Each NFL team has already endured the ups and downs of the regular season in 2024. While some teams were on fire to begin the year and have since fallen off, others have gained steam after a slow start.
With the regular season entering its second half, it’s time to reevaluate where each head coach ranks among their peers. Here is Pro Football Network’s post-Week 9 NFL Head Coach Rankings.
2024 NFL Head Coach Rankings
1) Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Since arriving in Kansas City in 2013, Reid has led the franchise to three Super Bowl wins. While many will attribute Reid’s success to superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes, he had plenty of success as a head coach in the NFL before Mahomes’ arrival.
In 26 seasons as an NFL head coach, Reid has amassed 266 career wins. Reid has 87 more wins than the next closest active head coach (Mike Tomlin, 179). Therefore, it’s clear that Reid had plenty of success as an NFL head coach prior to being hired by the Chiefs.
Reid has 26 playoff wins as an NFL head coach, which is second all-time, only trailing former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (31). Given Kansas City’s 8-0 start to the regular season, Reid’s placement atop our head coach rankings was an easy decision.
2) Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Despite being just 38 years old, Sean McVay is one of the top head coaches in the NFL today. Following a 1-4 start to the regular season in 2024, many were quick to dismiss McVay and the Rams.
Yet, following the return of several key players from injury, Los Angeles is currently on a three-game winning streak and back in the playoff race. If the Rams are able to reach the postseason, McVay has shown the ability to win on the league’s biggest stage.
McVay’s playoff win percentage of .636 is third-highest among all active head coaches. McVay is also the only head coach among the top three that has won a Super Bowl as well.
3) John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL since hiring John Harbaugh as the team’s head coach in 2008. In 16 seasons as the head coach in Baltimore, Harbaugh has led the Ravens to the postseason 11 times.
While it’s fair to discuss Harbaugh’s shortcomings in the postseason since 2012, the Ravens are consistent contenders in the loaded AFC. The Ravens won Super Bowl 47 in Harbaugh’s fifth season as Baltimore’s head coach.
The Ravens are off to an explosive start in 2024, as they are currently second in the NFL with 31.4 points per game. Thanks to the arrival of superstar running back Derrick Henry, Baltimore’s fearsome rushing attack leads the NFL with 191.9 rushing yards per game.
4) Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
After suffering another Super Bowl loss last season, many expected Kyle Shanahan to lead the San Francisco 49ers back to the big game once again. Yet, the 49ers have been decimated by injuries through the first half of the regular season.
Despite missing several key starters, San Francisco has stayed afloat in the NFC at 4-4. Luckily for Shanahan, the 49ers are expected to welcome back superstar running back Christian McCaffrey in Week 10.
Given Shanahan’s success in the postseason, it’s hard to dismiss what he has done since arriving in San Francisco. Shanahan’s playoff win percentage of .667 is second-best among active head coaches, although he’s been unable to win the Super Bowl, despite making two appearances on the NFL’s biggest stage.
5) Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Dan Campbell has come a long way since being the joke of the NFL following his introductory press conference. Now, Campbell is widely regarded as one of the top head coaches in the NFL, especially given Detroit’s hot start in 2024.
The Lions are currently atop the NFC with an overall record of 7-1, including the most dynamic offense in the NFL. Detroit currently leads the league with 32.3 points per game.
While all of the statistics prove the Lions are one of the best teams in the NFL right now, Campbell’s emotional intelligence is what makes him a great head coach. According to Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Campbell is “the best leader that he’s ever known.”
Dan Campbell has us crying on gameday 🥹#OnePride pic.twitter.com/8ChNyTCmxs
— Woodward Sports Network (@woodwardsports) November 3, 2024
6) Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Mike Tomlin is currently in his 18th season as a head coach in the NFL. Despite being hired in 2007, the Steelers have never had a losing record in the regular season during Tomlin’s tenure. That streak will likely remain intact as Pittsburgh is currently 6-2.
Entering this season, the Steelers had a confusing quarterback situation involving both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. After Fields led Pittsburgh to a 4-2 start to begin the regular season, Tomlin controversially named Wilson the starter in Week 7.
Tomlin’s decision has paid off, as Wilson has turned the clocks back to his days with the Seattle Seahawks. The Steelers are 2-0 and averaging 31.5 points per game since Wilson was named the team’s starting quarterback. Tomlin joked that he is well compensated for making difficult decisions, such as the switch to Wilson.
7) Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
Jim Harbaugh is back like he never left the NFL for a nearly decade-long stint as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines. Upon Harbaugh’s arrival as head coach of the Chargers, expectations weren’t very high heading into the regular season, with many expecting the team to miss the playoffs.
Yet, Harbaugh is already proving the doubters wrong, as the Chargers are currently 5-3 with one of the best defenses in the NFL. Despite Los Angeles offloading several talented offensive players in the offseason, the Chargers remain in the playoff hunt.
Los Angeles’ stout defense has allowed just 101 total points through the first eight games of the regular season. Harbaugh’s decision to bring Jesse Minter with him from Michigan as the Chargers’ defensive coordinator is proving to be a phenomenal decision.
Harbaugh’s career win percentage of .688 is highest among all active head coaches in the NFL. He’ll continue to add to that in 2024 with a shockingly good team in Los Angeles.
8) Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
After nearly being on the chopping block in Green Bay during Aaron Rodgers’ tenure with the Packers, Matt LaFleur has evolved into one of the best head coaches in the NFL. The Packers exceeded expectations in 2023, following the transition to Jordan Love as the team’s starting quarterback.
LaFleur’s team entered 2024 with significantly higher expectations and initially got off to a 2-2 start to the regular season. Now, the Packers are 6-3 and remain one of the top teams in the NFC.
Despite being forced to start two different quarterbacks, the Packers have persevered. LaFleur is now a proven winner with a career winning percentage of .674, which is third-highest among all active head coaches in the NFL.
9) Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
Kevin O’Connell got off to a scorching hot start to his career as a head coach in the NFL. After the Vikings went 13-4 in his debut season, Minnesota stumbled to 7-10 in 2023.
Following the departure of former starting quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, expectations weren’t very high for the Vikings ahead of this season. Especially following the loss of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy to a season-ending knee injury.
Yet, O’Connell continues to prove how great of an offensive mind that he truly is, as the Vikings are 6-2 with Sam Darnold starting at quarterback. O’Connell’s most impressive quality as a head coach might be his humility, which he showcased during a recent interaction with Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson.
.@Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell had some words of encouragement for @GVOaant ❤️ pic.twitter.com/TaXW9dFaMx
— NFL (@NFL) November 7, 2024
10) Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
Sean McDermott’s seat was scorching hot heading into 2024 following another postseason letdown in Buffalo. Following an offseason full of change, including the loss of two key targets for star quarterback Josh Allen, many questioned Buffalo’s confusing plan.
Despite moving on from several notable players, McDermott and the Bills have persevered. Allen is playing at arguably the highest level of his career thus far, as he has led the Bills to a 7-2 start to the regular season.
Buffalo’s point differential of +87 is the second-highest mark in the NFL, only trailing the Lions. While many questioned McDermott’s future in Buffalo heading into this season, he has surpassed expectations and improved his career winning percentage to .650, the fourth-highest among all active coaches.
11) Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
Nick Sirianni has enjoyed quite a roller coaster ride in Philadelphia since becoming head coach of the Eagles in 2021. Despite reaching the postseason in each of his first three seasons in the City of Brotherly Love, it feels like he is consistently on the hot seat.
Following an embarrassing collapse last season, Sirianni’s seat was scorching hot in 2024. He has overcome adversity and led the Eagles to a 6-2 record at the midway point of the regular season. Sirianni’s winning percentage of .678 is second-highest among active head coaches.
12) Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton enjoyed plenty of success during his tenure as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, including winning Super Bowl 54. After stepping away from the NFL for one season, Payton enjoyed a controversial debut season as head coach of the Denver Broncos.
Following an offseason full of changes, Payton has led the Broncos to an unexpected start in 2024. Despite starting rookie quarterback Bo Nix, Denver is 5-4 and squarely in the playoff hunt. It’ll be interesting to see if the Broncos can maintain this success moving forward.
13) DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans shocked the NFL world last season, as they went 10-7 during the regular season and won a playoff game. Following Ryans’ impressive debut, the Texans entered this season with significantly higher expectations.
Despite dealing with several injuries, Houston is 6-3 at the midway point of the regular season. Given the Texans’ offensive line struggles, they might have trouble repeating their success from last season.
14) Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
Dan Quinn and the Washington Commanders are essentially this season’s version of the Texans in 2023. Both teams were led by a new head coach and rookie quarterback combination that caught the NFL off-guard.
While Quinn is highly regarded for his defensive coaching ability, Washington’s defense leaves a lot to be desired. However, Washington’s explosive offense, led by Daniels, currently has the Commanders atop the NFC East and looking like a legitimate playoff contender.
15) Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
Since arriving as head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019, Zac Taylor has a winning percentage of just .456 during the regular season. Taylor’s postseason success is what ranks him in the top half of head coaches in the NFL.
The Bengals are 5-2 in the postseason during Taylor’s tenure as head coach. Taylor’s playoff win percentage of .714 is the highest among all active head coaches in the NFL. If the Bengals are able to rebound after an 0-3 start in 2024 and reach the postseason, watch out.
16) Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons
After being fired as interim head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020, Raheem Morris returned this offseason. The Falcons are off to an impressive start with an overall record of 6-3, including an undefeated record on the road.
Thanks to the arrival of Kirk Cousins, Atlanta’s offense looks drastically different than it did in recent years. Cousins has helped unlock all of Atlanta’s young offensive weapons, including Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts.
17) Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon was a constant target of jokes following a few uninspiring mic’d up moments during his debut season. The Cardinals went 4-13 in Gannon’s first season as head coach, as many began to question if he deserved the job.
have never been less motivated in all my life pic.twitter.com/xtO1CV8eCn
— John Daigle (@notJDaigle) September 1, 2023
Despite an uninspiring debut season as head coach of the Cardinals, Gannon has led Arizona to an impressive start in 2024. The Cardinals are currently 5-4 and shockingly in first place in the highly competitive NFC West.
18) Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
The aura around Miami Dolphins head coach and offensive genius Mike McDaniel has quickly faded. After failing to win in the postseason in each of his first two seasons as head coach of the Dolphins, McDaniel’s offense has fallen off the tracks in 2024.
Given the absence of starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, McDaniel looks like he is unable to win without QB1 in Miami. The Dolphins are 2-6, with the Bills running away with first place in the AFC East. While McDaniel’s job is safe in Miami for now, if the team struggles next season, the Dolphins might be forced to move in a different direction.
19) Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Todd Bowles has quietly exceeded expectations in back-to-back seasons as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. While many questioned the team’s plan to start Baker Mayfield at quarterback in 2023, Mayfield’s turnaround is one of the best stories in the NFL.
After embarrassing the Eagles in the playoffs last season, the Buccaneers came into 2024 with higher expectations. After losing both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay has fallen to 4-5, although they took the undefeated Chiefs to overtime in Week 9.
20) Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
The 2024 class of first-time head coaches has been uninspiring as a whole. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald is the best of the bunch, as Seattle is 4-5 and remains in the playoff hunt despite dealing with the NFC West gauntlet.
After a 3-0 start to the regular season, some were ready to crown Macdonald as the next great young head coach. Seattle has fallen back down to earth in recent weeks, as the Seahawks have lost two consecutive games, including an overtime loss to the Rams.
21) Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
Shane Steichen was regarded as an offensive mastermind thanks to his performance as offensive coordinator of the Eagles. Steichen was named head coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2023 and exceeded expectations in his debut season, despite being forced to start several different quarterbacks.
Steichen is dealing with the same quarterback issues this season, although things are becoming a bit awkward in Indianapolis. The Colts have benched second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson for 39-year-old veteran Joe Flacco. It’s an odd decision that many believe Steichen wasn’t actually responsible for.
Steichen has received plenty of praise from Flacco, who the veteran quarterback named as the reason why he was excited to play for the Colts.
"Shane Steichen is the reason why I was very excited about coming here..
I knew that he would put me in a good situation to play good ball" ~ @JoeFlacco #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/kYKURadPhx
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 30, 2024
22) Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Kevin Stefanski has brought much needed credibility to the Cleveland Browns since being hired as the franchise’s head coach in 2020. Despite his impressive start to his coaching career in Cleveland, the Browns have become an embarrassment this season.
Unfortunately for Stefanski, he has become victim of the franchise’s decision to go all-in on quarterback Deshaun Watson. Since the Browns pulled off a blockbuster deal for Watson, he has failed to live up to expectations and drained all of the positivity out of Cleveland.
23) Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys
After an embarrassing loss to the Packers in the playoffs last season, many wondered if the Dallas Cowboys were going to fire Mike McCarthy in the offseason. Despite McCarthy’s postseason shortcomings in Dallas, the Cowboys opted to give him one last chance.
It appears as though this season will likely be McCarthy’s last as head coach of the Cowboys. Dallas is 3-5 at the midway point of the regular season and way outside the playoff race.
Considering that Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott is expected to miss at least four weeks due to a hamstring injury, McCarthy’s days in Dallas are likely numbered.
24) Brian Daboll, New York Giants
Similar to Stefanski, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll has become an unfortunate victim of the franchise’s quarterback situation. While Daboll appeared to openly beg for the team to trade up for a quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Giants opted to run it back with Daniel Jones once again.
Following a 9-7 record and unexpected playoff win in Daboll’s debut season, the Giants have fallen off the tracks over the last two seasons. New York is 8-18 in their last 26 games, as Daboll’s future with the Giants is as uncertain as ever.
25) Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars
Doug Pederson enjoyed a promising debut season as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. Pederson led the Jaguars to an improbably playoff win, and many believed the team would run away with the AFC South last season.
Nonetheless, the Jaguars were unable to do that, as Jacksonville missed the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Now, Pederson’s team is 2-7 at the midway point of the regular season and looks uninspired. It certainly feels like Pederson is on the hot seat and could be the next head coach fired in 2024.
26) Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots
Following the departure of legendary head coach Bill Belichick, the New England Patriots promoted Jerod Mayo from within to lead the franchise. While many believed Mayo would be able to continue “The Patriot Way” in New England, the team is off to a rough start at 2-7.
Following New England’s slow start, Mayo notoriously called the team “soft” and questioned the Patriots’ toughness. Belichick chimed in on Mayo’s comments and didn’t exactly agree with the young head coaches’ approach to the situation.
Bill Belichick on the @Patriots, after Jerod Mayo's comments:
"I don't think those players on defense are soft. But they haven't stopped the run very well."
🔊 On an all-new "Let's Go!" with @JimGrayOfficial and guest @TomBrady
DOWNLOAD & SUBSCRIBE 🔗 https://t.co/QUR51NnnIn pic.twitter.com/bB0LbT2PAI
— SiriusXM NFL Radio (@SiriusXMNFL) October 22, 2024
27) Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers hired Dave Canales to revitalize second-year quarterback Bryce Young after a disappointing rookie season. Canales had plenty of success turning around the careers of both Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield in recent seasons.
Canales’ magic has yet to appear in Carolina, as Young was benched earlier in the regular season for veteran quarterback Andy Dalton. While Young was recently inserted back into the starting lineup, the Panthers are 2-7 and among the worst teams in the NFL.
28) Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans hired former Bengals offensive coordinator Brian Callahan in hopes that he could turn the team’s offense around. Despite adding multiple weapons on offense, the Titans have struggled on offense due to poor quarterback play.
Callahan is unfortunately handicapped by Tennessee’s quarterback group, which includes Will Levis and Mason Rudolph. While the Titans are 2-7 at the midway point of the regular season, it’ll be interesting to see what Callahan can do with his own handpicked quarterback.
29) Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears
Matt Eberflus went 10-24 in his first two seasons as head coach of the Chicago Bears. Many thought the Bears would move on from Eberflus in the offseason, especially given the franchise landing the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Yet, Chicago confusingly decided to retain Eberflus and made changes to the coaching staff around him. Despite the Bears adding plenty of talent in the offseason and receiving tons of hype, Chicago is 4-4 and primarily due to Eberflus’ flaws as a head coach.
30) Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders
Antonio Pierce was named interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders and immediately changed the team’s culture. It felt like a no-brainer decision for the Raiders to name him the franchise’s next head coach, which they officially did in the offseason.
Pierce’s success from 2023 hasn’t carried into this season. The Raiders confusingly voluntarily entered the season with a quarterback situation that included Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Las Vegas is 2-7 at the midway point of the regular season and Pierce is already in panic mode, as he has already fired several members of his coaching staff.
31) Jeff Ulbrich, New York Jets
Jets defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was named New York’s interim head coach following the firing of Robert Saleh. While Ulbrich was put in an unfortunate situation, the Jets’ struggles have continued despite making a change at head coach.
Since firing Saleh, New York is 1-3 and currently remains well outside the playoff race. If the Jets are able to take advantage of a relatively soft schedule in the second half of the regular season, Ulbrich’s team could make a legitimate postseason push.
32) Darren Rizzi, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints special teams coordinator Darren Rizzi was recently named the team’s interim head coach, following the firing of Dennis Allen.
Rizzi will make his NFL head coaching debut in Week 10, as the Falcons will visit New Orleans.
While Rizzi was a well-respected special teams coordinator, he will need to prove that he has what it takes to be a head coach in the NFL.
The last time Rizzi was a head coach was in 2008, when he led the Rhode Island Rams at the University of Rhode Island.
