Ranking 32 NFL head coaches based on presidential potential

We ranked all 32 NFL head coaches by how well they’d translate their skills on the gridiron to the cauldron of sleepless chaos that is the Oval Office.

NFL head coaches unquestionably have one of the toughest jobs in the world. There’s so much that goes into being a successful leader in this league that it’s seemingly impossible to imagine most people being even remotely competent at it. Not only does it take deep knowledge of the game to devise schemes, strategies, and counter-strategies; there’s also the management of personnel, the flexibility to change, and even the maintaining of a public persona.

In fact, one of the few jobs that entails all of that (and more, probably) is President of the United States. Now, Barack Obama doesn’t have to figure out how to limit the pass-rush impact of J.J. Watt or anything. But the onus of wearing a million different hats, of having to prioritize and compartmentalize in ways that are both efficient and effective — these are traits that apply to NFL coaches and Commanders-in-Chief alike.

Which raises a pretty fun-fascinating question: How well would NFL coaches handle occupying the Oval Office and leading the most powerful nation on earth?

In reality, it’s a pretty absurd notion to think that a football coach on a multi-million-dollar salary would ever run for political office. Until you remember Donald Trump — a guy who’s overseen more bankruptcies than a game of Drunk Monopoly — is the Republican nominee. Is an NFL coach running for president really that far-fetched?

Regardless of the practicality, there’s plenty to be gleaned from how today’s 32 NFL head coaches might handle another, even more insanely difficult job. One that entails many of the same principles, only on a larger scale and with much, much higher stakes.

Next: No. 32 Rex Ryan