Ranking all the current head coach and QB combinations

1. Sam Darnold + Mike Macdonald

There is an argument to be made that Darnold is the most underrated QB in the sport as in his time as an NFL starter presiding under center for viable franchises, he has never failed to win 14 games or lead an elite offense. One could certainly argue that Darnold belongs in that tier with Burrow, Jackson, Allen and Mahomes. But because of his early career failures with inept franchises and his ordinary physical talent, no one gives him much consideration to be in that group. Darnold is 90-95% of Burrow as a talent being mostly just a pure pocket passer with ordinary physical traits, but Darnold does not struggle to stay healthy like Burrow does. Darnold is clearly not as talented as Lamar Jackson, but Darnold just won a Super Bowl playing exceptionally well in the postseason in doing so whereas Jackson consistently falters come playoff time. Darnold is also not as talented as Josh Allen but again Darnold just won a Super Bowl playing very well in all the playoff games whereas Josh Allen is coming off a horrific postseason performance where he cost the Bills the season in all honesty. Patrick Mahomes is viewed by most to be the premier QB in the sport as of now, but Mahomes is coming off an injury and Mahomes’ team did not make the playoffs this past season and got annihilated in the previous year’s Super Bowl, whereas Darnold is coming off a Super Bowl win. The offenses that Mahomes has commanded the past couple of seasons have been very average whereas Darnold has led consistently elite offenses the past couple of seasons with two separate teams despite not having Andy Reid at head coach like Mahomes does. Mike Macdonald also has an argument for being the premier head coach in the sport coming off a Super Bowl win in just year 2 on the job. I prefer defensive minded head coaches over offensive minded head coaches, and I would take the defensive mastermind head coach over the offensive mastermind head coach almost every single time. While Macdonald is unequivocally one of the two sharpest defensive minded head coaches in the game today as well.

 

2. Patrick Mahomes + Andy Reid

Although they have won three Super Bowls together, I do not have Mahomes/Reid as the top duo. If this list were a head coach/QB/coordinator list, they would likely rank #1 with the inclusion of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. As Spagnuolo does not get nearly the credit he deserves for the Chiefs’ success over the years. One could make a very strong argument that Spagnuolo deserves just as much if not more credit than both Mahomes/Reid do. But nonetheless Mahomes is an elite talent at the QB spot who is a top 5 QB of all time already and Andy Reid has a case to be recognized as perhaps the greatest offensive head coach ever.

 

3. Matthew Stafford + Sean McVay

Sean McVay is one of the 2-3 best offensive head coaches in the sport and Stafford is one of the best throwers of the football in the NFL. In the McVay/Stafford era the Rams won a Super Bowl and threatened to win another on three different occasions and on all the remaining three occasions one could argue they were the 2^nd best team in the sport that season. Stafford has truly come into his own under McVay and the stark difference in Stafford from his Lions’ days to his Rams’ days under McVay goes to show you the impact that offensive minded head coaches can have. Stafford in over a decade with the Lions never won a playoff game and had a total of one pro bowl appearance. While in 5 seasons under McVay, Stafford has won a Super Bowl and has made two pro bowls and won league MVP honors.

 

4. Malik Willis + Jeff Hafley

The Dolphins in my estimation have the ultimate head coach + QB formula. I have always felt that the QB who can run like a defensive back, a wide receiver, or a running back but who can still throw at an elite level, i.e. the QB in the Lamar Jackson mold, gives you another dimension or another 5-10% more in terms of a ceiling that not even the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, and so on give you. I have always felt that Lamar Jackson has been the most talented QB in the sport since entering his prime and likely the most talented ever. Malik Willis is an essential doppelganger of Lamar Jackson in terms of talent but without the big game clutch performance concerns. I also feel as if I prefer defensive minded head coaches over offensive minded head coaches and I will take the defensive mastermind head coach over the offensive mastermind head coach any day. Jeff Hafley is in line to be the next DeMeco Ryans/Mike MacDonald level defensive mastermind head coach in my estimation based on what he did with the Packers. Pairing the Lamar Jackson caliber QB with the defensive mastermind head coach is the ultimate head coach + QB combination in my estimation. As the Ravens with Lamar Jackson were the most dominant when Jackson was paired with the now Seahawks’ Super Bowl winning head coach Mike Macdonald as his defensive coordinator, who is arguably the sharpest defensive mind in the game. That 2023 Ravens team, with Lamar Jackson at QB and the defense humming under the at the time defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald was as dominant of a team that I have seen in the NFL, despite not winning the Super Bowl as Jackson again faltered come playoff time. The combination of a heavy running offense that controls the time of possession and shortens the game for the defense is a very strong formula for seeing success. The Dolphins are attempting to replicate that formula with Malik Willis who is an essential clone of Lamar Jackson at QB and new defensive minded head coach Jeff Hafley who Miami is hoping can be the next DeMeco Ryans or Mike Macdonald level head coach. But Miami stays out of the #1 spot as of now because of how unproven they are and how proven the Seahawks’ /Chiefs’/Rams’ duos are.

 

5. Jayden Daniels + Dan Quinn

The Commanders also are attempting to replicate the 2023 Ravens’ dominance by pairing the Lamar Jackson caliber QB with the defensive mastermind head coach. However, I like the Dolphins’ combination more as of now because Malik Willis is just as talented as Jackson in my estimation whereas I feel that Daniels is just a lesser version of Jackson in terms of talent. I also feel that head coach Dan Quinn has accrued far too lengthy of a negative track record as a head coach in the NFL with his defenses consistently underwhelming for me to strongly feel as if he can be the next DeMeco Ryans or Mike Macdonald. However, Quinn is still as of now one of the most decorated if not the most decorated defensive coordinator in NFL history. While as a head coach he nearly won a Super Bowl and his defenses do show promise from time to time.

 

6. CJ Stroud + DeMeco Ryans

One would be very surprised to find Stroud and Ryans this high but because of my love for the defensive mastermind head coach, they find themselves in the top ten as this ranking is based on how much I like the coach + QB combination not necessarily how accomplished they are. The defensive mastermind head coach is the ideal head coach for me in the modern NFL and Ryans is likely the sharpest defensive mind in the sport as of now. Quarterback CJ Stroud has seen his struggles in the past couple of seasons, and I will admit I have grown skeptical of his long-term viability as the face of the franchise for Houston. However, Stroud still had one of the greatest rookie QB seasons in NFL history and his struggles over the past two seasons since can certainly be attributed to instable offensive coaching and questionable offensive personnel that the Texans have given him.

 

 

 

7. Justin Herbert + Jim Harbaugh

Before taking the job with the Chargers, I viewed Jim Harbaugh as perhaps the best football coach ever and Justin Herbert to be amongst the most talented QBs ever. Although my perception of the two has certainly waned as they have failed to even win a playoff game in each of their first two seasons together, I am still very high on both. As the failures that the pairing has seen in their first two seasons together was certainly potentially more-so due to a subpar roster they had to work with as opposed to the pairing being perhaps overrated. When Harbaugh was paired with Herbert, I viewed it as the Chargers catching lightning in a bottle and I was thinking that the Chargers would be the next dynasty of the NFL. Although as such a huge fan of Harbaugh in particular I have been left disappointed as the pairing has failed to even win a playoff game yet losing by multiple possessions with the offense performing poorly in both of their opening round playoff game losses. Making the playoffs in each of the first two seasons with a head coach + QB combination is still no small feat and in the first season with Harbaugh/Herbert the Chargers still saw one of the better if not one of the best turnarounds with a first-year head coach in league history. Again, the failures that the team has seen in the first two seasons together can certainly be attributed to subpar roster construction as opposed to Harbaugh/Herbert perhaps being overrated. Year 3 of the Harbaugh/Herbert era could certainly be the breakout season for the Chargers, and the paring could climb this list.

 

 

8. Lamar Jackson + Jesse Minter

Just like teams 4 and 5 on this list the concept of pairing the QB who can run like a defensive back, running back, or wide out while still being an elite thrower with the defensive minded head coach is the ultimate head coach + QB formula in my estimation. Jackson as a talent is the first or second most talented QB in the sport along with Malik Willis and Minter was more than qualified for the job. However, this pairing remains this low because Jackson cannot be trusted to perform come playoff time as he has consistently faltered almost every time he has made the playoffs.

 

9. Drake Maye + Mike Vrabel

Drake Maye is emerging as a superstar QB in the NFL soon to recognized in that elite group with the Josh Allen’s and Patrick Mahomes’ of the world. Maye came up just one vote shy of winning league MVP honors in just his 2^nd year in the NFL, and his team represented the AFC in the Super Bowl. Mike Vrabel did a very good job with the Tennessee Titans turning a mostly irrelevant franchise with an ordinary QB talent into one of the better if not one of the premier AFC teams with regularity. However, they remain this low because I do not buy Vrabel as a defensive mastermind head coach to the level that DeMeco Ryans and Mike Macdonald are, not yet as least. His defenses as both a defensive coordinator and as head coach of the Titans consistently left much to be desired and perhaps his success with the Titans was more-so due to other factors than him. However, Vrabel, with his defensive background clearly seems to understand the offensive side of the ball quite well in getting the most out of Ryan Tannehill with the Titans and with Drake Maye so far in New England. Vrabel is also known for being a culture builder who is a very strong leader and it shows in the results on the field. In turning around a losing culture with the Titans into a winning one, while also turning around a 4-13 Patriots team from the season prior into the AFC representative in the Super Bowl in year 1 on the job. Maye/Vrabel made the Super Bowl in year 1 together, although handily losing, and are in line to build off it going forward.

 

 

10. Joe Burrow + Zac Taylor

Because of the struggles the Bengals have seen in the past three seasons in not making the playoffs in any of those years, people forget how great the combination of Burrow and Taylor was when they first started. In the first two seasons with a healthy Joe Burrow and head coach Zac Taylor the Bengals came within inches of winning a Super Bowl and getting to another one. Something that parallels the likes of Bill Belichick/Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid. Burrow is likely the best pure thrower of the football in the sport and amongst the best ever, while Taylor, although I have my question marks about him, is underrated as well. As we do not know if Burrow is as good as Burrow is without the presence of the offensive-minded Taylor as his head coach. The Bengals over the past three seasons have had two seasons where their superstar QB missed most of the season due to injury and Cincinnati was unable to make the postseason as a result. While they missed the postseason altogether in the remaining season even with Burrow healthy. However, even in the one season where Brady was out for the vast majority of the year, New England missed the playoffs. While the Patriots under Brady/Belichick, the Chiefs with Mahomes/Reid, and the Rams with McVay also each had a season where they missed the playoffs all together despite their star QB being healthy. The Bengals in the first five seasons with Burrow/Taylor share glaring similarities to dynastic Super Bowl winning teams. I have Burrow/Taylor this high as well because Burrow/Taylor have produced elite offenses with average to less than average personnel and multiple offensive coordinators.

 

11. Josh Allen + Joe Brady

One would be hard pressed to argue that Josh Allen is not the premier QB in the NFL as of now. Although Joe Brady is unproven as a head coach, one cannot deny his qualifications for the job. He was the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach for LSU’s national title winning 2019 team. Where Joe Burrow was perhaps the greatest passer in college football history and the duo of Jamarr Chase and Justin Jefferson was arguably the best wide receiver tandem in the history of college football. Joe Brady has been an offensive assistant on the Bills’ staff for 4 seasons now, most recently being offensive coordinator, getting Josh Allen to win league MVP honors in doing so. Although I do not know if Brady will be a great head coach, he was certainly qualified for the job and has chemistry with QB Josh Allen. The pairing will certainly be in line to be amongst the premier offensive head coach and QB duos in the sport.

 

12. Cam Ward + Robert Saleh

Although the #1 overall pick Ward had a mostly forgettable rookie season, he still threw more than twice as many touchdowns as interceptions and the Titans did not give him anything to work with on offense. Ward could potentially come into his own next season with new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll who as of now is amongst the premier offensive coordinators in the NFL as a former NFL head coach of the year. The defensive mastermind head coach is the ultimate head coach that a team should strive to seek in my estimation. Robert Saleh fits that mold and then some as the newly hired defensive minded head coach of the Titans. Saleh, in his previous head coaching job with the Jets had the Jets as one of the best if not the best defense in the NFL consistently. Cam Ward is a number one overall pick QB who still showed some promise as a rookie and Robert Saleh is the ideal head coach that a team could ask for in my estimation. Which is why the Titans’ head coach + QB duo finds themselves much higher than one would otherwise expect.

 

13. Kyler Murray + Kevin O’Connell

Although the pairing has yet to take a snap together, they could be lethal as an offensive head coach and QB pairing. Kyler Murray is a unicorn type of talent where no other QB in the history of the sport has had his combination of foot speed, arm strength, and refined throwing ability. Although the perception of Kevin O’Connell has waned after last season where Darnold was just as good if not better without him and his new QB in JJ McCarthy flopped under him, he is still a sharp offensive mind. The two are very talented but Murray has not found the right coach and O’Connell has not found the right long-term QB. The two could potentially complete one another heading into next season for Minnesota.

 

14. Jared Goff + Dan Campbell

Like Vrabel, although Campbell may not be a mastermind on the offensive side of the ball, he is certainly sharp on his side of the ball and is known for being a culture builder and a leader. Jared Goff and Dan Campebll put together two of the greatest seasons in NFL history that did not culminate in a Super Bowl appearance, being up 24-7 in a Conference Championship and going 15-2 the following season. Goff paired with the offensive minded Campbell produced one of the greatest offenses in NFL history during the 2024 season as well which ranked top 5 all time for points scored in a season. The two biggest things that I look for when I evaluate a coach are how strong his side of the ball is and how much the team wins. The Detroit offense under the watch of Campbell has been elite if not historically elite and Detroit has been one of the premier NFL teams under Campbell as well. The biggest thing that I look for when I evaluate a QB is how effective the offense is with him under center. As stated previously the Lions’ offense under Goff has been elite to historically elite with Goff in both the regular and postseason.

 

15. Trevor Lawrence + Liam Coen

The NFL is always on the hunt for the next great young offensive mind in the Sean McVay/Kyle Shanahan mold and Liam Coen is the prime candidate to be that in my estimation. The job that Coen did in coordinating the Bucs’ offense during the 2024 season was beyond remarkable. As Coen took a career backup/borderline starting QB in Baker Mayfield with average caliber offensive personnel and a defensive minded head coach and turned Tampa into one of the premier NFL offenses. Mayfield has not looked as good since Coen has left and Coen in year 1 with the Jaguars had QB Trevor Lawrence play like an MVP. Lawrence on the other hand was viewed as a generational talent set to be the next all-time great QB entering the NFL. Although he has not lived up to those expectations yet, he has been far from a bust. When Lawrence has been healthy and has had time to click with his head coach, he has consistently looked like an MVP caliber player. The combination of the superstar talent in Lawrence with the young sharp offensive mind in Coen finds themselves this low, which goes to show how much coach and QB talent there is in the sport today. Perhaps they can climb this list as the paring gains more experience and starts to win playoff games together.

 

16. Brock Purdy + Kyle Shanahan

Although I am still skeptical of Purdy as a QB talent, one cannot deny the production that Purdy with the offensive minded Shanahan has seen. In their first three seasons together, the 49ers led by Purdy at QB and Shanahan as the offensive minded head coach have had a top five graded offense in the NFL each season and came within inches of winning a Super Bowl. Kyle Shanahan could certainly be argued as perhaps the smartest offensive coach in NFL history. As Bill Walsh and Andy Reid are almost universally viewed as the two greatest offensive head coaches ever. Shanahan had Reid beaten in a Super Bowl twice despite having a QB who was not nearly as talented both times. While neither Walsh nor Reid has shown me that they can elevate ordinary QB talents into MVP caliber players with regularity like Shanahan has shown me in his career.

 

17. Jordan Love + Matt Lafleur

Matt Lafleur honestly deserves more recognition for being in the same class as the likes of McVay/Shanahan/Reid as an offensive minded head coach. Matt Lafleur was able to garner another peak season out of Aaron Rodgers which was one of the best seasons of his career after most viewed Rodgers to be past his peak. Lafluer has also gotten both Jordan Love and Malik Willis to perform at an MVP level with regularity. Lafleur has consistently gotten multiple QBs to play at a historic level which is no small feat. Perhaps if Lafleur was given better rosters he would have won a Super Bowl by now and would be viewed in the same class as the McVay’s or Andy Reid’s of the world. Although Jordan Love is not quite in that group with the likes of Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, he is certainly the next closest thing and can be just as good as any QB in the sport on any given Sunday. However, this pairing remains in the middle of the pack because although both are very good neither feels special as of now.

 

18. Daniel Jones + Shane Steichen

I have always said that Daniel Jones is perhaps the most underrated QB in the game as he is essentially Josh Allen without as strong of an arm. Steichen also has a case for being underrated as a head coach as well. Steichen in years 1 and 2 on the job with the Colts was in playoff contention up until the last 2 weeks of the season each year despite not having a viable starting QB. In year 3 of the Steichen era in Indianapolis which was the first in which Steichen was given a legitimate starting QB, the Colts for the first 10 weeks of the season were the premier team in the AFC if not the NFL with the top scoring offense in the NFL led by the offensive minded Steichen. Before, of course multiple QB injuries, the lack of capable backups at the position and a brutal schedule with many close losses saw them lose seven in a row to end the season, missing the playoffs all-together. In the one and only year that Jones and Steichen were together and Jones was healthy, the Colts were likely the top team in the AFC with the top scoring offense in the NFL as well with Steichen’s offensive background.

 

19. Caleb Williams + Ben Johnson

Although I do feel as if Ben Johnson was bit overrated as a head coach hire and Caleb Williams has not lived up to expectations yet, the Bears still have a promising head coach + QB combination. Caleb Williams was viewed as a generational talent entering the NFL and his first two seasons in the league thus far has lived up to the reputation from time to time although being inconsistent and having his struggles. The Bears under Ben Johnson saw one of the best turnarounds that a team has seen with a first-year head coach. But I am still not all in on Johnson as an offensive mastermind as the Bears’ offense in year 1 under him did not blow me away by any stretch. I also do not fully buy Caleb Williams as a star QB either as he has been far too inconsistent throwing the ball thus far in his career, which included a sub 60% completion percentage last season which was last among all full-time starters. However, something I am likely underrating about this tandem is the intangibles they bring to the table. Johnson turned around a losing Bears’ culture in year 1 on the job as the team went from 5-12 in the year prior to Johnson’s arrival to then 11-6 with a playoff win in year 1 with Johnson. Caleb Williams’ clutch numbers were just as good if not better than any QB in year 1 under Johnson. The Bears had the best turnover differential of any team in the sport in year 1 of the Williams/Johnson era and were among the best in close games as well. The Bears, being a very strong and disciplined team in year 1 with Williams/Johnson, is overlooked.

 

20. Dak Prescott + Brian Schottenheimer

There is an argument to be made that Dak Prescott is perhaps the most underrated QB in the sport today. Joe Burrow is viewed by some to be the best QB in the NFL to many when he is healthy and Prescott is 90-95% of Burrow as a talent but without the injury concerns. In year 1 of Prescott being paired with the offensive minded Schottenheimer, the Cowboys had one of the premier offenses in the NFL despite having average to below average offensive personnel and the two also working with a rookie offensive coordinator. As impressive of an offense that the NFL has ever seen with a rookie offensive minded head coach. The reason the pairing remains this low is because how of unproven they are as they finished sub .500 in just one year together. Schottenheimer also does not seem to have a grasp on the defensive side of the ball as in year one as the head coach of the Cowboys the team allowed the most points despite having decent defensive personnel and an established proven defensive coordinator.

 

21. Aaron Rodgers + Mike McCarthy

Rodgers played well last season and showed glimpses of his prime form from time to time leading the Steelers to the postseason. Although he is well past his prime, he still performed at a borderline pro bowl level last season despite having an outdated defensive minded head coach and very average to mediocre offensive personnel. Mike McCarthy has a very strong case to be ranked among the greatest offensive coaches ever. As Rodgers in his prime with Green Bay played the position of QB at perhaps the highest level we have ever seen with McCarthy being his offensive minded head coach. McCarthy has a Super Bowl ring and was a key factor in Rodgers playing at the level he did in his prime. McCarthy also turned Dak Prescott into a star QB when before the arrival of McCarthy, I viewed Prescott to be just an ordinary player at the position. It will be interesting to see how the pairing looks reunited again during this upcoming season.

 

22. Jaxson Dart + John Harbaugh

Dart had a pleasantly surprising rookie season and seems to be the future face of the franchise for the Giants. Dart was above average among qualified starters in terms of passer rating and was graded as one of the ten best running QBs among qualified starters as well. This was despite being a rookie, having below average to well below average offensive personnel to work with, along with having a head coach who was fired midseason as well. John Harbaugh is one of the most accomplished head coaches in the NFL and the future seems bright in New York as the two head into year 1 together.

 

23. Baker Mayfield + Todd Bowles

Although this head coach and QB pairing may be on its last legs heading into the 2026 season, they still bring a lot to the table. Mayfield in the one and only instance he was given an elite offensive mind at head coach looked like an MVP caliber player. Although Bowles’ defenses as a defensive minded head coach consistently leave much to be desired, his defenses still are very strong from time to time, and he was able to land multiple head coaching jobs with his defensive background for a reason.

 

24. Jalen Hurts + Nick Sirianni

Although the pairing has won a Super Bowl and have been to multiple together, I am still lukewarm on this head coach + QB combination. I feel that the success that the Eagles have seen with these two in charge has been more-so due to elite roster construction and elite coordinators. However, this head coach and QB duo wins more than any in the league other than Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid and I have them perhaps too low as a result.

 

25. Geno Smith + Aaron Glenn

Smith has always been underrated in his career and perhaps we should look past his abysmal season in 2025 as the Raiders were as unideal of a situation that a QB could possibly inherit. Smith looked like a borderline MVP caliber player less than a handful of seasons ago and could certainly recapture that form as his age indicates he should still be near his peak form as a pocket passer. Head coach Aaron Glenn is also unfairly maligned in my estimation, although the Jets went a putrid 3-14 in year 1 under Glenn, the team was consistently right in every game until they started to get consistently blown out towards the end of the season. Glenn, despite his defensive background saw his Jets’ defense allow the 2^nd most points and be the first team in league history to go an entire season without recording an interception. However, Robert Saleh as head coach of the Jets had a defense that was equally as bad in year 1 with the Jets. Saleh then of course saw his Jets have the highest graded defense in the sport in each of the next two seasons according to Pro Football Focus. Glenn could certainly be in line to do the same heading into year 2 onwards in New York. Smith in my estimation can still be a solid if not more than that NFL starter and the jury is still out on Glenn being a defensive mastermind head coach in the Mike Macdonald/DeMeco Ryans/Robert Saleh mold. The Jets as of now share glaring similarities to the #1 duo in this list, having a career backup QB with average physical traits who transitioned to a starting QB role with the defensive minded head coach.

 

 

26. Michael Penix Jr + Kevin Stefanski

Penix Jr is an electric talent at the QB spot who has struggled to consistently the ball well enough and stay on the field thus far in the NFL. However, from a raw talent standpoint I would venture to say that he is a top 5 QB talent in the sport. If Penix Jr can stay healthy and learn to throw the ball better in the league, he could emerge as a potential star in the NFL. Head coach Kevin Stefanski is on a short list of coaches who have won multiple head coach of the year awards in the NFL. Although he may be overrated as a result, one cannot deny that winning the award twice is no small feat as he is one of only two current head coaches to have done so. Penix Jr has perhaps struggled in his career thus far because of having a now fired defensive minded head coach. Stefanski, being a proven veteran offensive minded head coach, could allow Penix Jr to thrive and emerge as a star.

 

 

27. Deshaun Watson/Shedeur Sanders + Todd Monken

Monken, I thought was a very strong under the radar hire for the Browns this offseason. During the 2023 season, Lamar Jackson had arguably the greatest season that a QB has ever had en route to winning his 2^nd league MVP award with Monken as his offensive coordinator. Both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders have star potential and Monken combined with a star caliber QB could be quite fun to watch in Cleveland.

 

28. Kirk Cousins + Klint Kubiak

Cousins is a proven established veteran QB who should still be at or near his prime form where he was a perennial pro bowler. Cousins perhaps saw his struggles the past few seasons as he worked under a now fired defensive minded head coach. New Raiders’ head coach Klint Kubiak was perhaps the hottest young offensive mind on the head coach market and was a strong hire in my estimation. Cousins could certainly recapture his perennial pro bowl prime under the tutelage of Kubiak. Kubiak had the Super Bowl winning Seahawks as one of the premier offenses in the sport en route to winning the Super Bowl, despite working under a defensive minded head coach and having good but not special offensive personnel and a QB talent that was closer to average as well.

 

29. Tyler Shough + Kellen Moore

Moore is perhaps the most underrated offensive coach in the sport and could begin to emerge as a household name. The Eagles’ Super Bowl winning offense with Moore as offensive coordinator was borderline historically great and in the first season without Moore, they fell off a cliff. Moore in year 1 as the Saints’ head coach made Tyler Shough, a rookie high second round pick, look like a borderline pro bowl caliber player. Shough also deserves credit for looking as good as he did as a rookie and this duo will be a tough out next season.

 

30. Bo Nix + Sean Payton

Like the Eagles, this duo perhaps wins far too much to be ranked this low, but I am lukewarm on this duo in all honesty. Nix is an ordinary talent by any stretch and the offense in the first two seasons of the Nix/Payton era in Denver has looked just slightly above average at best. I am far from all in on Nix as a legitimate franchise level QB as I do feel as if he is just a high-end backup in all honesty as of now. Although Sean Payton is one of the most decorated offensive head coaches ever, I do not buy him as an elite coach in the mold of Shanahan/McVay/Reid.

 

31. Bryce Young + Dave Canales

Young was a former number one overall pick for a reason and has showed glimpses of playing to that potential from time to time in the NFL. Canales was once viewed as the next great young offensive minded head coach after being perhaps the key factor that resurrected both the careers of Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield. The Panthers were up by one possession late in the playoffs at home vs the Rams but failed to close it out. Just like the eventual champion Seahawks were up by one possession late in the playoffs at home vs the Rams as well.

 

32. Jacoby Brissett + Mike Lafleur

Brissett is likely better suited as a backup QB in today’s NFL and Mike Lafleur will be a rookie head coach next season. I question if Lafleur was a strong hire as he was hired because of how great the Rams’ offense was with him as the offensive coordinator. However, Rams’ head coach Sean McVay is one of the sharpest offensive head coaches and QB Matthew Stafford is a future hall of famer. So, one could certainly argue that Lafleur did not do much as offensive coordinator of the Rams and many capable offensive minds could have accomplished what he accomplished in Los Angeles.