One of the modern masterminds, Vic Fangio has been the designer of the NFL's defensive identity over the last decade, an antithesis to the Mike Shanahan offensive system. While Fangio was a DC in the 1990s, he rose to fame during his stint with the Jim Harbaugh-led San Francisco 49ers, then thrived as the Chicago Bears’ play-caller under Matt Nagy. If you’ve watched the NFL recently, you know what Fangio’s scheme looks like: Little to no blitzing, two-high shells, and Cover-6 coverage with pre-snap disguise. He has disciples all over the league and is one of the league’s most influential defensive minds of the past two decades.
Along with then-Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy, Monte Kiffin developed the Tampa-2 defense in the mid-1990s, inspiring a generation of coaches after him to deploy the same scheme. Kiffin’s attacking defenses prioritized speed, required a do-it-all middle linebacker, and practiced a bend-but-don’t-break approach. After Dungy’s dismissal, Kiffin stayed with the Bucs and won Super Bowl XXXVII alongside new Tampa Bay HC Jon Gruden. After leaving the Buccaneers in 2008, Kiffin has primarily worked with his son, former NFL and current collegiate head coach Lane Kiffin.
Although Tom Landry made his stripes as the two-time Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, he was also an excellent defensive play-caller. As the New York Giants’ defensive coordinator from 1954-59, Landry was a true innovator. He devised the 4-3 defense, adding a middle linebacker and creating the front alignment still used in the NFL today. As Dallas’ HC, Landry also invented the “Flex” defense, a gap scheme that allowed for increased flexibility.
The genius behind the Steel Curtain of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers, Bud Carson paved the way for a downright unfair unit. Defensive lineman Joe Greene, linebacker Jack Lambert, and cornerback Mel Blount each earned individual awards under Carson’s tutelage, while the Steelers won two Super Bowls with Carson leading the defense. Although Pittsburgh didn’t secure the Lombardi after the 1976 campaign, Carson’s efforts that season were legendary. After losing quarterback Terry Bradshaw in Week 5, the Steelers’ defense recorded five shutouts in their final nine games. As a result, eight of the unit’s 11 starters were selected to the Pro Bowl.
Dom Capers worked as a DC for the Steelers (1992-94), Jacksonville Jaguars (1999-2000), Miami Dolphins (2006-07), and Green Bay Packers (2009-17), winning Super Bowl XLV with the Packers after the 2010 season. While his 48-80 record as an NFL head coach leaves much to be desired, Capers always got the most out of his defenses.
A franchise-altering defensive mastermind, Wade Phillips could almost always promise instant success as a coordinator. When Phillips took over in 2011, the Houston Texans went from 29th in scoring defense to second. He did the same thing for the Denver Broncos while winning Super Bowl 50, then helped turn around the Los Angeles Rams’ defense under McVay from 2016 to 2017.
The architect of the modern-day NFL defense, Dick LeBeau invented the “fire zone” defense, in which pass rushers can attack the quarterback from unpredictable positions on the field. With blitzers coming from anywhere and unexpected players dropping into coverage, LeBeau quickly created confusion for opposing offenses. LeBeau was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player in 2010. During his second stint as the Steelers’ DC from 2004-14, he won two Super Bowls, one each with head coaches Bill Cowher and Mike Tomlin.
The best defensive mind in the current NFL, Steve Spagnuolo has been one of the most underrated aspects of the Kansas City Chiefs dynasty. Patrick Mahomes is the best football player on Earth, but the Chiefs wouldn’t have won their third Super Bowl in five tries without Spagnuolo coaching the club’s defense. Of course, that’s not all Spagnuolo has done in the NFL. During his first stint as the New York Giants’ DC (2007-08), Spags upset the previously undefeated New England Patriots, shutting down arguably the greatest offense in league history en route to a Super Bowl XLII. And, he also holds the distinction of being the only coordinator to win Super Bowls with multiple organizations.
The Chicago Bears’ defensive coordinator for eight seasons under head coach Mike Ditka, Buddy Ryan invented the 46 defense and helped craft one of the best units in league history. The 1985 Bears defense is the stuff of legends. With future Hall of Famers like Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, and Dan Hampton, Ryan’s defense allowed just 12.8 points per game, leading the NFL in scoring, yards, and takeaways. Chicago went 15-1 during the regular season before posting a dominant 46-10 win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.
The greatest coach of all time also happens to be the league's greatest defensive coordinator. But it wasn't just with the New England Patriots that Belichick earned his stripes. When working with the Giants, he won Super Bowls XXI and XXV, the latter of which saw the Giants shut down the Buffalo Bills, who had just scored 51 in the AFC Championship Game. His dominance continued with the Patriots dynasty, leading them to three Super Bowls with top-2 defenses. Even in the late 2010s, his schemes shut down McVay and the high-flying Rams, holding the league's best offense to a single field goal in the Super Bowl. His game-planning was so excellent that the Super Bowl XXV defensive scheme even ended up as a part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
