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NFL Power Rankings: 30 Best Coaches of All-Time

By Will Osgood

Jan 31, 2014; New York, NY, USA; General view of the Vince Lombardi Trophy prior to a press conference at Rose Theater in advance of Super Bowl XLVIII. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 31, 2014; New York, NY, USA; General view of the Vince Lombardi Trophy prior to a press conference at Rose Theater in advance of Super Bowl XLVIII. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) during a third quarter stop in play for a video review against the New England Patriots at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers (17) during a third quarter stop in play for a video review against the New England Patriots at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /

30. Marty Schottenheimer (1984-2006)

Does Marty Schottenheimer really deserve to be considered among the 30 finest NFL coaches of all-time? He is in over the likes of Mike Ditka, Dick Vermeil and a few other current active coaches who have won Super Bowls, or at least made the Super Bowl, which he has not. So why is he in when those other active coaches are seemingly just as deserving?

First, regular season winning percentage should matter when power ranking NFL coaches. Schottenheimer’s .613 regular season winning percentage is stronger than most coach’s on this list. His number of playoff appearances, 13, puts him in a tie with Bill Belichick for second most playoff appearances for NFL coaches (sorry, Don Shula took that crown).

What Marty did in Cleveland, in getting them to an AFC Championship Game was incredible. As was making the Kansas City Chiefs relevant again. He struggled in his lone season in Washington. Then again he was given just one season. He was given more than that in San Diego, and mostly succeeded. He gave the franchise a confidence and belief it could win in the NFL.

Of course he almost singlehandedly lost the Chargers a playoff game I sat through the rain to watch, against the New York Jets on the first weekend of January. If he had only allowed Drew Brees to throw one pass between second and third down, it is possible the Chargers would have won that game. And who knows after that. Postseason struggles aside, Marty Ball got the job done for three different franchises. Like Moneyball, it just isn’t the right formula for the playoffs.

True fans of Schottenheimer’s will be comforted to know he won a championship in the UFL in 2011, then walked off into the sunset a champion.

Next: How does the rest of the Top 30 go?

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