At no time throughout the league’s calendar will you find all 32 NFL franchises more optimistic than before camp. That optimism, however profoundly naive it may seem, starts at the top. So, whether you’re the puppy-eyed new kid on the divisional block or the hardened vet who’s become synonymous with their franchise, you’ll end up here, on this list. We’re ranking all 32 NFL head coaches, slashing the hopes of some and propping up the aspirations of others.
So, without further ado—before the surprise injuries, regretful contract extensions, and underperforming free agent signings—let’s address where each coach stands in the ocean of schemers, motivators, and plain fraudsters.
Pre-Camp, Ranking Nos. 32-22 NFL Coaches—Who’s Sinking
32. Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas Cowboys)
The Dallas Cowboys did a very Dallas Cowboys thing this offseason. After failing to amend his relationship with Mike McCarthy, owner Jerry Jones opted to parade a series of names, all just as big as that blue, brash star itself. We went from seeing Bill Belichick to Deion Sanders grace the cover of popular tabloid fodder, only to wind up with the most uninteresting hire the team could have made. At best, Schottenheimer accomplishes what Jason Garrett had with his more mediocre squads. At worst? He’s what Jerod Mayo was to the New England Patriots—a patsy made a promise.
31. Kellen Moore (New Orleans Saints)
There’s a reason why Kellen Moore was the last head coach to be hired, and it’s not just because the Birds won the Super Bowl. He’s an offensive coordinator whose track record has made him a perpetual potential hire in the shuffle of teams’ staffs. Does he deserve credit for what he accomplished while with Philadelphia? Absolutely. But Moore enters a situation that’s actively working against him. G.M. Mickey Loomis refuses to scrap it all and build back up. That sort of thinking has led New Orleans down a dark path, postponing its inevitable tank. Perhaps Moore’s rookie season is the start of that.
30. Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars)
“Duuuval.” Yes, that infamous introductory press conference clip will be the bane of Coen’s tenure in Jacksonville. The hope with this hire is that his resume holds up. His time in Tampa Bay and the years he spent soaking up what Sean McVay taught in Los Angeles are good enough reference points when sifting through his contemporaries. Coen could be exactly what Jacksonville needs—a brainy, lax coach who infuses new life into this high-potential offense. He could also be another unfortunate detail on the record of owner Shahid Khan. Here’s hoping he survives the team’s relocation to London (just kidding, Jacksonville, maybe).
29. Brian Callahan (Tennessee Titans)
Second-year head coach Brian Callahan got off to a rocky start in Tennessee. His 2024 Titans didn’t seem to be bottom of the barrel, but quickly, they took that turn. If he can manage only a few additional wins more than his abysmal 3-14 record previously, he’ll afford himself more leash. However, if the Titans’ bet on rookie quarterback Cam Ward doesn’t pan out, Callahan will be out the door quicker than a tumbleweed in a tornado.
28. Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers)
Until the midway point of last season, there wasn’t a single good thing to mention about the Carolina Panthers. But then, things took a change. Suddenly, quarterback Bryce Young began looking like a feasible option. Now that Canales has survived what he inherited—a team without its 2024 first-round pick—he looks to assemble steady, sustainable progress. The game here is to develop Young, then build around him accordingly. All easier said than done with owner David Tepper breathing down your neck.
27. Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons)
The hiring of Morris was planned as a swift transition from Arthur Smith, a coach who seemed to constantly get it wrong. Playing in one of the easiest divisions in the league, there were high hopes in Atlanta. But after a brutal 8-9 finish, Morris appears as flightless as his predecessor. A massive leap in competence must be taken this go-around to sidestep the slew of lackluster play the franchise has packaged and sold for the last 7 years.
26. Aaron Glenn (New York Jets)
Glenn is one of the few rookie head coaches you’ll hear spoken about glowingly. His attitude, demeanor, and what he was able to accomplish in Detroit speak to his placement here. New York, as it’s known to be, is one of the most unfriendly places to its’ coaches, but Woody Johnson made the right move. By bringing in a figure like Glenn, you’re choosing stability over flashiness. Even if the Jets fail to accomplish more than a few divisional wins, they’ll be heading in the right direction. Construct the proper foundation, develop young talent, then worry about adding more pieces. Do that, and the Jets can expect a smooth landing.
25. Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals)
One of the stranger coaches in the league, Gannon is entering his third season with the Cardinals, and very few know how to frame him. His rookie year was a 4-13 showing that could be justified by the absence of quarterback Kyler Murray. After that, Arizona showed fight in a handful of exceptional outings, only to fall again and again at the behest of weaker teams. Gannon plays in one of the more difficult divisions the league has to offer, but without improvement, he could soon be looking at the door.
24. Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears)
The boy genius himself has landed in the Windy City. Big expectations fall onto the shoulders of Ben Johnson, who’s tasked with improving a Chicago offense led by the inexplicable Caleb Williams. Drawing up plays and conducting drives is one thing, but Johnson’s leadership capabilities are another. When the going gets tough, we’ll be examining how the rookie head coach readjusts. If the Bears can squeeze a Pro Bowl season from their quarterback or even leapfrog Minnesota, Green Bay, or Detroit in the division standings, Johnson will have had a successful first-year campaign.
23. Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts)
Steichen is a coach who, for what it’s worth, possesses potential. We saw that on display as he battled for the 2023 divisional crown in Week 18 against the formidable Houston Texans. It didn’t go his way, but it seemed in recuperating a healthy Anthony Richardson, it could in the future. Emphasis on the could part of that. Last year was a disaster. Not a “fire everyone in the building” disaster, but a “we may have made some poor decisions” disaster. The thing about Steichen is that his teams may not get any better. It seems he may have lost the locker room last year and bet wrong on his project QB. If things worsen, the Colts may soon be making some rash decisions.
22. Brian Daboll (New York Giants)
The 2022 AP Coach of the Year has faced challenging times in recent seasons. Daboll isn’t to blame, however. The G-men’s roster construction has been wildly lopsided. And certainly, ridding themselves of Daniel Jones was an inevitable task. To survive, the organization will need productivity on the defensive side of things and a real show of talent in the timely benching of Russell Wilson for rookie QB Jaxon Dart. Who doesn’t want to see Daboll work out? He just feels like a Giants’ head coach, doesn’t he?
Main Photo: John Jones-Imagn Images
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