Top 10 Greatest Head Coaches in NFL History

10. Bill Parcell

Bill Parcells

Bill Parcells, a 19-year NFL head coach, is first. Before coaching, he played briefly.  Parcells began coaching the Hastings linebackers in 1964. In 1979, he became the Giants' linebackers coach. In 1983, the Giants hired Parcells as head coach. He later coached the Patriots, Jets, and Cowboys.

09. Tom Landry

Tom Landry

Tom Landry coached the Dallas Cowboys for 29 seasons. 1954-1988 was his coaching career. Landry played for the Yankees in 1949 and Giants from 1950 to 1955. 1954 was his first year as the Giants' defensive coordinator. Landry served as head coach for the Giants from 1954 until 1959. First franchise head coach.

08. George Halas

George Halas

"Papa Bear" George Halas co-founded the NFL (now NFL). He founded and played for the Chicago Bears. Halas played professionally from 1919-1929. Halas was hired as the Decatur Staleys' head coach in 1920. He was the Bears' head coach four times. At 72 years, 318 days, he was the league's oldest head coach in 1967.

07. Paul Brown

Paul Brown

Paul Brown is the eighth greatest NFL head coach. AFC and NFL coach and executive. Brown co-founded and coached the Cleveland Browns. He started coaching at Severn in 1930.  Brown coached the Browns from 1946 until 1962. He bought the Bengals in 1967. From 1968 through 1975, he led the Bengals.

06. Chuck Noll

Chuck Noll

Chuck Noll is a former NFL head coach and player. He's one of the NFL's greatest coaches. Noll played for the Cleveland Browns from 1953-1959. In 1960, he began coaching the Chargers' defensive line. Noll was named Steelers coach in 1969. His career extended 1969-1991.

05. Bill Walsh

Bill Walsh

Bill Walsh popularized the West Coast offense as a football coach. In 1960, he coached California's receivers.  Walsh was Oakland's running backs coach in 1966. NFL rookie. Before becoming 49ers coach in 1979, he coached the Bengals and Chargers.

04. Joe Gibbs

Joe Gibbs

Joe Gibbs is widely recognized as one of the finest coaches in NFL history. He began coaching in 1964.  Gibbs coached SDSU's offensive line. In 1973, he was the Cardinals' running backs coach. Gibbs became Redskins coach in 1981. From 1981 to 1992 and 2004 to 2007, he coached the team.

03. Don Shula

Don Shula

Three NFL greats remain. Don Shula has 347 career wins and 328 regular season wins, making him the league's winningest coach.  Shula played professionally before teaching. 1951-1957: Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins. Virginia's defensive backs coach in 1958. 

02. Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi

The Super Bowl trophy is named after Vince Lombardi, the greatest coach in football history. He's one of the finest coaches and leaders in American athletics. In 1937 and 1938, Lombardi played professionally. He began coaching at Salesianum in 1937. 1954: He became the Giants' offensive coordinator.

01. Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick

Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history. The 70-year-old is a legendary coach.  Belichick was a Baltimore Colts special assistant in 1975. He coached several NFL teams before joining the Browns in 1991. The Patriots hired Belichick in 2000. Since then, he's been the team's coach and the league's longest-tenured active coach.