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11 Best young coaches in the NFL

By Robert Judin

Aug 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Rex Ryan at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts after a Steelers turnover against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 28, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts after a Steelers turnover against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach (43-years-old)

Like Jason Garrett, it’s hard to believe that someone like Mike Tomlin would make a list highlighting the best young coaches in the NFL. But sometimes we forget that he was only 35-years-old when the Pittsburgh Steelers handed him the keys to the kingdom.

Bill Cowher left behind a pretty big pair of shoes to fill, and Tomlin answered the bell. It took Cowher 14 years to finally bring a Super Bowl title back to Pittsburgh. Tomlin accomplished that goal in his second season.

And if that wasn’t enough, Tomlin had the Steelers back in the Super Bowl three years later, but we all remember Aaron Rodgers leading that unstoppable Green Bay Packers offense. Even then, Pittsburgh barely lost, 31-25.

Do you know who Tomlin is? Tomlin is the high school kid who went straight to the NBA and immediately had an impact. In nine seasons, his head coaching record is 82-46.

Let’s not forget he was the defensive backs coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for five seasons from 2001-2005, and uh – do you remember who won the Super Bowl in 2002? Oh, yeah, that’s right. It was the Buccaneers. They stomped the Oakland Raiders, 48-21.

So, really, Tomlin has two Super Bowl rings, and he’ll likely get another one sometime in the near future.

The Steelers’ offense barely finished second to the New Orleans Saints last year in yards per game with 411.1, and Pittsburgh put up 27.3 points per game – seventh best in the league.

Ben Roethlisberger is as good as he’s ever been. Antonio Brown has emerged as one of the top-five wide receivers in the NFL, and Le’Veon Bell will look to build off last year’s incredible season despite missing the first four games of 2015 due to a suspension.

When a couple of guys retire (*cough* Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll) it shouldn’t be a surprise if Tomlin is labeled the best head coach in the NFL.

Next: Every NFL Team's Best Draft Pick Of All-Time

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