Lords of the Rings: the NFL's 10 greatest coaches

[NY8123]

If you are looking for a change from the mundane ramblings from the press and media outlets during the long stretch of the off season, I found this article at Cold, Hard Football Facts pretty entertaining. Good read about the all time greatest coaches with our beloved Shula 8th on the list and probably so.

Lords of the Rings: the NFL's 10 greatest coaches
Cold, Hard Football Facts for July 12, 2010


By Kerry J. Byrne
Cold, Hard Football Facts Potentate of Pigskin

The death of Don Coryell earlier this month spawned a wave of “is he or isn't he a Hall of Famer” talk around the inter-webs.

We gave the final answer last week: he's a Hall of Famer only to those who let the emotions of his death cloud their reason. Emotion, fortunately for you, is not in our vocabulary (well ... except for denying that we have any emotion ... but you get the point). For our part, we're more than happy to induct Coryell into the Hall of Very Good. It’s the only reasonable answer.

In any case, all the talk about great coaches got us thinking about the best in history. It’s a tough business, this coaching gig: bad coaches live on a very short, constricting leash while average is not good enough in the eyes of fans or history. Only a few coaches have proven they can win consistently year after year (Landry, Shula) or win so explosively over such a short period (Lombardi, Walsh) that they burn their image into the history of the game.

So here's what we did to determine the best ever: we looked at those coaches who won most consistently, who won most spectacularly, and/or who left the greatest imprints on their teams and on the sport itself. We then ran all the data through our state-of-the-art Commodore 64-powered database and spit out the 10 best coaches in history.

You can argue with the order, but it's hard to debate the final 10. Consider that our list of 10 coaches have combined to win 37 of the 90 championships in NFL history (that's eight shy of half, for those of you keeping score at home).

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.co...the_Rings:_the_NFL's_10_greatest_coaches.html

 

[greasyObnoxious]

seeing Belichick up there makes me want to puke

 

[nyjunc]

I would certainly have Gibbs higher and they have landry too high. I think Landry and Shula were very similar but I'd give Don the edge b/c of more SB apps, more div titles and better win %.

As far as Belichick, I know you need great players to win but his career was saved by Tom Brady. He would have been fired soon if not for getting lucky w/ Brady so I'd have him at the end of that list w/ Landry ahead of him and shula in front of Landry while moving Gibbs up to #6.

 

[PhinsPhan11]

I think that Belichick is a little high. If it wasn't for Tom Brady he wouldn't be that high.

 

[WitheringPlant]

I don't see why almost every coach/player rankings out there favorites old time coaches (60s and before) so much more than modern ones. I really don't care if a guy has 20 AFL championships. He was coaching at a time with much less competition. I think I'd take Walsh over anyone else on the list.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

I'd have Walsh and Shula higher. I don't have problem with Belichick's ranking. Two of his three SB's were wins against more talented teams (Rams and Eagles). I think you can make a pretty good argument for Walsh being in the top 3. I've always felt that Montana would have only been a good QB if he weren't in the system Walsh created.

 

[Coach_Rob]

shula should be top five, walsh as well

 

[Marino420TD]

Sounds like cold hard football opinions. I'm not going to claim Shula has to be #1, but Noll, Landry, and Walsh basically were 1 QB coaches. Shula went to a SB with Woodley as QB and with Earl Morrall as QB...twice!

 

[nyjunc]

I'd have Walsh and Shula higher. I don't have problem with Belichick's ranking. Two of his three SB's were wins against more talented teams (Rams and Eagles). I think you can make a pretty good argument for Walsh being in the top 3. I've always felt that Montana would have only been a good QB if he weren't in the system Walsh created.

I disagree about 2 things. #1 Philly was not more talented than NE and #2 Montana would have been a star in any system. Remember, he took KC to an AFC Championship Game in his 2 years in KC. From 1970-1992 w/o Montana that team won a grand total of ONE playoff game, from 1995-current w/ Montana they have won a grand total of ZERO playoff games. Walsh is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game w/o a doubt but Montana gets underrated b/c of it(much like Brady gets underrated b/c of Belichick even though he made BB a great HC).

Sounds like cold hard football opinions. I'm not going to claim Shula has to be #1, but Noll, Landry, and Walsh basically were 1 QB coaches. Shula went to a SB with Woodley as QB and with Earl Morrall as QB...twice!

I agree that would help put him ahead of certain guys he is close w/ BUT Morrall was an NFL MVP and Landry did make Super Bowls with two different starting QBs(Craig Morton and Staubach).

 

[NY8123]

It was interesting to see the trail Paul Brown left in the NFL. Halas would be ahead of Lombardi in my book and if Landry is in 4th with 2 championships then why is Shula's only knock against him 2 championships? Shula has more wins, almost the same post season record so in my book Landry should be behind Shula where ever you put them on the list.

 

[Tunaphish429]

I disagree about 2 things. #1 Philly was not more talented than NE and #2 Montana would have been a star in any system. Remember, he took KC to an AFC Championship Game in his 2 years in KC. From 1970-1992 w/o Montana that team won a grand total of ONE playoff game, from 1995-current w/ Montana they have won a grand total of ZERO playoff games. Walsh is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game w/o a doubt but Montana gets underrated b/c of it(much like Brady gets underrated b/c of Belichick even though he made BB a great HC).

I would say that Landry should be higher on the list because he invented a defensive system 4-3 D. and won multiple super bowls...






I agree that would help put him ahead of certain guys he is close w/ BUT Morrall was an NFL MVP and Landry did make Super Bowls with two different starting QBs(Craig Morton and Staubach).

I also say Walsh should be higher beacause of the system he invented and the amount of super bowls he won as well as how he used the draft...

He was one of the first coaches to start trading down multiple times and still hit on great players in the draft..

Shula should be higher as well..He is the winningest coach of all time...not to mention...The phins were an expansion team when he started it.....

 

[Ed Norton]

I'd put Shula as the best. The only ones that even really compare to him are Paul Brown, Lombardi, Halas, Landry.

Shula did have the winningest team (best win %) in American major pro sports for 25 years!

 

[BobDole]

those top 6 guys were before my time so its tough for me say anything one way or the other. but being that they were going purely by championships - hence the name of the article - you'd think they'd take into account how much easier it was to dominate when there were so few teams. go figure.

 

[nyjunc]

I'd put Shula as the best. The only ones that even really compare to him are Paul Brown, Lombardi, Halas, Landry.

Shula did have the winningest team (best win %) in American major pro sports for 25 years!

Shula was a GREAT coach BUT when you don't win the most chamnpionships it's hard to be considered the best. if he was close I'd give him the benefit of the doubt but he's not close.

 

[NY8123]

Sounds like cold hard football opinions. I'm not going to claim Shula has to be #1, but Noll, Landry, and Walsh basically were 1 QB coaches. Shula went to a SB with Woodley as QB and with Earl Morrall as QB...twice!

Don't forget Shula went with Marino once as well.