When ranking the 32 NFL quarterback/head coaching duos, it's the Chiefs, then ...
2. Ravens: Lamar Jackson and John Harbaugh
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Though yet to reach a Super Bowl, these are two of the best. Jackson is a two-time MVP who looks close to making a postseason breakthrough, and Harbaugh has 12 playoff appearances in 17 seasons plus
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3. Rams: Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay
They
4. Eagles: Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni
Hurts isn't usually included in the conversation of top quarterbacks, and I'm not always the biggest fan of Sirianni's antics. You can't argue with two Super Bowl appearances,
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5. Lions: Jared Goff and Dan Campbell
They have become folk heroes in Detroit, turning a laughingstock franchise into a powerhouse. Goff has led a top-five scoring offense three straight years, while Campbell has revolutionized the NFL (in a good way) with his aggressive fourth-down calls.
6. Bills: Josh Allen and Sean McDermott
No problems with
Both Bills coach Sean McDermott and general manager Brandon Beane are signed through the 2027 season.
Barry Chin/Globe Staff
7. Commanders: Jayden Daniels and Dan Quinn
Quinn will always wear
8. Chargers: Justin Herbert and Jim Harbaugh
Harbaugh is a proven winner wherever he goes. Herbert has all the tools, but is a little too inconsistent for someone who looks like he was built on an assembly line.
9. Broncos: Bo Nix and Sean Payton
Payton is still one of the top offensive coaches in the NFL. Nix was his perfect protégé, throwing 29 touchdowns against 12 interceptions as a rookie. The Broncos went 10-7 and should make noise in 2025.
10. 49ers: Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan
Purdy might be a system QB, and Shanahan
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11. Bengals: Joe Burrow and Zac Taylor
They
12. Texans:
C.J. Stroud and DeMeco Ryans
Ryans is still a great culture setter, but Stroud took a step back in 2024. The Texans believe the issues were mostly related to the offensive line.
13. Buccaneers: Baker Mayfield and Todd Bowles
Probably not a tandem that's going to win a Super Bowl, but Mayfield led a top-five scoring offense last year and Bowles has made the playoffs in all three of his seasons.
14. Vikings: J.J. McCarthy and Kevin O'Connell
It's tough to rank them any higher given McCarthy is coming off a knee injury and has never played an NFL snap.
Injuries kept Jordan Love from fully following up on his breakout 2023 season in 2024.
Mike Roemer/Associated Press
15. Packers: Jordan Love and Matt LaFleur
They haven't had a deep playoff run yet, but it feels like it's coming for a coach with a 67-33 record and a quarterback 2-for-2 in reaching the playoffs.
16. Cowboys: Dak Prescott and Brian Schottenheimer
Schottenheimer has never been a head coach, and Prescott (one playoff win since 2018) can't stay healthy. But Schottenheimer has been Prescott's offensive coordinator the past two seasons, including in 2023, when they had the No. 1 scoring offense and Prescott was MVP runner-up.
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17. Steelers: Aaron Rodgers and Mike Tomlin
Rodgers still has a smart football mind and a decent arm, but looked gun-shy in the pocket last year. Tomlin has made the playoffs in four of the past five years, but with no wins. This duo is destined for 9-8 and a quick exit.
18. Cardinals: Kyler Murray and Jonathan Gannon
I like Gannon, the former Eagles defensive coordinator who had the Cardinals a respectable 8-9 last year. But fans have to be getting impatient waiting for Murray, with one playoff appearance and no wins in six seasons.
It's already clear that new coach Mike Vrabel views the Patriots as Drake Maye's team.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
19. Patriots: Drake Maye and Mike Vrabel
Maye needs to cut down on his turnovers and learn how to play winning football. He's got great physical tools and feel for the game, and should take off in Year 2 with an experienced, accomplished coach.
20. Dolphins: Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel
They've been beating up on the Patriots, and put up some impressive stats in 2022-23. But Tagovailoa can't stay healthy, his physical tools are average, and McDaniel's teams are always soft in December and January.
21. Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence and
Coen did a great job in Tampa last year, but has only had one year of success as a play-caller. And Lawrence, occasionally solid, is trending closer to a bust than a franchise QB.
22. Raiders: Geno Smith and Pete Carroll
The Raiders missed out on the quarterback bonanza in the 2024 draft, and have cycled through several head coaches and QBs the last two years. They ended up in a decent place.
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23. Colts: Daniel Jones and Shane Steichen
Jones hasn't beaten out Anthony Richardson yet, but don't be surprised if the Colts are pesky. Steichen is a solid offensive coach, and Jones still has intriguing tools.
24. Bears: Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson
I'm skeptical of Williams being able to shake his bad habits, and of Johnson replicating the success he had in Detroit. But Williams definitely has talent, and Johnson scored a ton of points with Goff, whom the league didn't think much of.
Can Ben Johnson make more magic with a Bears franchise whose quarterback play has been shoddy going back generations?
Nam Y. Huh/Associated Press
25. Seahawks: Sam Darnold and Mike Macdonald
Macdonald had a solid debut at 10-7, but there's no way Darnold is going to come close to replicating his 2024 season outdoors, without O'Connell or Justin Jefferson.
26. Panthers: Bryce Young and Dave Canales
They showed signs of life with a 4-5 finish, and Canales has helped turn around Young and Mayfield in consecutive seasons. But Young still looks physically overmatched.
27. Falcons: Michael Penix and Raheem Morris
The early reports on Penix are promising, but it's hard to know what to make of him after three starts. Morris has a 29-47 record as a head coach with the Bucs and Falcons, but hasn't had much to work with at QB, either.
28. Giants: Russell Wilson and Brian Daboll
Daboll was a great play caller with the Bills, but is 18-32-1 as a head coach. Wilson is on his fourth team in five years and looks just about done.
29. Titans: Cam Ward and Brian Callahan
This duo could shoot up the board quickly if Ward is as good as advertised, but Callahan looked in over his head in his first season and was lucky to keep his job after a 3-14 finish.
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30. Jets: Justin Fields and Aaron Glenn
Fields is a dynamic athlete, but hasn't been able to figure out the passing side in four seasons. Glenn was great as the Lions' defensive coordinator, but coaching the Jets has swallowed up many a good man.
31. Browns: Joe Flacco and Kevin Stefanski
Stefanski has twice won Coach of the Year. When your options at QB are Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel, and Shedeur Sanders, there isn't much room for optimism.
32. Saints: Tyler Shough and Kellen Moore
Moore, a first-time head coach, might be really good at his job. With a depth chart of second-round pick Shough, Spencer Rattler, and Jake Haener, the Saints need a miracle worker.
Ben Volin can be reached at
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