Introduction

Everyone loves to focus on the star players on an NFL roster—and while they’re certainly important, they’re often meaningless without a strong figure behind the scenes drawing up the schemes and leading by example. In any sport or profession, there are individuals who stand out above the rest. These five head coaches are among the biggest difference-makers in the league—and they’re certainly not the kind of guys you’d want to bet against.

Sean McVay

Sean McVay, who rose through the NFL coaching ranks quickly and at a remarkably young age, took over as head coach of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and has completely transformed the organization. He inherited a 4-12 team and led them to the playoffs in his first season, followed by a Super Bowl appearance in the 2018–2019 campaign. Since McVay’s arrival, the Rams have had just one losing season and only one other season with fewer than 10 wins. Most notably, they won the Super Bowl in 2022 under his leadership. With quarterback Matthew Stafford’s career nearing its end, you can be sure that McVay and the Rams will do everything in their power to remain contenders at the top of the league.

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Andy Reid

Kansas City Chiefs head coach and offensive guru Andy Reid has been a staple in the NFL since the 1990s and has served as a head coach since 1999. One of the most impressive aspects of Reid’s career is his longevity and consistency—he’s only coached two teams and has had just three losing seasons, all during his time with the Philadelphia Eagles. As head coach of the Chiefs, Reid has had only one season with fewer than 10 wins (in 2014) and has led the team to five Super Bowl appearances in the last six seasons. This remarkable run has made the Chiefs one of the most polarizing franchises in the league—drawing widespread admiration and resentment reminiscent of the Patriots’ dominance during the Brady-Belichick era.

Sean Payton

With 17 years of head coaching experience in the NFL, Broncos head coach Sean Payton has firmly established himself as one of the league’s most respected leaders. Boasting a career winning percentage of .631, teams around the league know they must come prepared when facing a Sean Payton-coached squad. In his two seasons with Denver, the Broncos went 8-9 in 2023 and improved to 10-7 in his second year. Payton has brought renewed hope to a franchise that had been stuck in a lull since its Super Bowl victory in 2015.

Kyle Shanahan

Kyle Shanahan, son of former Denver and Washington head coach Mike Shanahan, is entering his ninth season as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers. The organization was in a tough spot when he took over in 2017, resulting in a slow start to his tenure. However, since then, he has led the team to two Super Bowl appearances. In four of his eight seasons with the 49ers, Shanahan has posted 10 or more wins. While last season was somewhat underwhelming due to injuries and a tougher schedule, it’s hard to imagine a team led by Shanahan not bouncing back in a big way.

Nick Sirianni 

Coach Nick Sirianni, the least tenured head coach on this list, has already led the Eagles to two Super Bowl appearances since taking over in 2021—winning one just last season, marking only the second Super Bowl title in franchise history. As a head coach, Sirianni holds an impressive .706 career winning percentage, with just one season below 10 wins (a 9-8 finish in 2021). While some critics question his role—since he is not the primary play-caller on offense or defense—he has consistently found success with a variety of coordinators. With four straight winning seasons and two Super Bowl appearances, Sirianni has given us little reason to bet against him or the Eagles.