Nick Sirianni leads top NFC coaches
In the past, it seemed that the balance of power in the NFL was in the AFC. The Chiefs have won three Super Bowls with the Andy Reid-Patrick Mahomes coach-quarterback combination. The Baltimore Ravens with John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson were not far behind, while the Buffalo Bills with Sean McDermott and Josh Allen were right on their heels.
But the Philadelphia Eagles punished the Chiefs in the Super Bowl last season and Nick Sirianni went from a tenuous position at the end of the 2023 season into a celebrated one when he lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Sirianni and the Eagles have a brilliantly talented roster, led by QB Jalen Hurts, and they should be in an excellent position to defend their title.
In this piece we look at the best NFC coaches and identify their greatest strength when it comes to leading their teams.
1.Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
Sirianni rescued his reputation when it appeared that he was on shaky ground as the Eagles slumped two years ago and lost a Wild Card game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in decisive fashion. Philadelphia fans had seen enough of Sirianni and he appeared to be on the verge of becoming the ex-Eagles coach, but owner Jeff Lurie was not ready to pull the trigger. Instead, Sirianni had one more chance and he took advantage of it. Rather than being an offensive innovator or a defensive mastermind, Sirianni excels at building up his players and helping them reach another level that they might not know they have. Sirianni is a detail-oriented leader who has built a great rapport with his players.
2. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Campbell resembles an old-school head coach because he pushes his players harder than most of his peers. He is particularly demanding in training camp, something that nearly all coaches have backed off of significantly. As a result, the Lions are ready to play at close to top level when the season kicks off. Most teams need to work up to that level through the first month of the season, but Campbell’s Lions are ready to play. He is tough, hard-nosed and demanding, but he does it in a supportive way. That is a very difficult act to master, but he has done it in expert fashion
3. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
One of the top offensive minds in the NFL. McVay earned his reputation as one of the top coaches when the Rams won the Super Bowl following the 2021 season. They appeared to be floundering in 2022, but McVay brought them back to the playoffs in each of the last two seasons. They came closer than anyone else to stopping the Eagles in the postseason and McVay has shown that he can rally his team at the most important moments.
4. Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
Perhaps the game’s foremost quarterback instructor. He has had success with Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold with the Vikings, and he now will try to do the same with J.J. McCarthy. There is no doubt about his knowledge of the position and his ability to build camaraderie within his locker room. If McCarthy is successful in 2025, O’Connell will likely move up on this list.
5. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
LaFleur demonstrated his leadership when he managed the transition from Aaron Rodgers to Jordan Love without incident. LaFleur has led the Packers into the playoffs in 5 of his six seasons, but fans would like to see him drive the Pack back to the top of the NFC North after a third-place finish in 2024 that saw them finish behind the Lions and the Vikings.
