Five Worst (and Best) Graded NFL Head Coaches, According to Player Survey

Head coach Josh McDaniels of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at SoFi Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Inglewood, California. McDaniels, who was fired in the middle of the season, ranked last among all NFL head coaches in a new survey released by the NFLPA.

The NFL Players Association released its second annual team-by-team report cards on Wednesday, providing insights into the working conditions within each organization and, as an added wrinkle for this year’s unveiling, including feedback of each franchise’s head coach.

A head coach category—plus new owner and dietary installments—was added to the second edition of the survey for what the NFLPA described as a “more comprehensive assessment of the player experience at each club.” Results were collected from August 26 to November 16 of last year, and a total of 1,706 players, up about 400 from the prior version, participated anonymously.

NFLPA President JC Tretter described the survey results as a sort of “free agency guide” that would illuminate daily experiences for players and their families at each team.

“This project strives to capture an NFL player’s experience at his job/workplace and has nothing to do with winning, or losing, football games,” Tretter said in a release. “The standards we are seeking to elevate are ones that help support the players and their families as they come to work every day. We hope that more clubs will see the value of this data so they can act and, in many cases, address simple things that make a big difference for their employees.”

The Miami Dolphins stand as this year’s overall highest-rated team, while the Washington Commanders are in last for the second year in a row—with the Kansas City Chiefs not far behind. But with all that said, who are the best (and worst) graded head coaches from last season, per the players?

Here’s a look, starting at the bottom.

5 Lowest-Rated Coaches in the NFL

32. Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas Raiders (fired)

Grade: D

Raiders players gave their former head coach, who was fired on Halloween night, the lowest marks of any head coach in the league. Only 39 percent of players felt that McDaniels was efficient with their time, last in the NFL, and per the union also ranked least likely to listen to his locker room of any head coach in the league. Overall, the Raiders ranked ninth in the survey, and the club’s shortcomings were “tied directly to players’ opinions about their former head coach,” per the release. The NFLPA noted that if McDaniels received even an average score compared to other head coaches, Vegas would have ranked in the top five in this year’s overall rankings.

31. Ron Rivera, Washington Commanders (fired)

Grade: C

Among Washington’s league-worst report card was the second-lowest grade for any head coach in the league. Players felt Rivera, who was fired at the end of the season after a four-year stint with the franchise, was only somewhat willing to listen to the locker room (ranking 27th overall in that category), while only 76 percent of players felt that he was efficient with their time (26th).

30. Arthur Smith, Atlanta Falcons (fired)

Grade: C+

A trend is emerging at the bottom of this list. All three of the lowest-ranked coaches in the league have been fired since surveys were taken, including Smith, who checks in at No. 30. The former Falcons head coach came in 30th both in terms of how players felt he managed their time and in the locker room’s belief of his willingness to listen. Elsewhere, Atlanta received Fs for their locker room and weight room—plus an F- for its strength staff—but posted an A- in three categories.

29. Dennis Allen, New Orleans Saints

Grade: B-

Allen is the lowest-rated coach from last season still employed with the same team. Players felt the coach, entering his third season leading the Saints, was somewhat willing to listen to the locker room (28th overall), and the survey indicated 84 percent of the roster felt that Allen was efficient with their time (22nd). New Orleans ranked 19th in the overall list, with grades ranging from an A- (for strength staff) to an F (for food/cafeteria).

28. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns

Grade: B-

Stefanski, the NFL Coach of the Year, comes in at No. 28 in the NFLPA survey. Only 70 percent of players felt that he was efficient with their time (29th among coaches), while the survey said he was somewhat willing to listen to the group (23rd). Cleveland ranked 23rd overall this year, and Stefanski’s B- was actually tied for the franchise’s third-best mark. Other coaches to receive a B- grade in the survey include Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles and Bill Belichick, the six-time Super Bowl winner formerly of the New England Patriots.

5 Highest-Rated Coaches in the NFL

5. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

Grade: A

The Steelers ranked just 28th overall in this year’s survey, but their longtime head coach continues to be well-regarded by the franchise’s players. Tomlin was the only A in the mix for Pittsburgh. Players gave Tomlin a 9.6/10 rating, and the coach was deemed very willing to listen to the locker room (ninth among coach report cards), while 98 percent felt the former Super Bowl champion was efficient with their time (sixth). Head coaches to receive an A yet not crack the top five include: Sean McDermott (Bills), Zac Taylor (Bengals), Mike McCarthy (Cowboys), Mike McDaniel (Dolphins), Nick Sirianni (Eagles), Kyle Shanahan (49ers) and Pete Carroll (Seahawks, replaced after the season).

4. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

Grade: A

McVay received a 9.63 rating out of 10 from his players, making him the fourth-highest-rated coach in the NFL. The Super Bowl LVI champion, entering his eighth season leading the franchise, ranked eighth in both his willingness to listen to the locker room and his ability to manage players’ time. This ranking was one of just two to reach at least an A- level, along with the team’s strength coaches, for the 20th-rated Rams.

3. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions

Grade: A+

And now the list enters its top tier. Detroit’s highly caffeinated head coach is one of three around the league to earn an A+. Ninety-one percent of players felt Campbell was efficient with their time (16th overall), and he was also deemed very willing to listen to the locker room (third overall). The Lions placed at 13th among all teams, and in all but two categories graded out with at least a B-.

2. Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings

Grade: A+

Another NFC North coach at the high end of the rankings. O’Connell was among the standouts on Minnesota’s impeccable scorecard, which came in second. He had the highest rate of players who believed he was very willing to listen to the locker room to go along with a 98 percent time-efficiency rating (fifth among coaches). The soon-to-be third-year Vikings leader “stands out as a head coach for whom players enjoy working,” the survey said.

1. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

Grade: A+

Super Bowl champion? Check. Highest-rated head coach in the NFL? Also check. Big Red seems to have it all. Though the Chiefs ranked all the way down at 31st on the full survey, the admiration for Reid, what the survey referred to as K.C.’s lone bright spot, was clear. Reid received a 9.77 individual rating out of 10 to lead all coaches, and also had high marks for how players felt he handled their time (11th overall) and his willingness to listen to the locker room (sixth).

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