The NFL has seen 37 head coaching hires in the last five years, not counting those made this year. Dan Campbell is the best among them, according to a comprehensive ranking by ESPN's Bill Barnwell.
Weighing factors like player development, fourth-down situations and late-game management, Barnwell says Campbell is the cream of the crop. He went so far as to say that if he "had to predict a single hire from the past five years to still be in his current job 15 years from now ... my choice would be Campbell, who has become the face of the franchise in Detroit."
Barnwell points out that while the Lions were slow to get started under Campbell, and Brad Holmes, they have since become "one of the league's model organizations." And while turnover on the coaching staff and in the trenches and a slew of injuries contributed to a disappointing 9-8 record this season, which alone is a sign of how far they've come, "they have one of the best rosters in football."
Campbell's aggressive decision-making on fourth down has been a huge plus, even if the Lions haven't succeeded 100% of the time in those situations. They came within a drop or two of making it to the Super Bowl in 2023, and they overachieved in 2024 by winning 15 games despite being down to third-stringers on defense.
It's a good reminder of how well-respected Campbell remains around the NFL. He has turned one of the league's worst organizations into one of its best over five years in Detroit. The Lions' step back this season after four years of linear improvement is more likely an aberration than a sign of things to come.
No. 2 in Barnwell's ranking is another coach from the 2021 hiring cycle, Nick Sirianni of the Eagles. Sirianni led the Eagles to the Super Bowl last season, of course, but arguably inherited a better team -- and certainly a much better franchise franchise -- in Philly than Campbell did in Detroit. Mike Macdonald of the Seahawks, Mike Vrabel of the Patriots and DeMeco Ryans round out the top five.
Two branches of Campbell's coaching tree are on opposite ends of the list. Ben Johnson checks in at No. 8 after leading the Bears to the NFC North title and their first playoff win in 15 years in his first season in Chicago, with Barnwell calling him "The prodigy."
There have been game management issues, especially early in the season, but Johnson quickly built one of the league's best run games and helped refine quarterback Caleb Williams' game.
The Bears benefited from excellent timing and good fortune late in games in 2025, which might not stick around, but I'm not sure you can find a Bears fan on the planet who is upset with the decision to hire Johnson after one season.
Aaron Glenn, meanwhile, comes in at No. 29 after going 3-14 and then firing most of his coaching staff in his debut season with the Jets.
I'm giving Glenn some grace, given that the Jets essentially waved the white flag at the deadline, but the early returns aren't promising for the first-time head coach.
Dead last on the list is former Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer, who didn't even last a full season in Jacksonville and was fired in disgrace.
None of the other coaches on this list were accused of physically assaulting their players, which puts Meyer in a world of his own. Truly mismatched with the NFL universe, Meyer was completely disconnected from reality, including reports that he wasn't familiar with Rams star Aaron Donald. His offensive goal was to run for 250 yards and throw for 250 yards, something that happens about once a year in the NFL.
Meyer feuded with his players and coaches, abandoned the team plane to fly back to his bar in Ohio, set first pick Trevor Lawrence's development back a year, signed Tim Tebow to play tight end, showed little familiarity with who was even playing for his team and was fired after just 13 games. Your high school coach might have done a better job.