Sometimes, it seems like the NFL coaching carousel never stops spinning, and after just four weeks of the 2024 season, we’ve already seen some wild shifts in the league’s hierarchy. The pressure to perform has never been higher, and some head coaches are quickly finding themselves on the hot seat while others are solidifying their status as the NFL’s best.
Let’s take a look at where each head coach stands heading into Week 5, from those who need to figure it out fast to those who are keeping their teams among the league’s elite and ranking them from worst to first.
Who are the top head coaches in the NFL after week 4 of games?
32. Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson (Last Week #30)
Doug Pederson is feeling the heat after a dismal 0-4 start, and his decision-making in short-yardage situations came under scrutiny in the form of the media asking him about his “status” after the game.
31. New York Giants: Brian Daboll (Last Week #28)
It was good to see that Brian Daboll hasn’t lost the locker room entirely, as the Giants still fought hard for their head coach on Thursday Night, but he struggled to adjust the gameplan as needed to address their struggles in the opponent’s end of the field.
30. Carolina Panthers: Dave Canales (Last Week #29)
Dave Canales saw progress with his young squad this week but was left frustrated by their inability to keep pace with the veteran Bengals and ultimately couldn’t secure the win.
29. Tennessee Titans: Brian Callahan (Last Week #31)
It wasn’t pretty, but with where rookie head coach Brian Callahan was sitting, a win is a win. Knowing Miami’s offense was depleted, Callahan leaned heavily on the run game and took what Miami gave them. It helped Callahan, too, that a decision was essentially made for him at the quarterback position.
28. New England Patriots: Jerod Mayo (Last Week #26)
In fairness to Mayo, the rookie head coach was put in a very challenging spot here in New England, but, man, has it not gone well thus far.
27. Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni (Last Week #22)
Granted, Nick Sirianni was coaching with his hands behind his back due to injury, but it was another tough showing for him as he is clearly starting to lose the confidence of the fans and the media alike.
26. Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus (Last Week #32)
While he isn’t among the most popular people in Chicago, Matt Eberflus did a good job of tweaking his system to open up more opportunities for their run game, as the team finished with 131 yards and two scores on the ground.
25. Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel (Last Week #23)
Granted, the injury bug has bitten the Dolphins and in a big way, but the best coaches in the league always find a way to keep their teams competitive, and McDaniel has really struggled to do that.
24. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon (Last Week #17)
Jonathan Gannon was left searching for answers as the Cardinals stumbled to 1-3. And if he isn’t careful, he may be searching for a new job soon as well!
23. New York Jets: Robert Saleh (Last Week #15)
Robert Saleh had his defense ready to attack, but his team was undone by mistakes and an inability to adjust offensively. Saleh’s decision to keep pressing the pass rather than leaning into the run game more was puzzling.
22. Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy (Last Week #27)
Mike McCarthy has drawn quite a bit of criticism from the media thus far in 2024, and rightfully so, as his Cowboys have looked unprepared multiple times already. Credit to the veteran head coach, though, for getting his NFL team over the hump on a short week in what was effectively a must-win on the road against a rival.
21. Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen (Last Week #21)
Shane Steichen showed adaptability, seamlessly transitioning from Richardson to Flacco without losing momentum. His play-calling catered to Flacco’s strengths, allowing the veteran to manage the game and make efficient plays, helping the Colts to a huge win to move to 2-2.
20. Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski (Last Week #20)
With 16 players inactive due to injuries – including five starters on the offense – Stefanski had his work cut out for him this week. He’s going to have to get creative if he wants to save the Browns’ season.
19. Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay (Last Week #18)
After a huge win in Week 3, Sean McVay and his team came back down to earth, losing a gut-wrencher to the Chicago Bears.
18. Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce (Last Week #24)
Antonio Pierce rallied the team after a rough loss to the Panthers last week. His strategic shift towards a run-first mentality was essential, with Davante Adams missing.
17. Washington Commanders: Dan Quinn (Last Week #25)
Dan Quinn has the Commanders playing like a well-oiled machine. The veteran head coach has done a great job developing this young team in the early weeks of the season.
16. Seattle Seahawks: Mike Macdonald (Last Week #13)
Rookie head coach Mike Macdonald gambled twice on fourth down, and both times, the moves didn’t pay off. Still, it was a solid showing from him against an impressive Detroit side.
15. Denver Broncos: Sean Payton (Last Week #19)
Sean Payton knew this wasn’t going to be a game of finesse, especially in the rain. By sticking to a ground-and-pound approach, Payton played to the Broncos’ strength and made sure Nix wasn’t put in a position to make costly errors in the bad weather conditions.
14. Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor (Last Week #16)
Zac Taylor was coaching with urgency — and it showed. The Bengals’ game plan was aggressive, and they jumped on the lowly Panthers with 21 first-half points en route to a 34-24 win.
13. New Orleans Saints: Dennis Allen (Last Week #11)
After a great start to the season, it is beginning to look like Dennis Allen is facing an uphill battle. Now, the Saints have dropped two straight close games, and the question marks about his ability to lead the team to the Promised Land are starting to rise again.
12. Los Angeles Chargers: Jim Harbaugh (Last Week #8)
Harbaugh’s decision to go for it on fourth-and-goal at the Kansas City 3-yard line was a pivotal moment, and the Chargers couldn’t convert, which ultimately shifted momentum permanently in the Chiefs’ favor. However, we understand that you have to take chances to try and win games against the Chiefs.
11. Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris (Last Week #14)
Raheem Morris looks like he is building a very well-rounded football team with an emphasis on mental toughness. He did well to keep his team focused, even when the offense couldn’t find the end zone, and the defense and special teams really rallied for their teammates to secure the victory.
10. Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott (Last Week #3)
Sean McDermott made some adjustments, but they weren’t enough to turn the tide against a well-prepared Ravens team.
9. Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur (Last Week #5)
Matt LaFleur faces questions after the Packers’ slow start and inability to match Minnesota’s intensity early on. Minnesota’s head coach would probably attribute it to some unintended friction from Jordan Love’s return, but still!
8. Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin (Last Week #4)
Mike Tomlin has been getting a lot of credit so far this year for helping the Steelers jump out to a 3-0 start, and he almost was able to pull a rabbit out of his hat in Week 4 as his team rallied back in the second half to nearly steal a win from a desperate Colts team.
7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles (Last Week #10)
Todd Bowles kept it simple on Sunday, and it paid off. The Bucs started fast, and they never let up. Bowles dialed up pressure when needed and kept the Eagles’ offense out of rhythm all game.
6. San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan (Last Week #9)
Kyle Shanahan rallied his team after two tough losses, bringing the focus back to winning regardless of how it looks.
5. Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell (Last Week #7)
Dan Campbell’s bold play-calling and aggressive approach allowed Detroit to capitalize on a weak Seahawks defense, and he did well to ensure that his team didn’t let up until the job was done and the win secured.
4. Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans (Last Week #6)
DeMeco Ryans rallied his squad after last week’s puzzling misstep, keeping them composed and hungry throughout the game. His decision to lean on his young quarterback paid dividends as Stroud absolutely balled out.
3. Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh (Last Week #12)
John Harbaugh had his team well-prepared for this prime-time matchup, clearly targeting Buffalo’s vulnerabilities on the defensive front.
2. Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid (Last Week #2)
Andy Reid kept his team grounded after an early 10-point deficit, which to the Chiefs at this point is basically nothing. Reid’s adaptability was on display, especially after losing Rashee Rice to injury.
1. Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell (Last Week #1)
Kevin O’Connell’s aggressive approach paid off, especially in the early going. He had the Vikings ready to exploit the Packers’ defensive weaknesses, and the result was a dominant first half. O’Connell also did well to keep his inexperienced team locked in even once the Packers made a run at stealing the W.
