Every sporting event has teams and coaches, and NFL head coaches are no exception. A head coach is very important for any sporting team because they provide the knowledge and skills training that the players need to win each game with confidence.
Throughout NFL history, there have been a ton of good and bad head coaches who brought their teams to varying degrees of success. From head coaches who spearheaded the West Coast offense to those who brought their teams to the most memorable Super Bowl games of their careers, there are many NFL head coaches who have brought their players to the Football Hall of Fame.
These head coaches have rarely brought their teams to the losing section, which makes them a worthy part of any list of the top NFL head coaches in the history of the sport.
In this article, we will talk about 7 of the best NFL coaches of all time based on their track records, head coaching career, and other interesting bits and pieces of their lives in and out of the team plays.
7 of the Best NFL Head Coaches in the Entire NFL History
1. Tom Landry, NFL Head Coach, Dallas Cowboys
Tom Landry was the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for 29 years. He won two Super Bowls and had a 270-178-6 record as a coach. He also helped bring out the best in quarterback Roger Staubach and coached the Cowboys in their first two Super Bowls.
Landry is known for his stellar defensive play. Under his guidance, the Cowboys had some of the best defenses in NFL history. His Flex defense was a big part of that success.
Landry was a class act and a true gentleman. He was always well-dressed and well-spoken. He was also known for his calm demeanor on the sidelines, even in the most heated of games.
Many people saw Landry as one of the best coaches in NFL history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1990. As of today, he is still the winningest coach in Cowboys history.
2. Paul Brown, Cleveland Browns
When you look at the best NFL head coaches in the history of the league, Paul Brown is one of the first names that comes to mind. He was a pioneer for the game and helped to revolutionize it from what people thought it would be when he took over as head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1946.
Brown spent his entire life coaching football, starting out as a player at Ohio State University before going on to coach high school teams, college teams, and then professional teams like the Massillon Tigers before finally getting his big break with the Browns.
His achievements are numerous with many players who played under him going on to become Hall of Fame members including Otto Graham and Lou Groza among others. He also helped establish some of today's most important rules including overtime and free substitution.
Brown is considered one of the most important figures in NFL history and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1967.
3. Bill Walsh, San Francisco 49ers
When it comes to NFL head coaches, there have been many great ones. The list is long and the competition is fierce. There have been some great coaches who have won multiple Super Bowls like Vince Lombardi and Bill Belichick, but there is only one coach who comes close to matching the greatness of Bill Walsh.
Walsh was hired as the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 1979 and immediately transformed the team into a dynasty. In his first year as head coach, he led them to their first Super Bowl victory after beating the Dallas Cowboys in a playoff game that became known as The Catch II. He would go on to win three more Super Bowls with the team during his tenure before retiring in 1989.
He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993, which is rare for a coach because they are not eligible until after they retire from coaching for at least five years. This makes him one of only two coaches to be enshrined before becoming eligible (Tom Landry was also inducted before becoming eligible). He is also one of only four coaches to have won three or more Super Bowls.
Walsh was a great offensive mind and is credited with inventing the West Coast offense. He was also known for his ability to develop quarterbacks, which is why he is often referred to as "The Quarterback Whisperer."
Many people consider Bill Walsh to be the greatest NFL head coach of all time. He has been described as a "genius" and a "mastermind." He was a true pioneer of the game and his legacy will continue to live on long after he is gone.
4. Jimmy Johnson, Dallas Cowboys
Compared to other NFL head coaches on this list, Jimmy Johnson's career as a head coach was short. But that didn't stop him from becoming one of the best head coaches in NFL history.
Johnson played college football at Arkansas and was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 1963. He decided to play for the Canadian Football League instead and called it quits after two seasons because he wasn't happy with his salary. In 1970, he became a defensive back coach for the Kansas City Chiefs and later became their defensive coordinator.
In 1984, he joined the University of Miami as their defensive coordinator and won a national championship during his first year there. He then became their head coach in 1985 and won another national championship in 1987 before leaving to become the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys in 1989.
During his time as a head coach with Miami and Dallas, Johnson won two Super Bowls (XXVII & XXVIII) and lost another one (XLVII). His overall record as a head coach stands at 90-57 (.623 winning percentage).
Johnson is considered one of the best head coaches in NFL history because he was able to turn around two struggling teams and turn them into Super Bowl champions. He was also a great motivator and had a knack for getting the most out of his players.
Unfortunately, Johnson's career as a head coach was cut short due to a disagreement with Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys. But there is no doubt that he was one of the best head coaches in NFL history and his legacy will live on forever.
5. George Halas, Chicago Bears
No list is complete without the "Father of Professional Football." Halas played for the New York Yankees of the short-lived APFA in 1920 and 1921. The next year he became player-coach of the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears) and won a championship in his first season. He left coaching after the 1922 season but returned in 1933 to become a head coach again.
He would remain in that capacity until 1967 when he was named chairman emeritus. During his tenure as head coach, Halas led his team to six NFL championships and one Super Bowl title. In addition to his legendary coaching career, Halas also served as president or chairman of the NFL from 1940 until his death in 1983 at age 84.
According to many people, he was not only a part of the National Football League. For them, he is the National Football League, thanks to his contributions to the game both on and off the field.
Halas was a great coach and an even better person. He was always looking for ways to improve the game of football and made several important contributions to the game that we still use today. He was also a great ambassador for the sport and did a lot to grow the game of football both domestically and internationally.
There is no doubt that Halas is one of the greatest coaches in NFL history and his legacy will live on forever.
6. Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers
The name Vince Lombardi is synonymous with success in the NFL. He was a six-time champion as head coach of the Green Bay Packers, and his winning percentage of .754 is tops all-time among coaches with at least 100 games under their belts. In addition to his many wins, Lombardi also has two Super Bowls on his resume — one with the Packers in 1966, and one with the New York Giants in 1972 when he was coaching for the Washington Redskins.
Lombardi's success was due to his great attention to detail and his ability to motivate his players. He was also a great strategist and had a keen understanding of the game of football. Lombardi was always looking for ways to improve both himself and his team, and his dedication to the game was evident in everything he did.
Lombardi's legacy goes beyond his on-field success. He was also a great leader and motivator, and his example has inspired many people both inside and outside of the world of football. His name is now synonymous with excellence, and he is considered one of the greatest coaches in NFL history.
7. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Lastly, we have Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. Belichick is the only head coach in NFL history to win five Super Bowls, and he did it with two different teams (the Patriots and the Giants). In addition to his five Super Bowl titles, Belichick has also won 13 division championships and has an impressive .681 winning percentage.
Belichick is considered one of the greatest coaches of all time due to his incredible attention to detail and his ability to game plan for any situation. He is also a master at making in-game adjustments, and his teams are always well-prepared for their opponents. Belichick is known for being very demanding of his players, but they always seem to rise to the occasion when it matters most.
While Belichick may not have the same kind of personality as some of the other great coaches on this list, there is no denying his greatness. He is a true winner who has had unparalleled success at the highest level of football.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the many great coaches in NFL history. There are so many more who have had tremendous careers and made significant contributions to the game. The coaches on this list have all left their mark on the game in one way or another, and they will all be remembered as some of the greatest to ever do it.
