Domination on the Gridiron: NFL’s Top Five Winningest Coaches

The triumph of the New England Patriots over the Buffalo Bills on October 22, 2023, marked a significant milestone for Bill Belichick, who became only the third NFL head coach to clinch 300 regular-season victories. While Belichick pauses his coaching career, another contender, Andy Reid, is hot on his heels in the list of NFL’s most successful coaches. Reid has 284 career wins, standing as the fourth most victorious coach in NFL history. With the Kansas City Chiefs’ recent Super Bowl LVIII victory, Reid and his team seem set for continued success. Let’s delve into the impressive records of the top five coaches with the most NFL wins, including playoff games.

5. Tom Landry – 270 Victories

Serving as the Dallas Cowboys’ head coach for an unprecedented 29 consecutive years, Tom Landry guided the team through 20 successive winning seasons – another NFL record. Landry’s leadership resulted in two Super Bowl triumphs against the Miami Dolphins and the Denver Broncos. He was honored as the NFL’s Coach of the Year in 1966 and the UPI NFL Coach of the Year in 1975. Known as an innovator, Landry’s contributions include the 4-3 defense. He was also selected for the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

4. Andy Reid* – 286 Victories

Andy Reid is the only head coach in NFL history to achieve 100 victories with two different franchises – the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs. Reid’s leadership took the Eagles to several deep playoff runs, including a Super Bowl in 2004 and three consecutive conference finals from 2001 to 2003. His arrival in Kansas City saw him finally lift the Lombardi Trophy, leading the Chiefs to three Super Bowl victories. As a skilled offensive strategist and “quarterback whisperer,” Reid, along with stars like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, is likely to continue his winning streak.

3. George Halas – 324 Victories

As a co-founder of the NFL and creator of the Chicago Bears, George Halas earned the nickname “Mr. Everything.” Halas guided the Bears to eight NFL championships, equaling Belichick’s title tally. His coaching period spanned 40 years with just six losing seasons. Known for creating the T-formation system, Halas also set an NFL record for the largest margin of victory in the league’s history. He was chosen as the AP’s NFL Coach of the Year in 1963 and 1965 and was part of the NFL’s 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

2. Bill Belichick – 333 Victories

Bill Belichick, celebrated as one of the greatest coaches across professional sports, holds an NFL-record eight Super Bowl wins (six with the Patriots and two as an assistant coach with the Giants). Belichick also leads all NFL coaches in playoff victories with 31 and was named the AP’s NFL Coach of the Year in 2003, 2007, and 2010. Many teams have attempted to duplicate Belichick’s “Patriot Way,” but have struggled without him at the helm. If Belichick resumes coaching, he is just 26 regular-season wins away from outdoing Don Shula as the coach with the most regular-season wins.

1. Don Shula – 347 Victories

After a seven-year stint as an NFL defensive back, Don Shula transitioned to coaching. His first head-coaching role came in 1963 with the Baltimore Colts, whom he led to the NFL championship in 1968. Shula’s tenure as head coach of the Miami Dolphins from 1970 to 1995 was legendary, resulting in two Super Bowl victories. Shula is the only coach in NFL history to achieve an undefeated season, which he did in 1972. Whether considering regular-season wins (328) or including playoff victories (347), Shula stands as the most successful coach in NFL history.