Durability isnt everything: Its a terrific sign that a head coach and a quarterback have been together for a long time (which definitely plays a function in these rankings), but recent success on the field must likewise play an aspect. Quarterbacks who had a strong 2019 season or have a small sample size with their head coach should not be penalized too harshly since they havent been together for several years.
Brand-new head coaches and quarterbacks on brand-new teams DO NOT QUALIFY for the list: Brady and Prescott fall into that classification given that Brady signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and is coupled with Bruce Arians and Mike McCarthy is now the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. 2019 offensive planner Kellen Moore is still calling the plays in Dallas, however McCarthy and Prescott have actually never ever played a game together. The same uses to Brady and Arians, in addition to Cam Newton and Bill Belichick (assuming Newton begins)..
Championships assist: Yes, winning the supreme prize matters, which is a power increase– and its even better if that title is a recent one. Getting to the Super Bowl is a tough task too, which likewise played a part in where I chose to rank these duos. MVP awards also played a factor..
Keep in mind, one half of the duo may be really good but the other half does not have, which Ill break down in the leading 10 rankings listed below..
Providing, the top-10 quarterback/head coach duos in the NFL:.
10. Aaron Rodgers/Matt LaFleur– Green Bay Packers.
For all the concerns this duo apparently has, Rodgers and LaFleur did a lot of winning in their very first year together. The Packers ended up 13-3 and made the NFC Championship game, despite the fact that they had actually an anticipated win-loss record of 10-6 based upon points scored and points enabled (per Pro Football Reference). Rodgers played all 16 video games and threw 26 TDs to just 4 INTs as the Packers completed with just 13 giveaways on the year (the second-most in the NFL)..
The Packers really scored the very same amount of points in the routine season in 2018 as they carried out in 2019, despite the fact that Rodgers had a lower passer rating and a greater interception rate (he threw simply 2 interceptions the prior year). What did LaFleur do that made the distinction from Mike McCarthys final Packers season?
Green Bay was much enhanced at a loss zone from the previous year (61.7% in 2018 to 64% in 2019) and the Packers defense improved from 22nd in the league in points allowed to ninth. Rodgers threw 16 TDs to 2 INTs in the red zone, but had a greater conclusion portion (58.97%) to 2018 (44.26%)..
Rodgers praised LaFleur for his leadership after the season, and said LaFleur permitted the players to take ownership. The restricted guidelines for the group assisted Rodgers buy into LaFleurs approach, even with some of the issues they had with the offense. The 13 wins in Year One is the most for any first-year head coach in Packers history..
LaFleur and Rodgers might take an action back in Year Two, however the offense can seriously enhance after a year together. The Packers duo is still developing a reputation; Rodgers and LaFleur were impressive adequate to split this list.
Play-calling/not calling plays neither helps nor hurts: Some head coaches supervise the team, postponing the play-calling responsibilities to the offending organizer. That shouldnt impact their credibility with the quarterback or with winning games and making deep postseason runs. Head coaches that dont call plays will not be exempt on this list or be bumped down a few areas..
Another leading 10 list heading into the 2020 NFL season? Sure, every NFL fan has actually currently seen a great deal of preseason rankings, however CBSSports.com has another to give you– the leading quarterback/head coach duos in the NFL. This one will not have any debate, right?.
How does one rank a quarterback/head coach combination? Credibility and durability play a factor in the overall formula, however current performance and expectations heading into 2020 likewise play a huge function. Then theres the Tom Brady and Dak Prescott quandary– do 2 excellent quarterbacks certify for a list like this when theyll be coupled with new coaches in 2020?
The credentials for the list specify:.
9. Jared Goff/Sean McVay– Los Angeles Rams.
Unless McVay makes some adjustments and helps Goff get back to his 2018 kind, the Rams may miss out on the playoffs for a second consecutive year in a packed NFC West..
This duo needs to be much higher based upon the success Goff and McVay have had together in three seasons. They have a 33-14 record together (.702 win percentage) with 2 playoff looks and an NFC Championship. So why is this duo so low?.
McVay wears the pants in this relationship, and hes responsible for going beyond Goff into a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback. Goff had 60 TDs to just 19 INTs in those 2 seasons (2017 and 2018) with a passer rating over 100 both years. The Rams went 24-7 in 31 routine season games (.774 winning portion) and went to Super Bowl LIII..
In the 2019 season, opposing defenses began to determine McVay as the Rams offense slipped from 2nd in the NFL in points scored to 11th. Goff had a hard time as well, throwing 22 TDs to 16 INTs as his designated air yards per pass conclusion dipped from 8.7 to 7.7 (falling from 10th in 2018 to 22nd). The Rams slipped to 9-7 and missed out on the playoffs completely..
8. Ben Roethlisberger/Mike Tomlin– Pittsburgh Steelers.
This duos ranking is based more on track record and durability than recent performance, but thats not Roethlisberger or Tomlins fault. The Steelers likely would have made the playoffs if Roethlisberger didnt injure his elbow in Week 2 of last season and miss out on the last 14 games after getting surgery..
Lets take a look at the season prior, when Roethlisberger led the NFL with 5,129 passing lawns and threw a career-high 34 TD– at the age of 36. That remained in his first season with Randy Fichtner (who calls the plays) as the offensive organizer.
Tomlin and Roethlisberger have achieved plenty in their 13 seasons together, assembling a 115-60-1 record (.653 winning percentage), which consists of six AFC North titles, two Super Bowl appearances (winning Super Bowl XLIII), and an 8-7 record in the postseason. In turn, Roethlisberger has made 6 Pro Bowl appearances, led the NFL in passing lawns twice, and ended up with a passer rating over 100 three times..
Certainly its a resume that might be worth a greater ranking, but the duo did go 0-2 in two starts together last season and its unclear how the 38-year-old Roethlisberger will react to the elbow surgery. Not to mention the Steelers are simply 3-5 in the postseason given that the Super Bowl XLV loss in 2011.
Rosethlisberger could still carry out at a high level and the Steelers make a return to the postseason, raising the status of himself and Tomlin for 2021. There are simply too many enigma heading into 2020 to elevate their ranking..
7. Deshaun Watson/Bill OBrien– Houston Texans.
We can all agree OBrien brings this relationship down with his questionable in-game choices. OBrien admitted he didnt know it was 4th down when he made the choice to kick a 31-yard field goal on fourth-and-1 when the Texans were up 21-0 in the AFC divisional playoff loss to the Chiefs. He followed that with the phony punt call 24-7 that didnt get a first down (the Chiefs scored 51 unanswered indicate win 51-31). In a 2018 AFC wild-card loss to the Colts, OBrien went all out on 4th down five times and transformed only two times..
OBrien is quiting the play-calling duties this season, which must raise this duo. Watson has actually definitely done his part, throwing for 9,716 lawns with 71 TDs to simply 29 INTs (101.0 passer score) in simply 38 games– while also hurrying for 1,213 backyards and 14 ratings. The Texans are 24-13 in Watsons 37 starts (.649 win percentage) with a playoff win last season.
With how well Watson has played, Houston ought to be better (and most likely need to have at least reached a conference champion video game). That falls on OBrien and his faults as a head coach (theres a different category for him as a basic manager). This group elevates with a deeper playoff run..
6. Jimmy Garoppolo/Kyle Shanahan– San Francisco 49ers.
If only the 49ers might have held a 10-point fourth-quarter lead in Super Bowl LIV …
Shanahan and Garoppolo didnt have their finest minute with the champion on the line, however that shouldnt remove the accolades the duo has already accomplished. Garoppolo and Shanahan are 19-5 since the 49ers traded for the quarterback in 2017, winning the NFC West title and NFC Championship video game in 2019– their just complete season together..
Garoppolo is the ideal quarterback for Shanahans offense, which features heavily on the zone-run plan. All Garoppolo has actually done is complete 67.6% of his passes with 39 TDs to 21 INTs and a 99.2 passer ranking. Garoppolo has been slammed for being a game supervisor, but the 49ers ended up 3rd in conclusion rate (68.81%) and lawns per pass (7.9 ). He likewise finished 69.7% of his passes with six TDs, one INT and a 105.6 ranking in the fourth quarter, making the Super Bowl LIV performance an abnormality rather than how hes performed throughout the year. Garoppolo also finished 72.7% of his passes with 11 TDs and 3 INTs for a 115.7 score when routing last season..
This duo easily falls in the top 5 if the 49ers win the Super Bowl. Rather, Garoppolo was just 3 of 11 for 36 lawns and an interception in the 4th quarter of the loss (2.8 passer score). The key miss out on was an incompletion to a wide-open Emmanuel Sanders on an X-post that would have provided San Francisco the lead with 1:49 to play (the 49ers lost 31-20 after Damien Williams sealed the win with a touchdown work on the next possession)..
Shanahan has been the play-caller for the 2 greatest collapses in Super Bowl history, thanks to getting too pass-happy in the final quarter. The only imperfection on a remarkable resume so far that might dial up a Lombardi in the coming years..
5. Carson Wentz/Doug Pederson– Philadelphia Eagles.
A Super Bowl title from Pederson catapults this duo, as many Wentz critics appear to forget the Eagles were 10-2 and leading the NFC East that season when Wentz decreased in the 3rd quarter of a Week 14 win over the Rams (Wentz threw his 4th TD pass of the video game on the bad knee to give the Eagles the lead). Wentz was the front-runner for MVP when he decreased, tossing a franchise record 33 TDs to 7 INTs (101.9 rating)..
Wentz has been just as excellent because, although he played the 2018 season with a knee that wasnt 100% recovered at the start of the year and a broken bone in his back the 2nd half of the year. The Eagles quarterback has tossed 48 TDs to 14 INTs since his 2017 season, though the Eagles are simply 14-13 in those starts..
Pederson should have the credit there, creating ways to use Wentzs strengths by moving him outside the pocket– even with the lack of talented receivers at his disposal. The Eagles played the final three routine season games last season with Deontay Burnett, Robert Davis and Greg Ward starting– all on the practice team previously in 2019– and still won the NFC East..
Wentz has played simply nine snaps in his postseason career and is 32-24 with Pederson (.571 win portion). The Eagles won the NFC East and clinched home-field advantage in the NFC playoffs in 2017 because of the play of Wentz, a substantial consider Philadelphia winning the Super Bowl..
Theres no denying how well Pederson has performed in the playoffs, as his aggressive design of coaching has actually generated points (the Eagles averaged 31.3 points in the 2017 postseason and put up 41 versus the Patriots in Super Bowl LII). Pederson is 4-2 in the postseason, as the Eagles have actually certified three straight years. Philadelphia also set a league-record with 29 fourth down attempts in 2017, converting 20 of them (69%).
Consider this: Wentz has thrown for 81 TDs to 21 INTs in simply 40 games over the last three years. He has 72 TDs to just 2 INTs at a loss zone over his career, not throwing a red zone INT considering that 2018..
Theres definitely an argument Wentz and Pederson might be lower based on the Nick Foles factor, but the Eagles success is tied to those two.
4. Lamar Jackson/John Harbaugh– Baltimore Ravens.
Not only did Baltimore have the highest-scoring offense in football, Jackson became the very first quarterback to toss for over 3,000 backyards and rush for over 1,000 lawns in a single season. In the final eight games Jackson played in the regular season in 2019, he completed 69.4% of his passes for 1,477 yards, 25 TDs and simply one INT.
All of this culminated in Jackson ending up being the youngest MVP winner in league history as the Ravens ended up 14-2 and made home-field advantage in the AFC playoffs. Jackson has actually failed to win a championship game in 2 looks, but is also just 23 years old heading into 2020.
Harbaugh deserves a lots of credit for Jacksons advancement, even if he delays the play calling to offending organizer Greg Roman and has quarterbacks coach James Urban play a constant hand in Jacksons advancement. The duo is 19-3 in simply 22 starts, as Jackson has actually thrown 42 TDs to 9 INTs while hurrying for 1,901 backyards and another 12 TDs..
The set just needs to overcome the hump in the postseason, where Jackson has turned the ball over five times, been sacked 11, and finished just 51.1% of his passes. The Ravens flourish off the running game, which Harbaugh essentially deserted as soon as the Titans took a double-digit lead in the third quarter of the AFC divisional round playoff loss in 2019..
Harbaugh and Jackson can easily split the top three on this list with a postseason run..
3. Russell Wilson/Pete Carroll– Seattle Seahawks.
Were starting to get to the elite of the quarterback/head coach duos. Wilson and Carroll have one of the more outstanding resumes in the NFL. Since Wilson ended up being the starting quarterback of the Seahawks in 2012, the Seahawks are 86-41-1 (.671 win percentage) with 7 10-plus-win seasons (in 8 years), three division titles, 6 playoff appearances, two NFC champions, and a Super Bowl title..
Not pleased yet? Wilson has actually been selected to the Pro Bowl six times, and has thrown for 227 TDs to just 68 INTs with an 101.2 passer ranking. Wilsons pass interception percentage of 1.8 is the second-lowest ever (behind just Tom Brady) and has the second-highest passer score all-time (minimum 3,000 efforts). Wilson has actually begun all 128 video games hes played, which is the seventh-longest consecutive starts streak for a quarterback in NFL history..
The Seahawks have won nine postseason video games under Carroll and Wilson … so why is this duo third? Seattle has failed to get past the divisional round of the playoffs since losing Super Bowl XLIX (Carrolls notorious blunder at the 1-yard line).
Honestly, this duo ought to be better. Wilson has the offensive playmakers needed to make a deep playoff run, especially in the tough NFC West. Seattle ought to have high expectations for 2020, as it will remain in contention to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl..
2. Drew Brees/Sean Payton– New Orleans Saints.
Taking names and kicking butts because 2006, Brees and Payton are inseparable as both continue their course to the Hall of Fame. The Saints are 133-83 (.616 win portion) in Brees 216 starts as he has actually earned 12 Pro Bowl looks in 14 years with the group. Brees has won Offensive Player of the Year two times and threw for 65,068 lawns with 467 TDs to 184 INTs (101.3 ranking).
Were simply getting going. Brees has actually led the NFL in conclusion percentage 6 times (consisting of the last three years), passing yards 7 times, passing touchdowns four times, and passer ranking two times. He has the most 5,000-yard passing seasons in history (five) and inhabits 4 of the top 10 areas for a lot of passing yards in a season.
The Saints have won seven division titles under Brees and Payton, with 8 10-win seasons and a Super Bowl XLIV title in the 2009 season. Recent routine season success propelled this duo to No. 2, as New Orleans is 37-11 over the past three years with 3 successive division titles and back-to-back 13-win projects..
New Orleans has failed to reach the Super Bowl in spite of its regular season success, going simply 2-3 in the playoffs throughout this stretch. Brees struggled to toss the ball downfield in the NFC Wild-Card loss to the Vikings last season (the Saints also lost in overtime) and I do not think Saints fans require to be advised any longer of the “Minnesota Miracle” at the end of the 2017 season.
Like the Seahawks, this duo has actually been good enough to reach the Super Bowl– but just hasnt finished the job over the last 3 years. It in fact is amazing Brees and Payton have actually been to just one Super Bowl in 14 years together, especially after Payton had among the gutsiest contact Super Bowl history with the onside kick to start the 2nd half of that win..
Brees and Payton plainly belong in the top 2..
1. Patrick Mahomes/Andy Reid– Kansas City Chiefs.
What Mahomes and Reid have achieved in just two complete seasons together is remarkable. Mahomes is the youngest player to have both a league MVP and a Super Bowl MVP award. Mahomes, still simply 24, has thrown for 9,128 lawns and 76 TDs versus 18 INTs in his two full seasons as a starting quarterback (109.6 rating)..
Mahomes tossed for 5,097 backyards and 50 TDs in his MVP season of 2018 and finished 65.9% of his passes for 4,031 lawns and 26 TD to simply 5 INTs (105.3 rating) while playing the bulk of 2019 with a knee injury. Mahomes tossed for 901 backyards with 10 TDs to simply two INTs (111.5 score) in the postseason, as Kansas City eliminated a 10-point deficit in all 3 of its playoff wins..
Kansas City is 24-7 in Mahomes 31 starts, reaching the AFC Championship game two times and having a 4-1 postseason record. Reid is worthy of a lot of credit for the sparkle of Mahomes, as the Chiefs have averaged 32 points per game in his starts– consisting of scoring over 30 points 19 times and over 40 points seven times. Kansas City led the NFL in scoring and overall yards in 2018 and completed fifth in scoring in 2015, in spite of Mahomes missing two video games with his injury..
The Chiefs have scored over 30 points in all 5 postseason video games Reid and Mahomes have played together, balancing 35.8 per video game. Mahomes has tossed for 1,374 backyards with 13 TDs and 2 INTs in those games while likewise hurrying for 3 scores..
Reid has over twenty years of success in the NFL, having a top-10 offense in points scored in 17 of his 21 years. His.688 win percentage with the Chiefs is currently excellent, but it escalates to.774 with Mahomes as his beginning quarterback. Theres the 207 routine season wins (seventh all-time) and 15 playoff triumphes (sixth all-time).
Mahomes is the All-Pro quarterback Reid has actually been searching twenty years for, and he has him until the 2031 season (Mahomes does not turn 25 till September). This duo ought to remain among the elite of the NFL for the next decade, competing for champions year after year..
Goff had 60 TDs to simply 19 INTs in those two seasons (2017 and 2018) with a passer ranking over 100 both years. The Texans are 24-13 in Watsons 37 starts (.649 win percentage) with a playoff win last season.
He has the most 5,000-yard passing seasons in history (5) and inhabits 4 of the top 10 spots for most passing lawns in a season.
Brees struggled to throw the ball downfield in the NFC Wild-Card loss to the Vikings last season (the Saints also lost in overtime) and I do not believe Saints fans require to be advised anymore of the “Minnesota Miracle” at the end of the 2017 season.
Theres the 207 regular season wins (seventh all-time) and 15 playoff victories (sixth all-time).
