Ranking the winningest coaches in NFL history (2024)

Bill Belichick loves the history of football, and he made some of his own in 2022.

The 71-year-old moved into second place on the all-time NFL coaches wins list when the New England Patriots beat the New York Jets in Week 8, breaking a tie with Chicago Bears legend George Halas. Belichick still has a ways to go between himself and the winningest coach in league history, and another active coach is also moving up the all-time leaderboard.

Who holds the top spot, and how many wins will it take for Belichick to get there? Here is a look at the NFL head coaches who won the most games in their careers:

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Which NFL head coach has the most wins in history?

Don Shula won more games than any other head coach in NFL history.

The Hall of Famer spent the first seven years of his head coaching career with the Baltimore Colts and led the team to a Super Bowl III appearance in the 1968 season. He joined the Miami Dolphins after the 1969 season, and that’s where he began his path to legendary status.

In just his third season with the Dolphins, Shula’s group became the first and only undefeated team in history. Miami went 14-0 in the 1972 regular season and continued its winning ways in the playoffs, capping the run off with a Super Bowl VII triumph over Washington. The team repeated as champions the following season.

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Which active NFL head coach has the most wins?

Belichick dominates this category, as his 332 total wins give him 55 more than Andy Reid, but Big Red made up some ground in 2022 with the Chiefs’ Super Bowl run.

After Reid, there is another significant drop. Here is where he and Belichick stand against the rest of the top 10 among active coaches in terms of total wins through Week 14 of the 2023 NFL season:

1. Bill Belichick: 332 (301 regular season, 31 playoff)

2. Andy Reid: 277 (255 regular season, 22 playoff)

T-3. Mike Tomlin: 178 (170 regular season, 8 playoff)

T-3. Pete Carroll: 178 (167 regular season, 11 playoff)

5. Mike McCarthy: 176 (165 regular season, 11 playoff)

T-6. Sean Payton: 168 (159 regular season, 9 playoff)

T-6. John Harbaugh: 168 (157 regular season, 11 playoff)

8. Ron Rivera: 105 (102 regular season, 3 playoff)

T-9. Sean McDermott: 73 (69 regular season, 4 playoff)

T-9. Sean McVay: 73 (66 regular season, 7 playoff)

Which NFL head coach has won the most Super Bowls?

Belichick passed Halas in another historic way back in February of 2019.

A Super Bowl LIII win over the Los Angeles Rams gave the Patriots – and Belichick – their sixth championship. New England tied the Pittsburgh Steelers for the most Super Bowls for a team, but the victory put Belichick alone as the first NFL head coach to win six championships. Belichick passed Halas and Vince Lombardi, who both won five titles, with his Super Bowl triumph.

Here are all the head coaches to win at least three NFL/AFL championships in their careers:

1. Bill Belichick: 6

T-2. George Halas: 5

T-2. Vince Lombardi: 5

4. Chuck Noll: 4

T-5. Don Shula: 3

T-5. Curly Lambeau: 3

T-5. Paul Brown: 3

T-5. Weeb Eubank: 3

T-5. Hank Stram: 3

T-5. Bill Walsh: 3

T-5. Joe Gibbs: 3

I'm deeply familiar with NFL history, particularly the coaching legacies and milestones within the league. The article touches upon several key facets integral to the NFL coaching landscape:

Top Winningest Coaches in NFL History:
- Don Shula sits at the apex with 347 career victories, comprising 328 regular-season wins and 19 playoff victories. His tenure with the Baltimore Colts and, notably, the Miami Dolphins, solidified his legendary status.
- Bill Belichick, securing the second spot, amassed 332 wins, encompassing 301 regular-season wins and 31 playoff victories, as of the mentioned timeframe.
- George Halas follows at 324 wins (318 regular season, 6 playoff), establishing a profound legacy with the Chicago Bears.
- Notable active coaches on this list include Andy Reid at 277 wins and the Patriots' Bill Belichick, both making significant strides in their coaching careers.
Active NFL Head Coaches with the Most Wins:
- Bill Belichick, with 332 wins, holds a significant lead over Andy Reid, who follows with 277 victories, of which 255 are regular-season wins and 22 playoff triumphs. The gap between them underlines Belichick's unparalleled success.
- The list extends to coaches like Mike Tomlin, Pete Carroll, Mike McCarthy, Sean Payton, John Harbaugh, Ron Rivera, Sean McDermott, and Sean McVay, each contributing significantly to their teams.
Coaches with the Most Super Bowl Wins:
- Bill Belichick leads this domain with an impressive six Super Bowl victories, marking a historic achievement. His success with the New England Patriots secured his status as the first head coach to accomplish this feat.
- Following Belichick are George Halas and Vince Lombardi, tied at five Super Bowl wins, with Chuck Noll at four and a cohort of coaches with three Super Bowl victories, including luminaries like Don Shula, Curly Lambeau, Paul Brown, and others.

This collective information showcases the historical context, milestones, and the pivotal roles these coaches have played in shaping the NFL's landscape, emphasizing Belichick's monumental achievements in coaching and Super Bowl victories.