Ranking the 10 Most Overrated NFL Coaches Right Now

Let’s be real—coaching in the NFL is a tough gig. You’re expected to manage egos, out-scheme the best football minds on the planet, and somehow keep the media (and your owner) happy. Some coaches do this exceptionally well. Others… not so much.

Yet, despite questionable decision-making, lackluster results, and sometimes downright baffling game management, some coaches continue to get a free pass. Whether it’s because of past success, a good PR team, or just blind faith from the fanbase, these coaches seem to have an aura of greatness that doesn’t quite match their performance.

So, in the spirit of some lighthearted football fun, let’s rank the 15 most overrated current NFL coaches—and yes, we’re bracing for the angry fan replies already.

Sean Payton (Denver Broncos)

Sean Payton walked into Denver with a Super Bowl ring, a reputation as an offensive genius, and a strong distaste for Russell Wilson’s parking spot. But let’s not pretend that ring from 2009 still carries the same weight. While his second year in Denver was much better than his first, the jury’s still out on whether he’s a top NFL coach anymore.

Mike Vrabel (New England Patriots)

Vrabel’s Titans were always “gritty,” which is a nice way of saying they played ugly football. Now that he’s heading back to New England — the team he played for — the pressure is going to be dialed up to an 11. While he be able to live up to the hype? We’ll see.

Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)

Dan Campbell’s energy is off the charts, and the Lions’ resurgence is fun to watch. But let’s not forget some of the boneheaded fourth-down calls and clock management issues. He’s got Detroit believing, but we’ll see if he can take them all the way.

Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Look, Tomlin is a good coach—no doubt. But can we stop pretending he’s still elite? The Steelers are stuck in mediocrity, and while he deserves credit for keeping them afloat, the playoff success just isn’t there. It’s been over a decade since they last made a serious run. Winning records are nice, but at some point, you have to do more than just survive.

Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers)

LaFleur looked like a genius when Aaron Rodgers was running the show. Without him? It’s been a mixed bag. Maybe Jordan Love changes the narrative, but let’s slow down on the “offensive mastermind” talk for now.

Brian Daboll (New York Giants)

Daboll came in, won Coach of the Year, and then… yikes. The Giants offense the last two years has looked like it was playing in slow motion. Maybe he turns it around, but that shine wore off quickly.

Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers)

Yes, Shanahan is a great play designer. But his teams have a bad habit of collapsing in big moments, and he still doesn’t have a ring. Can we at least wait until he wins one before we call him a generational genius?

John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens)

Harbaugh has been solid, but he hasn’t been back to the Super Bowl in quite some time. Not to mention, with Lamar Jackson at QB, expectations should be higher.

Pete Carroll (Las Vegas Raiders)

Carroll is fun and charismatic, but Seattle was been stuck in neutral for years before he left. Will things be better in Las Vegas? We’ll have to wait and see.

Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns)

Stefanski is the guy who wins Coach of the Year once and then gets unlimited job security. Yes, he’s had success, but let’s not act like the Browns’ elite defense didn’t carry them this season.