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Welcome to the NFL playoffs, where 18 teams get to sit at home on their couch watching the games like you and me. Meanwhile, 14 teams will battle for the right to be called Super Bowl champions.
Most of the conversation during the playoffs will be about the superstar quarterbacks or the elite offensive weapon for each team. While they never step foot onto the field, the head coaching matchups could mean all the difference in winning or losing this year.
Of the 14 head coaches in the playoffs, only DeMeco Ryans and Dan Campbell have never made the postseason as an NFL head coach. How much does experience matter in the playoffs? Let’s see how I rank all 14 playoff head coaches, starting at the bottom.
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14) Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers won the NFC South division with a 9-8 record. Many expected Tampa Bay to finish third or fourth in the division and be in range of the No. 1 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Instead, Bowles led the team to their second consecutive division title with him on the sidelines. While that’s no small feat, Bowles is still the weakest head coach in the playoffs.
13) Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
It seems insane to put the head coach for the reigning NFC conference champions second from last on this list. However, Sirianni had an up-and-down season without his top two coordinators from last year. The Eagles are limping into the playoffs after losing five of their past six games. They are barely a field goal favorite in the first round when they could have had the No. 1 seed a few weeks ago.
12) Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
McDaniel is one of the most loved head coaches in the NFL. The Dolphins have been an excellent story most of the season, but have struggled over the past several weeks. They lost three of their final five games, including in Week 18 to the Buffalo Bills. That regular-season finale cost Miami the division title and a home playoff game. McDaniel now must figure out how to beat the Kansas City Chiefs on the road in freezing weather.
11) Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys
There are only four head coaches in the playoffs with a Super Bowl ring. McCarthy is one of those four, winning in 2010 with the Green Bay Packers. While the Cowboys won the NFC East division this season, there are still plenty of questions surrounding the head coach. Can he lead this team on a playoff run, or will the questions around his future distract McCarthy, leading to another first-round loss?
10) DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
The rookie head coach deserves a ton of credit. Ryans is the only head coach hired this past offseason to make the playoffs. Furthermore, he led the Texans to their first division title since 2019 despite having a rookie quarterback and playing in a surprisingly good AFC South division. If Houston wins in the Wild Card round, Ryans deserves a pay raise one year into his contract.
9) Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
Many Packer fans don’t like LaFleur. They question some of his play-calling decisions and loyalty to defensive coordinator Joe Barry. However, there is no denying that he has made the playoffs in four of his five years in Green Bay. LaFleur took a Packers team that was presumed finished on Halloween, led them to win six of their final eight games, and made the playoffs in Jordan Love’s first year as the starter.
8) Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
How many coaches can say they made the playoffs after starting four different quarterbacks in 2023? The answer is only one -- Stefanski. Cleveland has had the worst injury luck in the NFL this year, losing their franchise quarterback, superstar running back, both starting offensive tackles, and several key defensive players to season-ending injuries. Yet, Stefanski led the team to only their second 11-win season since 1994.
7) Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Campbell might be America’s head coach, turning the once-awful Lions into a Super Bowl contender. Detroit won their division for the first time since 1991. Two years ago, Campbell had a 3-13-1 record in his first season with the Lions. Despite many calling for the team to replace Jared Goff, the head coach stuck with the quarterback. Now, the Lions have the most exciting first-round matchup against Goff’s former team.
6) Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
Some grew frustrated with McDermott earlier this year. The team lost to the New York Jets and New England Patriots before Halloween. Furthermore, the Bills lost three of four games in November, only defeating the Jets at home. However, McDermott has been battle-tested before and answered the call once again. Buffalo won five straight games to secure their fourth consecutive AFC East division title, including wins over the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins on the road.
5) Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
While Shanahan might be most famous for his time as the Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator, the head coach has been outstanding since joining the 49ers. Last year, they could have made the Super Bowl if not for losing Brock Purdy to an elbow injury in the NFC Championship Game. More importantly, Shanahan had the team lock up the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs in Week 17.
4) Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Despite some thinking McVay would retire after last season and join the broadcast community, the Super Bowl-winning head coach returned. He took a Rams team that many expected to rebuild and have a top-10 NFL Draft pick and turned them into one of the hottest teams heading into the playoffs. Los Angeles has won seven of their past eight games, with the lone loss coming on the road in overtime to the Baltimore Ravens.
3) John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Speaking of the Ravens, Harbaugh has been one of the top head coaches in the NFL since joining the team in 2008. Baltimore dealt with several massive injuries, including a season-ending one for Mark Andrews. Harbaugh had the team lock up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs in Week 17. Now, the pressure is on him to win the Super Bowl after seeing his brother, Jim Harbaugh, win the College Football Playoff National Championship.
2) Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Everyone knows Tomlin has never had a losing season as an NFL head coach. Since joining the Steelers in 2007, he has made the playoffs 10 times, gone to the Super Bowl twice, and came away with a victory in his second year. Yet, this season’s success might be more impressive. Tomlin led Pittsburgh on a three-game winning streak with Mason Rudolph at quarterback and got the team into the playoffs for the third time in the past four years.
1) Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
If you thought anyone besides Reid would be first on this list -- seek help immediately. The Chiefs are reigning Super Bowl champions and have lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy twice in the past four years. While Kansas City wasn’t as dominant during the regular season as many had hoped, are you crazy enough to bet against Patrick Mahomes and Reid in the playoffs? I’m not!
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