Aug 17, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell meets with Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski earlier than the sport at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports activities
Now we have 4 extra males to place so as after having spent the final month rating all of the place teams within the NFC North division. Extra particularly, it’s the boys in cost: the NFC North head coaches.
NFC North Head Coach Rankings for 2026
— Examine again on the place rankings by way of the next hyperlinks QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, iDL, EDGE, LB, CB, S —
In step with all the pieces else within the division there may be little or no to decide on between the 4 head coaches. All 4 have an NFC North division title to their identify, and all 4 can be hungry for extra post-season success, which is what’s going to finally separate these coaches.
1. Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears)
Aug 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson on the sphere earlier than a recreation in opposition to the Buffalo Payments at Soldier Area. Necessary Credit score: David Banks-Imagn Photographs
It is likely to be early to make this declare however any doubts that he might take his success from offensive coordinator to the pinnacle coach function had been rapidly put to mattress. Ben Johnson led the Bears to an 11-win season that secured the division title (first since 2018) after which a playoff win (first since 2010) over the Packers. Chicago would finally fall within the divisional spherical to a slender 20-17 loss to the LA Rams in additional time.
2. Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings)
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell in the course of the first half in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Photographs.
He has his flaws however dragging his group to 9 wins final season ought to be seen as spectacular because the 13 and 14-win seasons of 2022 and 2024.
Kevin O’Connell has a brand new QB to work with in 2026 in Kyler Murray. O’Connell has had a lot of success with many various QBs however the truth that there have been so many can also be the issue. The Vikings are in determined want of stability on the QB place to permit the 2024 Coach of the Yr to get the very best out of his offense.
The most important query mark hanging over the Vikings’ head coach is his poor playoff report. Two visits to the playoffs following dominant common seasons have yielded zero playoff wins. That should change.
3. Matt LaFleur (Inexperienced Bay Packers)
Nov 23, 2025; Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and Inexperienced Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur shake arms at midfield previous to a recreation at Lambeau Area. Necessary Credit score: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Photographs
Matt LaFleur had an amazing begin to life as Inexperienced Bay’s head coach, successful the division thrice and making the NFC Championship Sport twice.
Since then, with the departure of future Corridor of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers – who had back-to-back MVP seasons in that run – LaFleur has saved the Packers aggressive solely lacking out on the playoffs as soon as within the final 4 seasons, but in addition solely successful one playoff recreation. The Packers have been set as much as win it all through LaFleur’s tenure and if something they’ve been getting additional away.
This seems like a pivotal season for his future with the Packers and the way he’s considered as a head coach.
4. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches a play in opposition to Seattle Seahawks in the course of the first half at Ford Area in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photographs.
Some folks might need him on the high of this listing however I’m not an enormous Dan Campbell fan.
Don’t get me incorrect; his “us against the world” shtick that took a Lions franchise that had been struggling for many years to back-to-back division titles was spectacular. I at all times had questions over what would occur after the success when you possibly can’t depend on the poor downtrodden Lions’ motivation anymore and what would occur when he misplaced his coordinators – with each Johnson and Aaron Glenn each leaving final season.
What occurred is Campbell took probably the most gifted rosters within the NFL from first to worst and completed backside of the division. The Lions did handle a successful season however 2026 is an enormous check of Campbell’s credentials. A return to the playoffs and we will put final 12 months right down to a hiccup, one other disappointing season and it’ll look much more like Johnson was the brains behind Detroit’s success all alongside.
Proud UK Viking. Household Man. Take pleasure in writing about my group. Away from soccer an advocate for autism acceptance.
