All 32 NFL coaching staffs, ranked: Which teams have the best head coach and coordinators?

Measuring the prime of NFL coaching is difficult. Beyond win-loss record, determination are nary stats. No wins supra replacement oregon adjusted wins, either -- conscionable wins, losses and the occasional tie.

As such, judging the prime of a coaching unit is mostly an workout successful anecdote and inference. It's not hard to infer that Kyle Shanahan is simply a truly bully violative manager -- we person the stats for his offenses, and we definite bash person a batch of them. But riddling it retired for Nick Caley (first-time coordinator), Mike McDaniel (great lone with his starting quarterback) and Kevin O'Connell (unbelievable without his starting quarterback) is simply a batch trickier.

Then there's the worldly that happens down closed doors -- the locker country management, the gathering of a staff, the operation of crippled plans. I can't archer you precisely what happened successful the Eagles' locker country implicit the past 2 years, but I tin archer you that Nick Sirianni has toiled to support that country unneurotic and deserves his flowers for it. I can't archer you however bully Dan Campbell's caller coordinator hires volition beryllium conscionable yet, but I tin archer you helium has earned a estimation arsenic a large developer of coaches. Again, we can't truly measurement this. We conscionable person to measure the vibe.

With the limitations of the workout successful mind, present are immoderate much considerations:

Employing an elite, violative playcalling caput manager is the meta. I usually effort to bash rankings specified arsenic these successful a vacuum, but determination is nary escaping the gravitational propulsion of an elite playcaller astatine the caput coaching spot. Whoever calls a team's violative plays mightiness not beryllium the azygous astir important facet of a staff's corporate efforts, but it's decidedly the facet easiest to measurement from the extracurricular looking in. Securing a bully playcaller arsenic a caput manager is the easiest mode to guarantee a functional coaching staff.

Particularly successful the lawsuit of elite violative designers, specified arsenic Sean McVay oregon Shanahan, we cognize that they tin strategy astir endowment deficiencies successful a mode that fewer of their peers tin -- that's an enormous, floor-raising effect. This is simply a self-evident truth: O'Connell won Coach of the Year past play for a reason, folks.

Special teams coordinator and (most) positional coaches don't person an interaction here. It's not due to the fact that they don't person an interaction connected a team's play -- they perfectly do! It's conscionable intolerable to make a just ranking of peculiar teams coordinators from the extracurricular looking in, wherever our information connected peculiar teams is precise limited, and the deficiency of nationalist visibility connected the relation makes it further hard to riddle retired a ranking.

Similarly, I'm definite there's a champion wide receivers manager retired determination (and a worst, and a 19th-best), but I can't reasonably marque that ranking, truthful I tried to debar it entirely. There are immoderate positional coaches who are truthful inescapably invaluable to their squad and person been truthful implicit the years -- Eagles violative enactment manager Jeff Stoutland and 49ers antiaircraft enactment manager Kris Kocurek -- that their beingness was baked into the rankings. But mostly arsenic a tiebreaker, and lone erstwhile their worth was arsenic plain arsenic the chemoreceptor connected my face.

This is much a ranking of known to chartless alternatively than a ranking of bully to bad. Thirty-two coaching staffs successful the league, and portion I recognize that 16 of them person to beryllium "below average" by mathematical law, it definite doesn't consciousness that way. I person the Bengals, Colts, Dolphins, Patriots and Browns arsenic "below average" successful this year's rankings, but not 1 of them is prohibitive to squad success. In fact, each 5 person legitimately contributed to their teams overachieving successful caller seasons.

So it's not the apical of the database that's challenging -- it's the bottom. First-year staffs inevitably trickle down to the lowest ranks, adjacent though astatine slightest 1 unit (and astir apt more) volition conscionable extremity up doing immoderate of the champion coaching this season. It's conscionable intolerable to reason Aaron Glenn and Tanner Engstrand implicit Jonathan Gannon and Drew Petzing until we really spot thing from Glenn and Engstrand.

Just cognize that I don't truly deliberation immoderate squad has the 31st-best coaching unit successful shot (32nd I consciousness beauteous bully about). I conscionable can't taxable respective consecutive "tied for 20th" rankings. I tried, and they didn't fto me.

Let's get into my rankings of each 32 coaching staffs for this season. The caput coach, violative coordinator and antiaircraft coordinator are listed for each team, arsenic good arsenic my ranking from this portion past year.

Jump to a team:
ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN
CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND
JAX | KC | LAC | LAR | LV | MIA | MIN
NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF
SEA | TB | TEN | WSH

32. New York Giants

Head coach: Brian Daboll
Offensive coordinator: Mike Kafka
Defensive coordinator: Shane Bowen
2024 ranking: 24

While the violative encephalon spot of Daboll and Kafka has yet to drawstring unneurotic aggregate seasons of above-average offense, determination are pockets of innovation. It's not overmuch to bent a chapeau on, but if and erstwhile we spot Jaxson Dart this play astatine quarterback, I expect the squad to person immoderate smart, casual ways to get him into a bushed and progressive successful the moving game. I tin astatine slightest spot the visions successful New York, adjacent if the level often struggles to get disconnected the ground.

I person a warmer appreciation for Bowen, who is ever consenting to get originative with alignment and coverages to lick unit problems connected the backmost end. The 2024 Giants' defence was decidedly poor, but they person overhauled the secondary and added to the walk unreserved this offseason, truthful I'm blessed reserving a stronger judgement for Year 2.

As it is, the champion antiaircraft play for Bowen was with the 2022 Titans, which was conscionable supra a league-average unit. Of course, Daboll's champion seasons came with the much-improved Josh Allen astatine the helm successful Buffalo -- otherwise, his champion enactment was the 2022 play with Daniel Jones, which was besides a league-average unit. And again, critically, was not sustained, developed oregon iterated on. It's pugnacious to judge successful a precocious ceiling with the Giants' existent staff.

31. Jacksonville Jaguars

Head coach: Liam Coen
Offensive coordinator: Grant Udinski
Defensive coordinator: Anthony Campanile
2024 ranking: 18

The Jaguars don't merit to beryllium here. They truly don't. To beryllium fair, I had the Commanders astatine this spot successful 2024, and that looks tectonically dumb present -- truthful possibly it's a blessed spot. But the Jaguars fertile this debased simply due to the fact that of however inexperienced and unproven this unit is. Coen's archetypal play calling plays successful an NFL crippled was past season; helium has lone 5 years of NFL coaching acquisition heading into this job. Don't get maine incorrect -- helium perfectly shredded it. Tampa was successful the apical 5 successful beauteous overmuch each violative metric we've got, but we cognize that violative ingenuity does not ever spell caput coaching occurrence (see squad 19 for further details).

While different first-time coaches connected this database person pursued seasoned forces to articulation their unit -- Staley, Wilks, Eberflus -- the Jaguars went the different way. Udinski is 29 years old and archetypal joined the NFL coaching ranks successful 2020, serving arsenic the Vikings' adjunct quarterbacks manager successful 2023 and adjunct violative coordinator successful 2024. Campanile was a long-time assemblage manager who joined the league successful 2020, and this volition beryllium his archetypal clip calling antiaircraft plays astatine the NFL level.

I americium the past idiosyncratic to judge that tenure successful the league guarantees competency oregon predicts improvement. If the Jaguars went done a thoughtful hunt and landed connected these guys arsenic coaching talents, past kudos to them. But from the extracurricular looking in, it's hard to find a unit with a little level than the Jaguars', simply due to the fact that of the inexperience. Coaching is astir solving problems connected the fly, and it's galore years astatine the mast that marque dependable hands astatine the helm. The commencement mightiness beryllium rocky successful Jacksonville.

30. New Orleans Saints

Head coach: Kellen Moore
Offensive coordinator: Doug Nussmeier
Defensive coordinator: Brandon Staley
2024 ranking: 29

The biggest question people for Moore, who was a good violative coordinator adjacent earlier his Eagles stint successful 2024, is the evident one: What does this look similar erstwhile you're nary longer calling plays down the champion violative enactment successful football? It's worthy noting that portion you can't instrumentality Eagles violative enactment manager Jeff Stoutland with you, you tin instrumentality 1 of his assistants. T.J. Paganetti is the caller moving crippled coordinator successful New Orleans aft 8 seasons successful Philadelphia.

Moore adjusted nicely for Jalen Hurts but typically runs a pocket-oriented, dense dropback passing crippled that puts a batch of strain connected the quarterback. I'm funny to spot however that maps onto 2 young passers successful Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough. I'm besides funny successful the return of Staley to the antiaircraft coordinator position.

Staley's time arsenic the caput manager of the Chargers was fraught with cardinal mistakes successful crippled absorption and unit upheaval, but the bones of the defence were ever sound. His benignant of defence has dispersed crossed the league adjacent arsenic helium has fallen retired of the nationalist eye. But this Saints antiaircraft extent illustration is not suited for his two-deep, cautious coverage, diligent play style. Moore and Staley some request to manager retired of their comfortableness zones to get a batch retired of this Saints squad successful 2025.

29. Dallas Cowboys

Head coach: Brian Schottenheimer
Offensive coordinator: Klayton Adams
Defensive coordinator: Matt Eberflus
2024 ranking: 16

I didn't deliberation I would request to brushwood disconnected the aged Schottenheimer stats from backmost erstwhile helium was coordinating the Seahawks' discourtesy for Russell Wilson and fans were beseeching Pete Carroll to walk the football, but present we go: Schottenheimer has been an violative coordinator for 14 seasons successful the league. Six with the Jets, 3 each with the Rams and Seahawks, past the past 2 successful Dallas.

Schottenheimer called plays successful 12 of those 14 seasons, but if we look astatine each 14, his mean occurrence complaint connected discourtesy is 42.9% -- the league mean past twelvemonth was 43.5%. His offenses people an mean of 1.85 points per thrust -- the league mean past twelvemonth was 1.91. As acold arsenic expected points added per play, Schottenheimer's offenses virtually mean retired to 0.00.

That's not to accidental the Cowboys' discourtesy volition beryllium mean -- successful fact, the unit matches up nicely with Schottenheimer's preferred discourtesy (between-the-tackles moving game, vertical routes successful the passing game). It's conscionable pugnacious to reason Schottenheimer arsenic an elevator of the Cowboys' offense, erstwhile we person a ample assemblage of enactment to amusement otherwise. Has helium grown from his clip coordinating the 2006 Jets? Without question, and hopefully that maturation -- and his archetypal clip successful the caput seat -- leads to immoderate pleasant surprises.

I conflict to get excessively excited astir Eberflus arsenic antiaircraft coordinator, arsenic Eberflus' defenses thin to look beardown against atrocious opponents but conflict against elite quarterbacks. Simple strategy -- casual to find space. Adams astatine violative coordinator, however, is breathtaking for the shot hipsters. Previously the Cardinals' moving crippled coordinator, Adams has a heavy container of quirky rushing schemes. An injection of creativity connected the crushed could beryllium large for Schottenheimer's offense.

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Stephen A.: I wouldn't bargain a utilized car from Stephen Jones

Stephen A. Smith calls retired Cowboys enforcement VP Stephen Jones for unnecessarily dragging retired subordinate declaration negotiations, putting unit connected the beforehand office.

28. New York Jets

Head coach: Aaron Glenn
Offensive coordinator: Tanner Engstrand
Defensive coordinator: Steve Wilks
2024 ranking: 19

Four first-time caput coaches marque up the bottommost 5 teams successful this exercise, but it's worthy remembering that the cellar-dwelling coaching staffs present aren't truthful overmuch atrocious arsenic they are unknown. Glenn has never been a caput coach. I loved his enactment arsenic a antiaircraft coordinator -- helium is assertive and challenges apical offenses, helium has proven susceptible of coaching astir injury, his players perfectly emotion him -- but helium has ne'er been a caput coach. The hire of Wilks was a astute one, arsenic it volition let Glenn to instrumentality a lighter manus successful preparing the defence and a heavier manus arsenic the CEO of the team.

Engstrand, a first-time OC, has 1 of the much absorbing jobs facing immoderate violative coordinator this season. He was astir precocious the passing crippled coordinator successful Detroit, which was heavy predicated connected a pouch passer successful Jared Goff lining up nether halfway and taking heavy play-action dropbacks. In New York, Engstrand indispensable physique an full discourtesy for Fields, a existent dual-threat quarterback who has yet to show Goff's saccharine middle-of-the-field interaction oregon pouch absorption that Goff offered. The discourtesy has to beryllium antithetic with the Jets if Fields is to succeed.

I expect the Jets to play tons of young players, absorption connected improvement and not needfully rack up wins successful Year 1. But adjacent erstwhile the Lions were 0-10-1 successful their archetypal play nether Dan Campbell, it was wide the coaching unit had thing cooking. I deliberation we tin spot the aforesaid happening again successful New York.

27. Tennessee Titans

Head coach: Brian Callahan
Offensive coordinator: Nick Holz
Defensive coordinator: Dennard Wilson
2024 ranking: 28

If idiosyncratic stopped maine connected the thoroughfare and said, "What bash you deliberation of the Titans' coaching staff?" I'd easy respond "I kinda similar 'em!" I cognize capable of Callahan's efforts successful Cincinnati with Joe Burrow to recognize that the discourtesy helium ran for Will Levis past twelvemonth wasn't his imagination system. Rather, it was a good effort to physique a strategy astir a player's strengths.

While it bore nary effect for Levis, their moving crippled looked amazingly cogent for Tony Pollard and that violative line, which could go a truly bully radical nether the elder Callahan's positional coaching. Meanwhile, connected defense, Dennard Wilson was drafting humor from a stone. On paper, the Titans had the benignant of antiaircraft unit that could person reasonably spelled disaster. Six antithetic linebackers took astatine slightest 100 snaps; a rookie fifth-round prime (Jarvis Brownlee Jr.) started astatine cornerback and a rookie second-round prime (T'Vondre Sweat) started astatine tackle. But the portion held its ain contempt the younker and upheaval -- 12th successful occurrence rate, 21st successful EPA per play.

The Titans had the archetypal wide pick successful this past draft, truthful the Titans' coaching unit can't beryllium that bully yet. But arsenic acold arsenic 27th wide coaching staffs go, this is 1 of my favorites.

26. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Head coach: Todd Bowles
Offensive coordinator: Josh Grizzard
Defensive coordinator: Kefense Hynson
2024 ranking: 22

Come with maine to a magical onshore successful which Liam Coen actually stayed arsenic the Bucs' OC this play (too soon, Bucs fans?) They'd astir apt beryllium 12th oregon 13th connected this database -- possibly adjacent higher. It'd beryllium overmuch easier to look beyond Bowles, a cautious crippled manager who regularly settles for tract goals and other points erstwhile helium should hunt touchdowns and two-point conversions, if Coen's rockstar discourtesy were returning. But it isn't, truthful those small margins from the caput manager glare each the more.

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Stephen A.: Baker Mayfield is simply a apical QB successful the NFL

Stephen A. Smith explains wherefore Baker Mayfield mightiness beryllium 1 of the astir important players to ticker successful the NFL.

I'm precise excited to spot what Grizzard, who has the vibe of a whiz kid, does astatine the helm. Last year's passing crippled coordinator, helium had a immense hand successful the Buccaneers' league-leading third-down discourtesy and spent immoderate clip nether Mike McDaniel (the whizziest kid himself) successful Miami earlier helium joined the Buccaneers' unit past season. Color maine intrigued.

But adjacent if Grizzard has the goods, it volition beryllium hard to replicate conscionable however prolific the Buccaneers' discourtesy was past season. Tampa needs much from Bowles' in-game decision-making, and helium needs much from his defense. Tampa gave up much than 2.0 points per thrust past play for the archetypal clip since 2019, Bowles' archetypal twelvemonth arsenic antiaircraft coordinator. Against the pass, their 0.11 EPA surrendered per dropback was the worst for immoderate Bowles defence since the 2016 Jets.

25. Atlanta Falcons

Head coach: Raheem Morris
Offensive coordinator: Zac Robinson
Defensive coordinator: Jeff Ulbrich
2024 ranking: 21

This is simply a precise beardown campaigner for "ranking that volition astir marque maine look dumb successful a fewer months." Morris, Robinson, and Ulbrich person each been successful complaint of precise palmy units, precise recently. Ulbrich was the antiaircraft coordinator for a stellar Jets defence implicit the past fewer seasons, but present we person to spot him away from Robert Saleh. Robinson showed bully creativity successful his archetypal twelvemonth distant from the McVay incubator, but helium could ne'er lick the problems presented to him by Kirk Cousins' deficiency of mobility.

And past there's Morris, who I deliberation is an fantabulous unit manager and originative antiaircraft caput connected the chalkboard. But the crippled absorption past play was brutal. The timeout mistake against the Commanders drew the biggest headline, but determination was different the pursuing week against the Panthers. I'd beryllium much consenting to connection a walk if it were truly Morris' archetypal clip successful the job, but helium has been a caput manager before. Granted, it was a agelong clip ago, but that's the point. In 2025, erstwhile truthful galore resources tin beryllium dedicated to optimal timeout usage and timepiece management, it's conscionable not acceptable to marque these mistakes.

The Falcons are relying connected a batch of cardinal younker -- Michael Penix Jr., Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr., Ruke Orhorhoro -- to powerfulness a instrumentality to the postseason. If they get the occupation done, it volition beryllium a triumph of coaching, and the No. 25 volition look precise silly adjacent to their name.

24. Carolina Panthers

Head coach: Dave Canales
Offensive coordinator: Brad Idzik
Defensive coordinator: Ejiro Evero
2024 ranking: 27

One of the amended coaching jobs crossed the league past play was the enactment Dave Canales and Brad Idzik did pulling retired of the tailspin that was the Week 3 benching of Bryce Young and Week 8 Andy Dalton car accident, which led to the instrumentality of Young to the starting lineup. Young looked similar a viable NFL quarterback down the stretch, erstwhile helium began the play looking similar that would ne'er beryllium successful the cards.

Still, it's pugnacious to get the Panthers overmuch higher than this until we spot what it looks similar for a 2nd season. The champion happening they did connected discourtesy wasn't truthful overmuch improving Young's play arsenic it was improving the moving crippled astir Young. The reloaded violative line, on with Canales and Idzik's committedness to dense unit and under-center, downhill runs, created a dependable grind of mean gains. When you pound the rock, you make easier reads for a young quarterback, and each of a sudden, those one-on-one downfield opportunities capable the kid with confidence. Can they proceed to get that caliber of play retired of Chuba Hubbard? Can they enactment much connected Young's plate? The discourtesy is inactive growing.

I've agelong been an Ejiro Evero fan, and the Panthers had plentifulness of antiaircraft injuries past season, but I inactive person to dock immoderate points for that dreadful showing. Dead past successful points per thrust allowed, occurrence complaint and EPA per play. The bully news? Tons of reinforcements person arrived, some via escaped bureau and the draft. Evero really has tools to enactment with this clip around.

23. Arizona Cardinals

Head coach: Jonathan Gannon
Offensive coordinator: Drew Petzing
Defensive coordinator: Nick Rallis
2024 ranking: 20

The Cardinals would beryllium much, overmuch higher successful the "coaching staffs who bash chill stuff" rankings. Gannon, who kept it reasonably elemental during his clip arsenic the Eagles antiaircraft coordinator, has teamed up with Rallis to sow chaos successful the antiaircraft backfield with spinning, shifting three-safety looks -- truly unsocial worldly astatine this level. Similarly, Petzing has built a multifarious moving game retired of dense sets and a thunder-and-lightning backfield of moving backmost James Conner and backmost Kyler Murray.

At immoderate point, determination has to beryllium immoderate effect connected these funky trees. Arizona is 12-22 nether Gannon and has failed to marque a postseason -- marque it 3 years running, and the spot starts to get hot. There was affirmative momentum from 2022 to 2023, particularly connected offense. The Cardinals were sixth successful occurrence complaint and ninth successful points per drive, mostly connected the backmost of the NFL's astir explosive rushing attack. But they can't propulsion their mode backmost into games, which is simply a glaring contented for an discourtesy with a second-contract quarterback. And they person to propulsion their mode into a batch of games, with a defence 30th successful occurrence rate.

One metallic lining successful the shaky antiaircraft performance: The Cardinals were ninth successful antiaircraft reddish portion efficiency, regularly turning agelong drives into tract extremity attempts. If the retooled antiaircraft enactment tin triumph a fewer much passing downs connected those long, bending-but-not-breaking drives, the Cardinals should instrumentality a measurement forward.

22. Chicago Bears

Head coach: Ben Johnson
Offensive coordinator: Declan Doyle
Defensive coordinator: Dennis Allen
2024 ranking: 25

I would usually hesitate to instrumentality a first-time caput manager this high, but I can't look you successful the look and say, "I'd alternatively person the Cardinals oregon Panthers oregon Falcons unit implicit this group." Johnson has deservedly been the pome of the league's oculus for a fewer coaching searches now. Yes, plentifulness of large violative minds person tried and failed astatine the CEO position. But Johnson learned nether 1 of the champion successful Dan Campbell, and helium has taken this process from coordinator to caput manager slowly and carefully. Those are positive, albeit aboriginal signs.

Also a bully sign: Getting Allen astatine antiaircraft coordinator. Last year's portion was a league-average group, but the Saints were a top-10 defence by points per thrust surrendered and occurrence complaint with Allen astatine the helm from 2021-2023. It mightiness instrumentality immoderate clip to onboard the existent unit into the antiaircraft structure, arsenic I'm not definite Allen has the antheral sum guys helium needs conscionable yet. But eventually, I'm assured Allen tin physique a accordant top-10 defence for Chicago.

Perhaps I'm excessively acold retired connected a limb present -- the 4 different first-year coaches are wrong the bottom-five teams connected this list. But if I person to works a flag, this Bears unit feels similar the close radical for it.

21. Cleveland Browns

Head coach: Kevin Stefanski
Offensive coordinator: Tommy Rees
Defensive coordinator: Jim Schwartz
2024 ranking: 13

Stefanski did immoderate awesome enactment successful 2020. The Browns had 1 of the astir versatile moving games successful football, and they were booting and rolling young backmost Baker Mayfield to large effect.

It is present 2025, and I'm bittersweet to study that the half-life of that fantabulous play has officially hit. Reports are that Stefanski is hoping to instrumentality to the offense that was champion for him, backmost to his roots arsenic a Gary Kubiak disciple. It's the close telephone for his personnel, but I request to spot different play specified arsenic the 2020 1 earlier I confidently accidental Stefanski tin proceed to outscheme opposing defenses connected a week-to-week basis. It's not just to him -- helium has been hamstrung by the Browns' quarterbacking foibles -- but it's the quality of the game.

My lingering Stefanski belief, who remains a prime in-game manager, is the smaller portion of the puzzle. Most of the Browns' ranking belongs to Schwartz, who is 1 of the league's champion antiaircraft coordinators. Schwartz's defence crashed backmost to world successful 2024 aft starring the league successful galore metrics successful 2023, but that's the quality of his strategy -- they play a elemental defence and fto their guys beryllium better, faster, stronger than opposing guys for 4 quarters. It's not cleanable (they request a amended crippled program for Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, for instance) but erstwhile you person Myles Garrett, it's the close mode to enactment the boat.

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Mad Dog: Shedeur Sanders volition get a accidental to beryllium the Browns' starting QB

Chris "Mad Dog" Russo explains wherefore Shedeur Sanders has ample accidental to go the Browns' starting QB.

20. New England Patriots

Head coach: Mike Vrabel
Offensive coordinator: Josh McDaniels
Defensive coordinator: Terrell Williams
2024 ranking: 30

Vrabel is simply a bully caput manager who volition rapidly return competency to the caput position successful New England. That is arsenic wide arsenic day. However, I deliberation immoderate estimations of the interaction helium had successful Tennessee -- and volition person successful New England -- person overreached.

Vrabel went 54-45 arsenic the head manager of the Titans. He won the part doubly successful six years, made 3 postseasons and went 2-2 successful 4 playoff games. Vrabel was much of a CEO caput manager with the Titans, but helium besides has a large manus successful the defense, and his defenses weren't perennially supra mean implicit those six seasons -- 13th successful points per thrust surrendered, 16th successful occurrence complaint and 17th successful EPA per play.

Now, if we get backmost into the nitty-gritty of his agelong with Tennessee, we're reminded of wherefore helium has fostered his estimation arsenic a prime caput coach. He did each of this enactment with Marcus Mariota and Ryan Tannehill astatine quarterback. He oversaw the ascension of Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown into prima violative players; Jeffery Simmons into a prima antiaircraft one. He endured aggregate violative coordinator changes and regularly recovered beardown playcallers underneath him. He's decidedly bully astatine this, though helium hasn't yet earned a Pete Carroll- oregon Mike Tomlin-esque estimation arsenic a franchise builder.

Just arsenic Vrabel is decidedly good, I'm precise assured that McDaniels is susceptible of coordinating a bully offense. He evidently did it for a agelong clip with Tom Brady, but it was much awesome with a declining Cam Newton and rookie Mac Jones. His head coaching stints person been perilous, but I americium assured competency volition instrumentality to the violative attack successful New England, which was toothless past play contempt a beardown rookie play from backmost Drake Maye. What comes beyond competency, I'm not yet sure.

One of my favourite names for the 2025 breakout coordinator is Williams. A proven prime antiaircraft enactment manager with Keion White, Christian Barmore and Milton Williams arsenic the instauration of his defense? I'm excited to spot it.

19. Miami Dolphins

Head coach: Mike McDaniel
Offensive coordinator: Frank Smith
Defensive coordinator: Anthony Weaver
2024 ranking: 9

Another year, different conflict to appropriately fertile McDaniel. On the 1 hand, McDaniel's discourtesy successful Miami continues to propulsion the bound connected what NFL offenses tin execute via design. Despite a mediocre violative line, a backmost who struggles connected extended plays and with downfield accuracy, and a receiver country that lacks size, McDaniel continues to writer discourtesy by utilizing velocity successful originative ways.

Critically, McDaniel isn't conscionable sticking to the script. He's innovating arsenic defenses drawback up. For the 2nd twelvemonth successful a row, Tagovailoa had the fastest clip to propulsion -- 3 years ago, helium was 4th quickest. But however acold the shot is going has changed. In 2022, McDaniel's archetypal play astatine the helm, a league-high 44.5% of Tua's throws were astatine slightest 10 yards downfield. Last year, it was 26.6% -- astir halved. The agelong has gone from vertical to horizontal, and the passing crippled inactive hums.

Critically, it's only with Tagovailoa. McDaniel has built a spectacular discourtesy for maximizing Tagovailoa's strengths -- the speedy decisions, the lightning-fast release. But his backup quarterbacks can't support the discourtesy erstwhile Tagovailoa gets hurt. Good violative coaches tin physique a system, but large violative coaches tin crook it astir unit issues. That's inactive missing successful Miami.

The information that McDaniel ne'er got the locker country and ex-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio aligned besides looks worse for McDaniel the further we get from the falling out -- Fangio did immoderate bully enactment successful Philadelphia past season, successful lawsuit you missed it. The bully quality is Weaver was a prime antiaircraft coordinator past season, which keeps the Dolphins ranked reasonably highly here.

18. Indianapolis Colts

Head coach: Shane Steichen
Offensive coordinator: Jim Bob Cooter
Defensive coordinator: Lou Anarumo
2024 ranking: 11

Both Steichen and Anarumo are hanging their hats connected seasons present agelong past. Steichen's champion enactment was arsenic the Eagles' violative coordinator successful 2022; Anarumo, with the Bengals' defence for a mates of seasons earlier that. How overmuch longer tin they commercialized connected those peaks? I'm consenting to let for different twelvemonth of belief.

Steichen's clip coordinating discourtesy for Anthony Richardson Sr. has been acold from perfect, but his quality to elevate Gardner Minshew successful 2023 gives maine religion successful his quality to strategy a respectable discourtesy astir Daniel Jones if helium starts successful 2025 -- tons of RPOs successful dispersed formations to make casual reads.

Anarumo, connected the different hand, is simply a spot much uncertain. His defence fell isolated successful Cincinnati successful ample portion due to the fact that of young players who weren't acceptable to beryllium retired connected the field. Was that the merchandise of atrocious drafting from the beforehand office? Or did Anarumo request to bash much to make the younker by simplifying his complex, communication-heavy defense?

We'll larn a batch successful Indianapolis, wherever coagulated veterans populate each 3 levels of the defense. If Anarumo tin get a speedy leap retired of this radical -- and I judge he's that caliber of manager -- past this unit belongs up here, conscionable supra average.

17. Cincinnati Bengals

Head coach: Zac Taylor
Offensive coordinator: Dan Pitcher
Defensive coordinator: Al Golden
2024 ranking: 14

I consciousness poorly astir this. Last season, I had the Bengals ranked a fewer spots higher and called it a large prove-it twelvemonth for Taylor. Joe Mixon and Brian Callahan had conscionable left, some of the main receivers were seeking caller contracts, and Joe Burrow was dealing with a throwing manus injury. I thought Taylor had been improving arsenic a caput coach, and I wanted to judge helium was acceptable for that immense play arsenic some a schemer and locker country manager -- and contempt missing the playoffs, helium impressed.

The Bengals were much originative connected discourtesy than they had ever been before, yet getting accumulation retired of the choky extremity presumption and elevating a scatback successful Chase Brown to a palmy full-time role. Also of note: improved decision-making. Cincinnati was 2nd lone to the Eagles successful EPA gained by making the close fourth-down decision. Taylor, whose tenure is weirdly the seventh-longest among caput coaches (doesn't look that way, does it?), has gotten amended astatine the occupation twelvemonth by year, and I privation to springiness him his flowers for that.

Yet present they are astatine 17th, and it's due to the fact that Taylor doesn't person the aforesaid interaction connected the discourtesy that Matt LaFleur oregon Shanahan oregon McVay (or McDaniel oregon O'Connell, and truthful on) have. That, and I conscionable don't cognize overmuch however Al Golden volition fare arsenic an NFL antiaircraft coordinator. There are reasons for faith. He was a large positional manager for Cincinnati erstwhile it reached Super Bowl LVI, and succeeded arsenic a antiaircraft playcaller successful college. But helium hasn't precisely received a afloat cupboard of personnel, truthful the inquire is steep for a squad successful request of speedy fixes connected defence to instrumentality to contention.

I'll enactment it this way: The teams betwixt No. 14 and No. 17 marque up the toughest agelong of this exercise. You could jumble them up successful immoderate bid and I'd judge it was the mode I ranked them.

16. Seattle Seahawks

Head coach: Mike Macdonald
Offensive coordinator: Klint Kubiak
Defensive coordinator: Aden Durde
2024 ranking: 26

This is astir apt excessively debased for the Seahawks (can I accidental that astir my ain piece?). Mike Macdonald got this defence roaring down the agelong contempt being hamstrung by injuries and unit issues. Seattle ended the play 5th successful points per thrust allowed down 4 emphatic playoff defenses (Denver, Philadelphia, Chargers, Minnesota) and sixth successful explosive play complaint surrendered. With an discourtesy that should beryllium amended astatine shot power and sustained drives, the bend-not-break doctrine volition radiance adjacent season.

The Seahawks made an offensive coordinator change, moving connected from Ryan Grubb to prosecute Kubiak. I people a Year 1 coordinator alteration against Macdonald a bit, though you could reason it's a bully motion that helium didn't instrumentality to his determination to thrust a dropback-heavy, college-inspired dispersed offense. The Seahawks failed to assistance their mediocre violative enactment past season, and a caller strategy was needed to relationship for that unit limitation.

Kubiak looked similar the adjacent large happening for a mates of weeks past play successful New Orleans earlier violative enactment (then wide receiver, past quarterback) injuries lampooned a fiery commencement for the Saints' offense. He should bring a bully level arsenic a Shanahan disciple, but the ceiling remains to beryllium seen -- particularly with violative unit that doesn't acceptable the Shanahan meta each that well.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers

Head coach: Mike Tomlin
Offensive coordinator: Arthur Smith
Defensive coordinator: Teryl Austin
2024 ranking: 7

From August to February, determination are fewer coaches I would alternatively person with maine successful the foxhole than Tomlin. No manager has a longer past of his teams punching supra their value than Tomlin's Steelers. Pittsburgh's defence is, for seemingly the 137th play successful a row, a reflection of its coach: tirelessly tough, prepared for the cardinal infinitesimal and ne'er retired of the fight.

It's tempting to permission it there, but Tomlin's power connected the Steelers' disinterested attack to the backmost presumption is intolerable to ignore. It is unfeasible to triumph successful the modern NFL without treating backmost arsenic what it is -- an exceptional presumption that indispensable beryllium fixed exceptional resources. For his (however small) portion successful the Steelers' organizational absorption toward stopgap backmost options, Tomlin gets dinged.

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1:57

Aaron Rodgers to McAfee: 'There's conscionable thing peculiar astir this place'

Aaron Rodgers joins "The Pat McAfee Show" to bespeak connected the camaraderie and squad tone helium has experienced astatine Steelers grooming camp.

Austin has done good connected the antiaircraft broadside of the shot for aggregate seasons now. Smith is the bigger question mark. The past clip we saw his discourtesy excel comparative to its unit was successful the precocious 2010s/early 2020s with the Titans. That discourtesy was an under-center, run-heavy, play-action oriented strategy -- the nonstop other of the offensive style Aaron Rodgers prefers.

A monolithic violative overhaul has occurred since past play -- a caller WR1, a caller TE1, an wholly reimagined enactment and perchance a caller RB1. Smith has to marque thing from scratch here, and my religion successful his quality to bash truthful is lone moderate.

14. Los Angeles Chargers

Head coach: Jim Harbaugh
Offensive coordinator: Greg Roman
Defensive coordinator: Jesse Minter
2024 ranking: 17

Let's sing the praises of Minter for a moment. The Chargers' starring snap-getters astatine cornerback were Kristian Fulton (one-year seasoned contract), Tarheeb Still (a fifth-round rookie) and Cam Hart (a third-round rookie), but the defence was sixth successful the league successful EPA per dropback allowed and 3rd successful explosive walk complaint allowed. Structurally, the Chargers played tons of portion and ammunition coverage, but to bash truthful with inexperienced players and a first-time NFL playcaller was a immense ask. Offenses started to drawback up aboriginal successful the season, but Minter showed successful Year 1 that helium has the goods.

Why, then, are the Chargers 14th? Because I proceed to conflict with Roman-led offenses, arsenic I did during his clip successful Baltimore. Roman is known arsenic a running crippled savant, but the Chargers' 7.6% explosive tally complaint was the lowest for immoderate of his 11 seasons arsenic an violative coordinator. He has been astatine his champion erstwhile including mobile quarterbacks successful the rushing strategy -- Colin Kaepernick, Lamar Jackson. With Justin Herbert nether center, helium has lacked that instrumentality successful his toolbox, and his rushing onslaught has suffered.

It isn't each bad. The Chargers endured running backmost injuries and mediocre interior play, but arsenic that gets better, Roman's moving crippled should look better. He inactive doesn't bring overmuch of a passing game, though -- a acquainted ailment from his Baltimore days. Turn connected the film, and you spot dense unit creating dropbacks with lone 2 oregon 3 unrecorded receivers, routes wasted connected fullbacks and choky ends who don't contiguous immoderate information with the shot successful their hands. Poor spacing connected excessively galore acquainted concepts. I request to spot much from the Chargers violative coordinator this season. (My apologies to Chargers fans, who are speechmaking that condemnation for seemingly the seventh offseason successful a row.)

13. Washington Commanders

Head coach: Dan Quinn
Offensive coordinator: Kliff Kingsbury
Defensive coordinator: Joe Whitt Jr.
2024 ranking: 31

If I didn't cognize thing earlier past play astir Quinn and Kingsbury, the Commanders would beryllium overmuch higher connected this list. Both knocked the shot retired of the park. Quinn's defence has evolved plentifulness from his days successful Seattle and successful Atlanta; it evolved again past play with a caller chess portion successful Frankie Luvu. Without an elite walk rusher oregon screen country -- usually non-negotiables for a playoff tally -- the Commanders got capable retired of their defence to marque the NFC Championship Game, successful which they simply got outclassed.

But I've seen Quinn's defence capable against the apical violative schemes -- those of Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay and their ilk -- to cognize helium inactive struggles against teams that tin adhd bodies to the enactment of scrimmage, agelong the defence horizontally successful the moving crippled and past rip play-action passes behind. Quinn's presumption arsenic a players-first manager and culture-setter is unimpeachable, but I'd similar to spot different play of this defense.

Similarly, I enjoyed Kingsbury's 2024 efforts much than immoderate different Kingsbury variation successful the NFL. I'd conscionable similar to spot it again, please, earlier I get excessively acold implicit my skis.

The Commanders ran a college-inspired discourtesy dense connected packaged plays that allowed them to get into large playcalls astatine the enactment of scrimmage. Their surface crippled was perfectly executed; their QB tally crippled was ever a danger. But we cognize from the past 10 to 15 years of shot that collegiate, option-oriented offenses tin deed an precocious bound connected complexity and conflict erstwhile defenses get keyed into tendencies -- it happened to Kingsbury already successful Arizona. Kingsbury stayed up of the curve past season, and I americium cautiously optimistic for 2025. Emphasis connected cautiously.

12. Houston Texans

Head coach: DeMeco Ryans
Offensive coordinator: Nick Caley
Defensive coordinator: Matt Burke
2024 ranking: 6

If the Lions are astatine No. 11 connected the backmost of Dan Campbell, past the Texans marque it to No. 12 connected the backmost of Ryans, whom I would telephone the league's astir underrated caput coach. This past season, Ryans became lone the eighth caput manager to triumph a playoff crippled successful each of his archetypal 2 seasons. His interaction connected the defence is tenable -- the Texans play with an unmatched intensity, tackle highly good and regularly amusement up against apical opponents (other than the Baltimore Ravens, who admittedly person gotten Ryans' goat arsenic of now). Ryans, similar Campbell, is an elite culture-setter.

Even arsenic the Houston discourtesy came isolated astatine the seams past season, Ryans kept the play in-house, and the squad pushed each the mode to the divisional round. He waited until the offseason for the due unit and coaching changes.

What, then, does Caley bring to the offense? I similar him connected insubstantial -- a Patriots lifer with a dash of McVay successful his strategy spells a nifty offense. The occupation facing him is clear: The Texans couldn't get opposing defenses retired of ammunition sum past season. C.J. Stroud attempted 50% of his passes against two-deep defenses, the sixth-highest complaint successful the league. The moving crippled wasn't bully enough, and the discourtesy lacked caller designs to counterpunch specified coverages.

There are a mates of ways to tegument that feline -- heavier personnel, tighter formations, amended surface execution, much speedy game. Should Caley find a mates of answers, expect this discourtesy to leap close backmost to 2023 levels. But of course, it's ne'er that easy. Starting moving backmost Joe Mixon is already dealing with a foot injury of uncertain severity. Caley's occupation is arsenic pugnacious -- and arsenic important -- arsenic immoderate different coordinator's this season.

11. Detroit Lions

Head coach: Dan Campbell
Offensive coordinator: John Morton
Defensive coordinator: Kelvin Sheppard
2024 ranking: 2

The instrumentality successful ranking the Lions is putting them debased capable to admit the nonaccomplishment of 2 fantabulous coordinators successful Ben Johnson and Aaron Glenn, but not truthful debased that Campbell makes maine look similar an idiot erstwhile helium keeps this bid chugging close on successful 2025. No. 11 seems right.

Morton is not a full unknown. The violative coordinator for the 2017 New York Jets (see however galore starters you tin sanction from that squad earlier you support reading), helium got a highly respectable 3,000-yard, 18-touchdown play retired of Josh McCown throwing to Robbie Chosen, Jermaine Kearse and Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Bilal Powell and Matt Forte divided touches retired of the backfield). Morton spent clip nether Sean Payton successful New Orleans and dabbled successful assemblage nether Pete Carroll and Steve Sarkisian astatine USC -- helium isn't acrophobic to dispersed the tract out, and helium has a wide paper of passing concepts to hunt matchups. I'm excited to spot what helium does.

Sheppard is more of a mystery. A subordinate arsenic precocious arsenic 2018, helium has lone coached successful Detroit nether Glenn, truthful his coaching DNA is trickier to riddle out. Morton and Sheppard get the vantage of an fantabulous person successful Campbell, but besides a sneaky bully schematic caput -- Campbell had a overmuch bigger manus successful the improvement of Johnson's discourtesy than is often appreciated. There volition beryllium an inevitable drop-off successful playcalling from Glenn and Johnson, but I'm assured it'll beryllium small.

10. Green Bay Packers

Head coach: Matt LaFleur
Offensive coordinator: Adam Stenavich
Defensive coordinator: Jeff Hafley
2024 ranking: 8

I consciousness atrocious astir the Packers being this low. LaFleur had 1 of his amended seasons arsenic an violative manager successful 2024. The Packers endured an early-season Jordan Love injury with a creative offense nether Malik Willis and kept the moving crippled chugging arsenic Love dilatory worked his mode backmost to afloat health. And aft years of beseeching them to marque a antiaircraft coordinator change, they yet did -- to bully effect! Hafley made the ascent from assemblage to NFL handily, showing much schematic creativity than was expected of him successful the process.

Two cardinal coaching points springiness maine intermission successful Green Bay. It ended the play dormant past successful antiaircraft occurrence complaint against dropbacks but 2nd successful EPA per dropback faced. How? Tons of interceptions. The Packers ripped disconnected 17 picks, tied for 3rd astir successful football, and recovered 14 fumbles. They finished 3rd successful antiaircraft EPA connected takeaways (behind Denver and Buffalo), and though I don't deliberation their defence was poorly coached by immoderate stretch, it astir apt punched supra its value past season.

The 2nd is Green Bay's show against elite teams. It ended the play 1-5 successful its part (beating lone Chicago connected a game-ending tract extremity block) and mislaid to the Eagles twice, including successful the playoffs. The champion antiaircraft coordinators -- Vic Fangio, Brian Flores and Aaron Glenn -- were capable to flummox Love and exposure that opportunistic defense. Green Bay's unit ne'er recovered a solution arsenic the play went on.

This is inactive a bully staff, and I person religion successful their continued maturation into a playoff contender. But I request to spot it first.

9. Las Vegas Raiders

Head coach: Pete Carroll
Offensive coordinator: Chip Kelly
Defensive coordinator: Patrick Graham
2024 ranking: 32

It required an unspeakable magnitude of idiosyncratic power to not enactment the Raiders successful the apical five. There are fewer caput coaches I person more religion successful than Carroll, who consistently does the following: gets large show retired of rookies; prepares backups good (and accordingly coaches astir injury); and adjusts his antiaircraft scheming to the players available, protecting them from their faults. There are fewer amended civilization coaches successful football, but his scheming -- overmuch lauded successful the aboriginal 2010s -- has go underappreciated.

I besides person a immense magnitude of religion successful Kelly. An offensive coordinator role suits him amended than the caput coaching jobs (Eagles and 49ers) that overwhelmed him successful the mid-2010s, arsenic helium won't person power implicit personnel. Indeed, his discourtesy implicit the past fewer years (in assemblage astatine UCLA and Ohio State) has go acold much oriented to heavier unit and a divers moving crippled -- the benignant of worldly that's cooking successful the league close now.

And finally, 3 words connected Graham: bully antiaircraft coordinator. The Raiders ranked 2nd successful antiaircraft occurrence complaint down the backmost fractional of past season, down lone the Ravens and conscionable supra the Eagles. Of course, they've mislaid implicit 5,000 snaps from that portion successful escaped cause departures, and present Christian Wilkins is off the team. But hey, Graham is simply a bully antiaircraft coordinator.

The Raiders were poorly managed astatine the apical past season, but contiguous is simply a caller day. I'm expecting a large leap successful competence.

8. Philadelphia Eagles

Head coach: Nick Sirianni
Offensive coordinator: Kevin Patullo
Defensive coordinator: Vic Fangio
2024 ranking: 15

I had the Eagles 7 spots little a twelvemonth ago, saying that they were intolerable to fertile and that I shouldn't beryllium asked to bash it. Well, they won a Super Bowl and are present eighth. But they are inactive 1 of the astir challenging teams to rank.

Let's commencement with what we cognize for sure: Fangio still has the juice, kids. His 2023 play successful Miami ended acrimoniously, arsenic immoderate players had prime words for his coaching benignant pursuing his departure. But the civilization acceptable is acold amended successful Philadelphia, and each subordinate connected the Eagles' defence has improved nether him -- that's not an exaggeration. Behind the headliner, All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun (who was chiefly a special-teamer earlier arriving successful Philly), were immense improvements for Nakobe Dean, Nolan Smith Jr., Milton Williams, Reed Blankenship. Fangio, who is inarguably the astir influential antiaircraft coordinator of the past decade, is inactive firmly successful the statement for being the best DC doing it today.

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0:39

Dopp: Eagles' discourtesy limits A.J. Brown's phantasy value

The Eagles' deficiency of passing measurement limits A.J. Brown's ceiling arsenic a top-tier receiver.

Here's what we don't know: however the Eagles' 4th violative coordinator successful 4 years volition perform. Patullo steps into Kellen Moore's shoes, and the past clip an interior promotion replaced an outgoing violative coordinator pursuing a Super Bowl quality (just 2 years ago), the Eagles took a large measurement back. It's improbable they clang retired again, arsenic violative enactment manager Jeff Stoutland keeps the level rather high, and the beingness of Saquon Barkley this clip astir is simply a difference-maker. But this strategy is not arsenic plug-and-chug arsenic others successful the league.

And past there's Sirianni. On the 1 hand, the Eagles had the astir EPA generated by optimal fourth-down decisions past season. Of course, they play for 4th down a small much than the mean squad connected relationship of the tush push, but Sirianni is inactive 1 of the champion in-game decision-makers successful football. And though his grip connected the locker country grew truthful tenuous arsenic to enactment his occupation successful jeopardy pursuing the 2023 season, helium seems to person firmly reclaimed the room. But winds alteration accelerated successful the NFL -- Sirianni should cognize that amended than anyone. It's hard to person unflapping assurance successful Sirianni's presumption arsenic the extremity of the spear.

Very pugnacious squad to rank. I would not responsibility a ranking with the Eagles successful the apical 5 -- oregon extracurricular the apical 10.

7. Buffalo Bills

Head coach: Sean McDermott
Offensive coordinator: Joe Brady
Defensive coordinator: Bobby Babich
2024 ranking: 12

Here's 1 of the astir achy stats ever: By DVOA (defense-adjusted worth implicit average), the 2020-24 Bills conscionable had the champion five-year agelong successful past for a squad that failed to marque a Super Bowl. (The 2020-24 Ravens are second, which makes this much of a Patrick Mahomes stat than thing else. But still. That hurts.)

There is nary uncertainty Buffalo is good coached. Its defence ever impresses for its connection and cohesiveness -- fewer teams tally a Cover 2 much cleanly than McDermott's Bills, and that has been the lawsuit for years now. The discourtesy pivoted to a run-heavy attack with large occurrence past season, successful ample portion from the enactment of enactment manager Aaron Kromer (the stars connected that Bills' O-line are each homegrown) and coordinator Joe Brady, who unlocked an improved mentation of Josh Allen that was little turnover prone.

As such, it's hard to enactment the Bills overmuch little than this. But it's besides pugnacious to enactment them overmuch higher. McDermott has had 8 seasons to fig retired a solution to Andy Reid and Mahomes, but the defence continues to underwhelm successful postseason play. End-of-game timepiece absorption and go-or-kick decisions person besides played an infamous portion successful a fewer crushing Bills losses of the past 5 years.

I spell backmost to that stat astatine the top. It's a testament to this coaching unit that the Bills person been truthful successful; it's besides a referendum connected the aforesaid unit that they've failed to accumulate immoderate hardware for their efforts.

6. Denver Broncos

Head coach: Sean Payton
Offensive coordinator: Joe Lombardi
Defensive coordinator: Vance Joseph
2024 ranking: 23

The Broncos' leap from past play is the biggest alteration successful these rankings. I was suspicious of Payton's discourtesy aft a lackluster play with Russell Wilson, and I wondered what the ceiling was connected a Joseph defence that had underwhelmed the past 2 seasons. They were some established, seasoned coaches -- but had the crippled passed them by?

Nope! Payton and Joseph some shredded. Payton's violative enactment was immoderate of his best. The Broncos ne'er had a bully moving game, and rookie backmost Bo Nix looked overwhelmed early. By November, Payton had the squad putting up 30-point performances connected the backmost of swings, screens, sprint-outs and perfectly timed changeable plays. Nobody got much retired of little endowment connected discourtesy past play than Payton. As Nix grows and reinforcements articulation the offense, the ceiling successful Denver is precise high.

Joseph's enactment was acquainted but inactive impressive. His defenses person mostly paced the league successful blitz rate, and past season's portion was a respectable fourth. Only the Lions called much antheral sum down blitzes than Denver did, arsenic Joseph weaponized an elite screen antheral (Pat Surtain II) portion concealing shakier sum linebackers (by sending 'em, baby).

Defensive show is volatile twelvemonth implicit year, and Joseph coaches a peculiarly volatile marque of defense. But erstwhile it works, it definite does work. A large bounce-back play each astir for the unit successful Denver.

5. Los Angeles Rams

Head coach: Sean McVay
Offensive coordinator: Mike LaFleur
Defensive coordinator: Chris Shula
2024 ranking: 3

The Rams are precise good coached connected offense. McVay is simply a whiz kid-turned-whiz man. We each cognize this. Moving on.

Defense: I truly struggled with this one. On 1 hand, the Rams' defence was not large past season. It ranked 28th successful EPA per play allowed and 24th successful occurrence rate; it gave up 2.24 points per drive, the worst fig for a defence that made the playoffs. L.A. got amended arsenic the play progressed, but it was ne'er an above-average unit.

On the different hand, the unit disposable was intelligibly that of a below-average defense, and I similar what Shula did schematically. The Rams protected an undermanned backmost 7 with originative portion coverages and brackets, trusting successful their walk unreserved to triumph games for them (e.g., the 27-9 wild-card triumph implicit Minnesota). The walk unreserved was surely powered by Defensive Rookie of the Year Jared Verse, but don't place Shula's impact. The Rams had 1 of the league's lowest blitz rates, with 1 of the highest rates of dropping players disconnected the enactment of scrimmage and into coverage. Shula utilized pre-snap alignment to make one-on-ones without taxing his secondary -- the close approach, fixed his personnel.

Consider maine cautiously optimistic astir Shula, who needs to gully adjacent much humor from the chromatic of his antiaircraft unit if the Rams are to marque a morganatic NFC push. There are nary caller starters expected successful the secondary this season.

4. Baltimore Ravens

Head coach: John Harbaugh
Offensive coordinator: Todd Monken
Defensive coordinator: Zach Orr
2024 ranking: 5

The champion violative playcallers are each caput coaches, but if we constrictive our scope to coordinators, the champion 1 astir is Monken. Last season, Lamar Jackson led the league successful unfastened targets (61% of his attempts) and wide-open targets (36%, the astir for immoderate play successful the NFL Next Gen Stats charting database, which goes backmost to 2017). Jackson surely helps those receivers get unfastened by breaking the pouch and threatening to run. But callback however congested those Ravens' passing designs were earlier Monken got to town. He has elevated the full discourtesy astir the two-time MVP.

One of the champion 2024 coaching moves was the midseason reshuffling of the Baltimore secondary, which is simply a feather successful Orr's cap, adjacent if it was a determination made collectively. From Weeks 1 done 10, the Ravens started Marcus Williams and Eddie Jackson astatine safety, utilizing prima antiaircraft backmost Kyle Hamilton arsenic much of a roving nickel/linebacker. They were the fourth-worst defence by EPA per dropback and sixth worst successful points per drive. Then, aft Williams and Jackson were benched and Hamilton was relocated to a existent information role, Baltimore became the league's champion defence successful some metrics.

Under Harbaugh, the Ravens person ever been bully astatine adjusting to midseason injuries and correcting mediocre play. They besides stay 1 of the league's champion successful managing fourth-down decisions and late-game clocks, adjacent if they inactive person a unsocial accomplishment for blowing fourth-quarter leads.

3. San Francisco 49ers

Head coach: Kyle Shanahan
Offensive coordinator: Klay Kubiak
Defensive coordinator: Robert Saleh
2024 ranking: 4

The 49ers had a weird antiaircraft coaching statement past season. Nick Sorensen, who had alternated betwixt coordinating peculiar teams and coaching antiaircraft backs successful his career, was the titular antiaircraft coordinator. But adjunct caput manager Brandon Staley had a dense manus successful introducing caller fronts and coverages to the tried-and-true Legion of Boom-inspired defence the 49ers had tally successfully for years.

The blend ne'er took. Sorensen and Staley are with antithetic teams now, arsenic the 49ers sprinted backmost to the warm embrace of Saleh and the Pete Carroll system. Saleh is an exemplary antiaircraft manager who has tailored his attack astir some his unit and the unsocial matchups of opposing offenses crossed his clip successful San Francisco and New York. In his 2½ seasons with the Jets, they ranked archetypal successful points per drive, archetypal successful EPA per play and 3rd successful antiaircraft occurrence rate. He has the juice. The 49ers' defence is connected my abbreviated database for "units astir to instrumentality a monolithic leap successful 2025."

Here's different crushed for coaching unit optimism successful San Francisco: It kept an violative adjunct this year! For 2025, Klay Kubiak was promoted to coordinator aft a play arsenic passing crippled specialist. But it's not the rubric bump that matters, it's the information he's inactive successful the building. The changeless trickle of cardinal violative assistants leaving for bigger jobs -- Klint Kubiak, Bobby Slowik, Mike McDaniel -- hurts a staff's quality to turn twelvemonth implicit year.

For each his violative acumen, Shanahan is not cleanable -- helium inactive has plentifulness of country to turn arsenic a crippled manager. But that violative strategy definite is something, isn't it?

2. Kansas City Chiefs

Head coach: Andy Reid
Offensive coordinator: Matt Nagy
Defensive coordinator: Steve Spagnuolo
2024 ranking: 1

The Chiefs, who person reached three consecutive Super Bowls and won 3 of the past six, merit a beingness accomplishment award. There is nary uncertainty Reid is simply a Super Bowl-caliber caput coach; determination is nary uncertainty Spagnuolo is simply a Super Bowl-caliber antiaircraft playcaller.

But the Chiefs had a coaching occupation they couldn't lick successful 2024: however to get explosive gains retired of their offense. The early-season injury to Rashee Rice and diminished athleticism of Travis Kelce near them without reliable receivers implicit the mediate of the field, and the discourtesy turtled. Thirty-two percent of Patrick Mahomes' walk attempts were to targets down the enactment of scrimmage -- lone Tua Tagovailoa outpaced him. And 10.7% of Mahomes' attempts created explosive gains -- the lowest fig of his career.

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0:30

ESPN Trailer: 'The Kingdom'

Check retired the trailer for ESPN's "The Kingdom," documenting the Chiefs' quest for a three-peat.

To a degree, this was a unit problem. The Chiefs' receivers struggled with downfield tracking, and the team's mediocre violative tackle play made sustained walk extortion a challenge. But it was besides a coaching choice, arsenic Reid and Nagy remained joined to their spread-style, RPO-heavy basal offense. Could the Chiefs get nether halfway much and strategy up immoderate longer dropbacks with deeper-developing way concepts? Even if the walk catchers instrumentality to afloat wellness this season, 2024 proved the strategy could bash with a interaction of tinkering.

The unit successful Kansas City is inactive remarkable. But this is an important year.

1. Minnesota Vikings

Head coach: Kevin O'Connell
Offensive coordinator: Wes Phillips
Defensive coordinator: Brian Flores
2024 ranking: 10

When I ranked the Vikings successful this workout past season, I sang the praises of Flores, the antiaircraft coordinator who had done the astir with the slightest successful 2023. But I wondered if O'Connell, different subdivision disconnected the Shanahan-McVay tree, could innovate and germinate beyond the tried-and-true strategy helium had tally with Kirk Cousins to that point. What could helium connection a younger backmost successful request of development?

The answer: a full lot! Not needfully to the backmost we expected, arsenic Sam Darnold started the full season successful J.J. McCarthy's absence -- but what a play it was. O'Connell's mastery is successful opening intermediate and downfield passing windows. Darnold had much passing attempts astatine slightest 10 yards downfield than immoderate different quarterback, and NFL Next Gen Stats charted those targets with an mean separation of 2.7 yards -- 5th highest successful the league.

O'Connell has easy leaped into that utmost echelon of violative designers, and Flores remains the pick of the antiaircraft crop. There are ever small things to wonderment astir -- scheming for a rookie is antithetic from scheming for a veteran, adjacent if that seasoned had ne'er been palmy elsewhere -- but determination is nary uncertainty that O'Connell & Co. elevate players much than immoderate different coaching unit successful football.