Top 10 NFL Coaches of the 2010s
The 2010s were a wild decade for the NFL, full of unforgettable games, legendary players, and, of course, the coaches who shaped the league. Some built dynasties, others turned struggling franchises into contenders, and a few had a lasting impact even without winning a Super Bowl. Coaching in the NFL isn't just about calling plays. It's about leadership, strategy, and the ability to adapt in a league that constantly evolves.This list highlights the top coaches of the decade, the ones who brought their teams to the biggest stages or consistently kept them in the hunt. Some dominated with multiple championships, while others were known for innovative offenses or building elite defenses. No matter their style, each of these coaches left their impact during the 2010s.
It's important to note that this list focuses only on what happened from the 2009 playoffs through the 2019 regular season. Anything before or after doesn't count, so careers that extended beyond those years are judged solely on what they accomplished within this timeframe.
Now it's up to you to decide who stood out the most. Vote for the coaches you think deserve the top spots.
Andrew Walter Reid is an American football coach who is the current head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. Reid was previously the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, a position he held from 1999 to 2012. He struggled with Philly, but ever since he arrived in KC, he has turned the Chiefs franchise basically full 180. Sure, his playoff record and clock management are abysmal, but he knows how to win and manage an offense. Just look at what he's done with Mahomes.
William Stephen Belichick is an American football coach and the long-time head coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League. Who else would it be besides Emperor Belichick? The man has led one of the greatest dynasties we will ever see. He won three Super Bowls this decade, including an incredible comeback against the Falcons. They have won the division every year and have always been a dominant force in the playoffs. Nobody even compares to this man.
Technically, he won the Super Bowl in 2010, although he has faced three straight seasons without playoffs earlier in the decade and now three straight heartbreakers in the playoffs, and a suspension for a season over Bountygate. However, simply put, he knows how to win. He has won 11+ games in six out of ten seasons and three straight division titles.
Peter Clay Carroll is an American football coach who is the head coach and executive vice president of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. Arguably one of the most consistent coaches in the league, Seattle has always been competitive under Carroll. The highlight of the decade was the Legion of Boom era, winning a Super Bowl in dominant fashion and then losing to the Patriots. We all know how that one ended. He has four division titles and has won 10+ games seven times.
John W. Harbaugh is an American football coach who has been the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League since 2008. It's been a bit up and down, but he still won a Super Bowl with the Ravens and has kept them a dangerous team almost the entire decade. They are one of the most electrifying teams to watch now because of what he's done with Lamar Jackson.
Michael Pettaway Tomlin is an American football coach who is the 16th head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. Despite struggles in recent years, he made a Super Bowl in 2010 and has kept them overall consistent throughout the decade. Six playoff appearances and four division titles. Definitely not bad. The only issue with him is his lack of control in the locker room. Just look at 2018 with Le'Veon Bell and Antonio Brown. It was absolutely toxic, and that's his biggest flaw.
Arians has had a very interesting decade, being with Pittsburgh and Indy for a short time before landing in Arizona and now Tampa. I think we can all attribute how his tenure with Arizona was a success. He brought a Renaissance with Carson Palmer, highlighted by a 13-3 season. Now with Tampa Bay, he has made them somewhat better, but it's still too early to tell for sure.
He's had a short tenure in Philly, but he was able to win the Super Bowl with Nick Foles. The Eagles were essentially left for dead, and he still found a way to win a Super Bowl. Every year, it seems like half his team was on IR, and he still finds a way to be half decent.
Michael John McCarthy is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He previously coached the Green Bay Packers from 2006-2018. He led the Packers to a win in Super Bowl XLV against his hometown team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. McCarthy won a Super Bowl for the Packers in 2010. And while he never got to that point again, he had stability for the Packers for about half the decade. He wasn't awful until the past two years of his tenure. Sure, they have had playoff failures, but they were still mostly consistent.
The Newcomers
Always finds a way to make the Bills a quietly decent team.
Ronald Eugene "Ron" Rivera is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach of the Washington Commanders of the National Football League. It feels odd to put him here after the meltdown the Panthers have had over the past few years, but he did win coach of the year twice and made a Super Bowl. Overall, fairly consistent with Carolina until recently. To be fair, with Cam Newton being out for a long period of time, it's not entirely his fault.