Why Assembling The Right Coaching Staff Matters In The NFL

BALTIMORE, MD – December 14, 2008: Former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau with Troy Polamalu (#43) on the sidelines during a road game vs Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 14, 2008. CREDIT: John Biever (Photo by John Biever /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)

Sports Illustrated via Getty Images

In the NFL, head coaches receive a significant amount of the credit when things go well. They also accept plenty of blame when results are unfavorable. The success of head coaches can depend on several variables. However, the importance of assembling a competent and experienced coaching staff often gets overlooked.

Historically, great NFL head coaches cultivate extensive coaching trees, comprising of assistant coaches who later become head coaches elsewhere. Legendary coaches such as Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs, and Jimmy Johnson all had deep staffs filled with future NFL head coaches. While success as an assistant coach does not always translate to success as a head coach, valuable lessons can be derived from those experiences, thereby helping those individuals gain perspective if they return to assistant coaching roles.

Early in Pittsburgh, Tomlin Prioritized Trusted Defensive Leadership

One relatively recent example of a successful long-time assistant who had a brief and ineffective head coaching stint before returning to the assistant coaching ranks is Dick LeBeau. He served as the defensive coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1995 to 1996 and again from 2004 to 2014, developing some of the greatest defenses in league history. In between, he struggled as the head coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 2000 to 2002, compiling a 12-33 record. LeBeau eventually retired from football in 2017.

For newly hired head coaches, an important leadership strategy is setting aside their egos and recognizing the value of top assistants. In 2007, Mike Tomlin was hired by the Steelers as their new head coach, a position he still holds today. At the time, his decision to retain LeBeau as defensive coordinator demonstrated remarkable maturity for a young head coach in his thirties. The move paid dividends as the Steelers won the Super Bowl in his second season and their defense finished first in the NFL in four of Tomlin’s first six years as head coach. When asked about the decision to retain LeBeau, Tomlin said, according to Steelers.com, “To me, that’s all ego-driven when people come in and believe they have to put their stamp on things. Why would you fix something that’s not broken?”

A Familiar Face Returns to Develop New England’s Offense

Immediate results for NFL head coaches often depend, in part, on the quality of the coaching staff they assemble. Having experience to lean on is invaluable. While head coaches create the vision and set the culture, the coaching staff brings that vision to life and reinforces the culture by providing tactical and schematic support, teaching fundamentals and techniques, and developing players.

Currently, the New England Patriots (10-2) and find themselves surprisingly leading their division, with nearly two-thirds of the season behind them. Mike Vrabel is in his first season as head coach of the Patriots. From the start, he focused on instilling a mentality based on toughness, discipline, and accountability. The results have been undeniable. The Patriots rank in the top 10 in several offensive and defensive statistical categories.

Although defense may be Vrabel’s forte, he knew he needed to hire the right offensive coordinator who could develop second-year quarterback Drake Maye. No stranger to coaching at the highest level and achieving big success, Josh McDaniels has filled this role admirably. McDaniels previously served as offensive coordinator under legendary coach Bill Belichick from 2006 to 2008 and again from 2012 to 2021. During this time, he helped the team complete an undefeated regular season in 2007 and win Super Bowls in 2014, 2016, and 2018. As a result of his success, McDaniels landed two separate head coaching jobs, leading the Denver Broncos from 2009 to 2010, and the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022 to 2023. He never posted a winning record during that span.

Before this season, McDaniels was asked about his previous unsuccessful head coaching tenures and shared his thoughts: “You learn more, honestly, when you fail than when you have success. So I’ve always tried to take each opportunity as an experience that I can learn from,” according to WEEI Sports. He continued, “Some you learn more from than others. And the one thing I know I’ve tried to get really good at over the course of time is just take the lessons and digest those and use them for something positive.”

Bears Hire Proven Defensive Mind to Revive ‘Monsters of the Midway’

Led by rookie head coach Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears (8-3) have experienced a resurgence in the Windy City. Much like the Patriots under Vrabel, he has built a culture centered on preparation, communication, and a team-first approach. Johnson has guided the Bears to a top-10 offensive ranking in multiple categories—an impressive achievement, especially considering the Bears ranked last in offensive yards per game last season.

Like Mike Tomlin did in his first season with the Steelers, Johnson decided to hire a veteran defensive coordinator with a proven track record to complement his expertise and assist with his coaching transition. That man is Dennis Allen, who previously served as head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 2012 to 2014 and New Orleans Saints from 2022 to 2024. Similar to Josh McDaniels, Allen struggled in his two coaching tenures, winning only a third of his games.

Prior to his last head coaching position with the Saints, Allen served as their defensive coordinator from 2015 to 2021, building one of the best units in the league. He spent a total of 15 seasons within the Saints organization, holding various positions, including coaching the defensive backs during the 2009 Super Bowl season.

Allen has a knack for putting players in positions where they can be successful. The Bears currently lead the NFL in takeaways, averaging 2.2 forced turnovers per game. Despite dealing with an assortment of key injuries on defense, Allen has been able to mold backups into serviceable starting players. In an October press conference, Ben Johnson described Allen’s value: “Dennis does a great job with instilling the confidence in those guys, putting them in the right spot,” according to 670 The Score, a commercial radio station in Chicago.

Following an emotional early season win over the Saints, Allen addressed his new team in the locker room and expressed pride in being a part of the Bears organization: “Sometimes the good Lord has a freaking plan for you that you don’t know about and sometimes you ain’t good enough for somewhere else. That’s perfectly fine—I love being here and with this group of guys.”

Additional Examples and Further Analysis

There are several other examples of new head coaches retaining well-established offensive or defensive coordinators, as well as other position coaches, from previous regimes. For example, former Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy recognized the value of retaining offensive coordinator Tom Moore, who had worked under previous head coach Jim Mora. Moore served as a mentor to Peyton Manning, contributing to a Colts Super Bowl victory in 2007. This season, he is an offensive consultant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As previously mentioned, it is also advantageous for new head coaches to hire experienced coordinators with prior head coaching experience to delegate authority, offer a sounded board, and improve play calling and execution. Similar to the Bears hiring Dennis Allen, former Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians hired Todd Bowles in 2019, who was fresh off a head coaching stint with the New York Jets. The next season, Bowles’ defense faced a high-powered Patrick Mahomes led offense in Super Bowl LV, and held the Kansas City Chiefs without a touchdown. He went on to succeed Arians as head coach the following year.

Additionally, new head coaches who hire seasoned and successful coordinators add an extra element of credibility that can help with building a strong culture. Although several factors contribute to winning—both tangible and intangible—assembling a talented coaching staff remains a key component of success for newly hired head coaches, alongside fielding a skilled roster.