Best NFL Coaches of the 2010s: Ranked by Winning Percentage
The 2010s delivered a new generation of NFL coaching greatness. From Bill Belichick’s Patriots dynasty to Pete Carroll’s Seahawks rise, this post ranks the best NFL coaches of the decade by winning percentage—spotlighting the leaders who shaped strategy, culture, and consistent success.
The 2010s delivered a new generation of NFL coaching greatness. From Bill Belichick’s Patriots dynasty to Pete Carroll’s Seahawks rise, this post ranks the best NFL coaches of the decade by winning percentage—spotlighting the leaders who shaped strategy, culture, and consistent success.
10. Mike Zimmer 57-38-1 (.599)
Team: Minnesota Vikings (2014–2019)
Matthew Deery, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mike Zimmer brought stability, toughness, and top-tier defense to the Minnesota Vikings throughout the latter half of the 2010s. Hired in 2014, Zimmer wasted no time establishing a defensive identity that would define the team for years.
By 2015, Zimmer had led the Vikings to an NFC North title, and in 2017, he reached the pinnacle of his tenure: a 13-3 season and a trip to the NFC Championship Game. That run included the unforgettable “Minneapolis Miracle”—Stefon Diggs’ last-second touchdown catch against the Saints.
Zimmer’s defenses were consistently elite, ranking among the top in points and yards allowed throughout his time. While his offenses were sometimes inconsistent, his ability to maximize the team’s talent and manage adversity (like losing Teddy Bridgewater) made the Vikings a perennial playoff threat.
He left the decade with a reputation as one of the most respected defensive minds in football.
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9. John Harbaugh 98-62-0 (.613)
Team: Baltimore Ravens (2010–2019)
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Few coaches exemplified consistency during the 2010s like John Harbaugh. Leading the Baltimore Ravens through a decade of transition, Harbaugh kept his team not only afloat but competitive in the always-tough AFC North.
The defining moment of Harbaugh’s decade came in 2012, when the Ravens rode a fiery postseason run to a Super Bowl XLVII victory, edging out his brother Jim’s 49ers in a thrilling showdown. That team, led by Joe Flacco and a hard-nosed defense, was vintage Harbaugh—tough, disciplined, and clutch.
Later in the decade, Harbaugh proved he could evolve. In 2018, he handed the reins to dynamic rookie Lamar Jackson and revamped the offense into a ground-breaking, run-heavy attack. By 2019, Baltimore had the best record in the league (14-2) and Jackson won MVP.
Harbaugh’s ability to adapt to personnel and develop winning cultures kept Baltimore among the AFC’s best for most of the decade.
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8. Andy Reid 99-61-0 (.619)
Teams: Philadelphia Eagles (2010–2012), Kansas City Chiefs (2013–2019)
ID 20911518 | Andy Reid © Scott Anderson | Dreamstime.com
Andy Reid’s 2010s legacy is defined by transformation and resurgence. After a few final years in Philadelphia, Reid took over the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013, and what followed was a coaching masterclass.
Inheriting a 2-14 team, Reid immediately turned the Chiefs into a playoff squad. He won 11 or more games five times from 2013–2019, including four straight AFC West titles (2016–2019). His offensive innovation, quarterback development (especially with Alex Smith and later Patrick Mahomes), and steady leadership made Kansas City one of the most feared teams by the end of the decade.
Reid's best year of the 2010s came in 2018, when Mahomes threw for 50 touchdowns and led the Chiefs to the AFC Championship. Though their Super Bowl win came in 2020, Reid’s groundwork in the 2010s laid the path to greatness.
A brilliant play-caller and a beloved figure in NFL circles, Reid’s second act in Kansas City proved just as impactful as his first in Philly.
7. Pete Carroll 100-59-1 (.628)
Team: Seattle Seahawks (2010–2019)
ID 98831695 © Angie Westre | Dreamstime.com
Pete Carroll’s high-energy, player-focused style helped create one of the NFL’s defining dynasties of the 2010s. His Seahawks were relentlessly competitive, built around an aggressive defense, a punishing run game, and the magic of Russell Wilson.
Carroll’s pinnacle came in the 2013 season, when the Seahawks fielded the league’s best defense and stormed their way to a dominant Super Bowl XLVIII win over the Denver Broncos. The "Legion of Boom" era defined Seattle football—and Carroll was its architect.
The following season, Carroll took the Seahawks back to the Super Bowl, but an infamous goal-line interception against New England prevented back-to-back titles. Still, Carroll’s Seahawks made the playoffs eight times in the decade, won four NFC West titles, and had only one losing season.
His energy, motivational style, and ability to manage big personalities made him one of the most effective coaches of the era.
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6. Mike McCarthy 87-51-2 (.629)
Team: Green Bay Packers (2010–2018)
ID 22719876 © Scott Anderson | Dreamstime.com
Mike McCarthy’s time with the Packers in the 2010s was defined by offensive firepower, stability, and postseason appearances. With Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, McCarthy helped engineer one of the most potent offenses in league history.
In 2010, he and Rodgers went on a historic playoff run, culminating in a Super Bowl XLV victory over the Steelers. That win marked McCarthy’s greatest achievement and solidified his standing among the league’s elite.
From 2011 to 2016, McCarthy’s Packers made six consecutive playoff appearances, won the NFC North five times, and never dipped below eight wins. His steady leadership and system-based approach allowed Green Bay to maintain success even amid injuries and roster turnover.
Though his tenure ended in 2018 after a down year, McCarthy’s legacy as a consistent winner in a small-market franchise remains secure.
5. Mike Tomlin 102-57-1 (.641)
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers (2010–2019)
Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers — SteelCityHobbies, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
One of the most consistent head coaches of the 2010s, Mike Tomlin led the Steelers through a decade of fierce competition in the AFC. Known for his poise, leadership, and no-nonsense approach, Tomlin never posted a losing season during this stretch.
The Steelers made the playoffs six times, won four AFC North titles, and reached the Super Bowl in the 2010 season (losing to the Packers). Tomlin kept Pittsburgh in the hunt year after year despite injuries, roster turnover, and the chaos that came with personalities like Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.
His 2017 squad went 13-3, and even in down years, the Steelers were a tough out. Tomlin’s ability to rally his team — like the 8-8 finish in 2019 without Ben Roethlisberger — speaks to his command of the locker room. A .641 winning percentage is elite, and Tomlin earned every bit of it.
4. Sean Payton 93-51-0 (.641)
Team: New Orleans Saints (2010–2011; 2013–2019)
ID 17415987 © Todd Taulman | Dreamstime.com
After returning from a one-year suspension in 2012, Sean Payton picked up right where he left off—crafting elite offenses and turning the Saints into perennial contenders.
Paired with Drew Brees, Payton orchestrated one of the most explosive passing attacks in NFL history. From 2010 to 2019, the Saints had seven seasons of 11+ wins, with Brees leading the league in passing yards multiple times.
Payton’s most dominant stretch came from 2017–2019, when the Saints went 37-11 and were legitimate Super Bowl threats each year. Though playoff heartbreaks (like the “Minneapolis Miracle” and the controversial no-call vs. the Rams) kept them from another title, Payton’s offensive brilliance kept New Orleans in the spotlight. Few coaches blended creativity, aggressiveness, and situational awareness like Payton did.
3. Sean McVay 33-15-0 (.686)
Team: Los Angeles Rams (2017–2019)
Sewageboy, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Sean McVay only coached for three seasons during the 2010s, but what an impact he made. Hired in 2017 at just 30 years old, McVay instantly turned around a dormant Rams franchise, bringing energy, creativity, and modern offensive wizardry to the sidelines.
In his first year, he took the Rams from 4-12 to 11-5 and made the playoffs. One year later, the Rams finished 13-3 and reached Super Bowl LIII. Though they lost to the Patriots, McVay’s meteoric rise shook the league — ushering in a wave of young offensive-minded head coaches looking to follow his blueprint.
McVay earned two NFC West titles and compiled a 33-15 record by the end of the decade. While the sample size was smaller, his .686 winning percentage is too strong to ignore. He was one of the decade’s most influential coaches, laying the foundation for the Rams' eventual Super Bowl win in the next decade.
2. Jim Harbaugh 44-19-1 (.695)
Team: San Francisco 49ers (2011–2014)
File ID 178352134 | © Gerald T. Coli | Dreamstime.com
Though Jim Harbaugh’s NFL coaching stint was short, his impact was large. Taking over a 6-10 49ers team in 2011, Harbaugh immediately turned them into contenders—going 13-3 in his first season and reaching the NFC Championship Game.
He took San Francisco to three straight NFC Championship appearances from 2011–2013 and nearly won Super Bowl XLVII in a narrow loss to his brother John’s Ravens. His fiery demeanor, unorthodox leadership, and smashmouth philosophy brought back the edge to a storied franchise.
With quarterbacks Alex Smith and later Colin Kaepernick, Harbaugh’s 49ers were physical, disciplined, and nearly unbeatable at home. Despite internal clashes with management that led to his 2014 departure, Harbaugh left with a remarkable .695 winning percentage—one of the best four-year runs in modern NFL history.
1. Bill Belichick 125-35-0 (.781)
Team: New England Patriots (2010–2019)
ID 46409452 @ Gerald T. Coli | Dreamstime.com
There’s no debate—Bill Belichick dominated the 2010s like no other coach in NFL history. In ten seasons, Belichick’s Patriots posted double-digit wins every single year, won eight AFC East titles, went to five Super Bowls, and claimed three Lombardi Trophies (2014, 2016, 2018).
His adaptability—shifting from a pass-heavy juggernaut with Randy Moss and Wes Welker, to a power-run/play-action approach with Sony Michel and Julian Edelman—was unparalleled. Belichick’s defensive schemes stifled some of the best offenses in postseason history.
Working alongside Tom Brady, he built a dynasty that seemed immune to the parity of the NFL. From the Malcolm Butler goal-line interception to the 28-3 Super Bowl comeback, Belichick’s fingerprints are all over the greatest moments of the decade.
With a mind for detail, ruthless preparation, and unmatched consistency, Belichick finished the decade with a .781 winning percentage, a run of success that makes him arguably the greatest coach of the modern NFL era.
Continue Exploring NFL Coach Rankings
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- Best NFL Coaches of the 2010s: Ranked by Winning Percentage
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