25 former college football players destined to be future head coaches

Ranking the best current and former college football players who are destined to be future head coaches.

Through the years, there have been many former players who went on to be head coaches both in college and the professional ranks. Legendary head coach Don Shula was a defensive back for the Cleveland Browns in the 1950s.

Auburn legend Pat Dye played for and coached with Paul “Bear” Bryant before defeating his mentor in the Iron Bowl as head coach of the Auburn Tigers. From the same Alabama tree, current Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney played for Gene Stallings (another Bryan disciple) on the 1992 national championship team.

Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy played at Minnesota and signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent. Seven-time national champion coach Nick Saban was a defensive back at Kent State under Don James.

There are no definite criteria that say a person is going to become a great head coach. Playing the game helps. The former players on this list have traits similar to great head coaches. Some of the young men on this list are sons of coaches

Others are great collegiates turned journeyman professionals. Yet others play or run niche offenses. Many of the former players were great motivators and locker room leaders. There are even players who just retired and are coaching high school football.

Here are 25 current and former players who would make excellent head coaches.