Let’s be honest—coaching in the NFL is one of the toughest jobs in sports. You have to juggle superstar egos, craft game plans to outsmart the best football minds in the world, and somehow keep both the media and your billionaire boss happy. Some coaches thrive under the pressure, proving their worth year after year. Others… well, let’s just say their reputations outshine their actual results.
Despite head-scratching decisions, inconsistent performances, and sometimes outright disastrous game management, certain coaches continue to skate by without much criticism. Whether it’s because of a single past success, a well-crafted PR narrative, or an endlessly patient fanbase, these coaches enjoy a level of respect that doesn’t quite match their track record. With that in mind—and fully prepared for the inevitable outrage—let’s take a look at the most overrated current NFL coaches.
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.
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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.
Related: 20 Fictional Coaches Who Could Totally Take a Team to Super Bowl Victory
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.
Related: The Top 10 NFL Coaches of the 2024-2025 Season, Ranked
