American football, one of the most popular and beloved sports in the United States, owes much of its success and growth to the coaches who, over the years, have shaped winning teams and developed innovative strategies.
These professionals not only coach their players, but also act as mentors and strategists, directly influencing their teams’ performance on the pitch.
Throughout the history of the NFL (National Football League) and college football, many coaches have left their mark on the sport, winning titles and overcoming challenges.
With that in mind, we’ve created a list of the 20 best American football coaches in history. Check out the ranking!
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The 20 best American football coaches in history: complete list
- Bill Belichick
- Vince Lombardi
- Don Shula
- Chuck Noll
- Bill Walsh
- Tom Landry
- Joe Gibbs
- Paul Brown
- George Halas
- Bill Parcells
- Tom Coughlin
- John Madden
- Hank Stram
- Tony Dungy
- Marv Levy
- Pete Carroll
- Andy Reid
- Jimmy Johnson
- Mike Tomlin
- Sid Gillman
The 20 best American football coaches in history: find out more about them
1. Bill Belichick
- Titles: 6 Super Bowls
- Team: New England Patriots
- Fun facts: Known for his meticulous approach and attention to detail.
- Life Story: Began his career as an assistant in 1975 and worked for several teams before becoming head coach of the Patriots in 2000.
2. Vince Lombardi
- Titles: 5 NFL Championships, including 2 Super Bowls
- Team: Green Bay Packers
- Fun facts: The Super Bowl trophy bears his name.
- Life Story: He was an assistant at Fordham and the Giants before taking over the Packers and turning the team into a dynasty.
3. Don Shula
- Titles: 2 Super Bowls
- Team: Miami Dolphins
- Fun facts: Coach with the most wins in NFL history.
- Life Story: Started out as a player before becoming a coach and leading the Dolphins to a perfect season in 1972.
4. Chuck Noll
- Titles: 4 Super Bowls
- Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Fun facts: First coach to win four Super Bowls.
- Life Story: Led the Steelers from an average team to one of the greatest dynasties of the 70s.
5. Bill Walsh
- Titles: 3 Super Bowls
- Team: San Francisco 49ers
- Fun facts: Creator of the “West Coast Offense”.
- Life Story: Started out as an assistant at university and in the NFL before revolutionizing the game with the 49ers.
6. Tom Landry
- Titles: 2 Super Bowls
- Team: Dallas Cowboys
- Fun facts: Introduced many defensive and offensive innovations.
- Life Story: Coached the Cowboys for 29 years, setting a record for consistency and innovation.
7. Joe Gibbs
- Titles: 3 Super Bowls
- Team: Washington Redskins
- Fun facts: He won Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks.
- Life Story: After quitting soccer, he also had success in NASCAR racing.
8. Paul Brown
- Titles: 7 championships (3 NFL, 4 AAFC)
- Teams: Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals
- Fun facts: Pioneered the use of game footage and playbooks.
- Life Story: Founded two successful franchises and introduced several innovations to the sport.
9. George Halas
- Titles: 6 NFL Championships
- Team: Chicago Bears
- Fun facts: One of the founders of the NFL.
- Life Story: Player, coach and owner of the Bears, he had a career spanning several decades.
10. Bill Parcells
- Titles: 2 Super Bowls
- Team: New York Giants
- Fun facts: Known for his ability to turn around losing teams.
- Life Story: Coached several NFL teams and is known for his lasting impact on several franchises.
11. Tom Coughlin
- Titles: 2 Super Bowls
- Team: New York Giants
- Fun facts: Known for his strict discipline.
- Life Story: Led the Giants to two stunning Super Bowl victories over the Patriots.
12. John Madden
- Titles: 1 Super Bowl
- Team: Oakland Raiders
- Fun facts: Became a famous commentator and the name of a popular video game series.
- Life Story: Winning coach and iconic media personality.
13. Hank Stram
- Titles: 1 Super Bowl, 3 AFL Championships
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
- Fun facts: Known for his offensive innovations.
- Life Story: Led the Chiefs to significant victories in both the AFL and NFL.
14. Tony Dungy
- Titles: 1 Super Bowl
- Team: Indianapolis Colts
- Fun facts: First African-American coach to win a Super Bowl.
- Life Story: Recognized for his calm and inspiring leadership style.
15. Marv Levy
- Titles: 4 AFC Championships
- Team: Buffalo Bills
- Fun facts: Led the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowls.
- Life Story: Known for his inspirational life philosophy and career.
16. Pete Carroll
- Titles: 1 Super Bowl
- Team: Seattle Seahawks
- Fun facts: Known for his energetic and motivational style.
- Life Story: Successful in college soccer and the NFL, especially with the Seahawks.
17. Andy Reid
- Titles: 1 Super Bowl
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
- Fun facts: One of the most innovative and consistent coaches.
- Life Story: Long successful career with both the Eagles and Chiefs.
18. Jimmy Johnson
- Titles: 2 Super Bowls
- Team: Dallas Cowboys
- Fun facts: Known for turning the Cowboys into a dynasty.
- Life story: He also had success as a TV commentator.
19. Mike Tomlin
- Titles: 1 Super Bowl
- Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Fun facts: One of the youngest coaches to win a Super Bowl.
- Life Story: Known for his strong leadership and consistency with the Steelers.
20. Sid Gillman
- Titles: 1 AFL Championship
- Team: San Diego Chargers
- Fun facts: Pioneer of the modern passing game.
- Life Story: Influenced many offensive tactics used in the NFL today.
The 20 best American football coaches in history: complete list
- Bill Belichick
- Vince Lombardi
- Don Shula
- Chuck Noll
- Bill Walsh
- Tom Landry
- Joe Gibbs
- Paul Brown
- George Halas
- Bill Parcells
- Tom Coughlin
- John Madden
- Hank Stram
- Tony Dungy
- Marv Levy
- Pete Carroll
- Andy Reid
- Jimmy Johnson
- Mike Tomlin
- Sid Gillman
The 20 best American football coaches in history
That was our list of the 20 best American football coaches in history! If you enjoyed getting to know the professionals, take the opportunity to check out our other content on the subject.
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