reasons why he won't be any higher up this list. Regardless, he orchestrated two of the greatest shock Super Bowl wins ever and should be celebrated as a legend.
No. 8: Sean McVay (Rams)
Despite turning 39 just a few days ago, Sean McVay has already earned the right to be in the same discussions as some of the NFL's biggest head coaching legends. The results speak for themselves; McVay has led the Rams to six playoff appearances in just eight years, has made it to two Super Bowls, and won a ring in the 2021 season.
Sean McVay was honored with a statue by his alma mater after being inducted into @MiamiOHFootball's Cradle of Coaches. 👏
(via @RamsNFL) pic.twitter.com/wIKOQm7DbR
— NFL (@NFL) May 8, 2023
McVay's coaching tree is already insane, as six of his assistants have been hired as full-time NFL head coaches. McVay's most recent work is among his best, as he led a Rams team that many considered "over the hill" to two consecutive playoff appearances.
No. 7: Sean Payton (Saints, Broncos)
No matter how hard he tries, Sean Payton will never escape "Bountygate". But he's a legendary coach who can still get things done, even in 2025. He just led the Broncos to an unexpected playoff berth, and even though they lost, it showed how Payton's teams are always competitive.
Super Bowl XLIV solidified his place on this list, but his poor three-year run from 2014 to 2017 at the tail end of Drew Brees' prime prevents him from finishing any higher.
No. 6: John Harbaugh (Ravens)
John Harbaugh joined the Ravens in his mid-40s, and now he's still there, even though he's in his 60s. Harbaugh only ever had two losing seasons throughout his time in Baltimore, and his playoff record during the Joe Flacco era was excellent, winning 10 playoff games (including Super Bowl XLVII) from 2008 to 2014.
Ravens HC John Harbaugh has one season remaining on his current contract.
Should they re-sign him? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/hA1zo5w0AU
— Ravens Nation 𝙇𝙄𝙑𝙀 (@LIVERavenNation) January 30, 2025
Unfortunately, despite historic levels of dominance in the regular season, Harbaugh has only won three playoff games with the much more talented Lamar Jackson. Maybe next year will be their year.
No. 5: Tony Dungy (Buccaneers, Colts)
Speaking of regular-season dominance and playoff disappointment, let's talk about Tony Dungy. It's clear that Dungy was a football genius and helped revolutionize the game, but he only won seven playoff games in the 21st century, four of them coming in 2006, the season in which he won the Super Bowl.
Doing that with prime Peyton Manning as your quarterback is almost criminal, but at least he won a ring and led his team to the postseason for every year he was a coach in the 2000s.
No. 4: Mike Tomlin (Steelers)
"The Standard is the Standard". Say what you want about Mike Tomlin, but the fact that he's never had a losing season since becoming Steelers coach in 2007 has to be respected.
MIKE TOMLIN IS SPOT ON WITH HIS COACHING PSYCHOLOGY.
“It’s not what you are capable of, it’s what you are willing to do. Plenty of people are capable. Fewer people are willing.”
TEAMS CARE MORE ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE.
Hell of a coach and leader.
pic.twitter.com/Qzn0nEnYrf— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) February 1, 2025
Tomlin has kept the team afloat throughout hard times, but it could be argued that his run from 2017 onwards has damaged his legacy, as he hasn't won a playoff game since January 15, 2017.
He'll always have his early playoff career, though, as he won eight of his first 14 playoff games, which included two Super Bowl appearances and a Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl XLIII.
No. 3: Pete Carroll (Seahawks, Raiders)
Pete Carroll is back in the NFL! Many assumed Carroll would retire from coaching after leaving the Seahawks after the 2023 season. But the Raiders hired the 73-year-old a few days ago, and now he's expected to turn this once-proud franchise around.
Breaking: Pete Carroll and the Raiders have reached an agreement on a three-year deal with a fourth-year team option to make him the team's head coach, sources tell @AdamSchefter. pic.twitter.com/A4V5LLCL4c
— ESPN (@espn) January 24, 2025
Though his playoff performance with the Seahawks declined near the end of his tenure, Carroll's run from 2012 to 2016 was great, winning at least one playoff game each year, which included trips to Super Bowls XLVIII and XLIX, winning the former. If only he had run the ball...
No. 2: Andy Reid (Eagles, Chiefs)
Andy Reid is about to coach in his sixth Super Bowl since 2000, looking to win his fourth championship and third in a row. He led the Eagles to four consecutive NFC Championship game appearances from 2001 to 2004 and created a dynasty in Kansas City.
He'll look to beat his former employers in a rematch of Super Bowl 57, which is also the fifth head coach rematch in Super Bowl history, as he'll face Nick Sirianni again. Reid should be pretty optimistic about his chances, as the winner of the first meeting has won every previous rematch.
No. 1: Bill Belichick (Patriots)
There can only be one. Reid would make history with a three-peat, but he'd still have to do more to surpass Belichick. Nine Super Bowl appearances, six Super Bowl wins, 17 AFC East titles, and a perfect regular season in 2007. This is Bill Belichick's resume, and it's almost unmatchable.
NEW: Bill Belichick is sending free pizzas to North Carolina fraternities ahead of tomorrow's game vs. Duke🍕
(h/t @RossMartinNC) https://t.co/qIx5Khi0Kg pic.twitter.com/NDhx0OHmW5
— On3 (@On3sports) January 31, 2025
Sure, he had Tom Brady, but Brady was just your average sixth-round QB before Belichick took a chance on him. People like to complain about how the "villainous" Chiefs win every time, but the Patriots were even better and even more villainous, and a large part of that had to do with Belichick's tremendous coaching.
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