With week 16 in the books, we got to see which NFL coaches are the real deal in the league as well as some coaches potentially on the hot seat who truly need a fresh start elsewhere.
Here are the grades for all 32 NFL Team coaches after week 16 games:
Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Gannon: D
Jonathan Gannon is a great defensive-minded coach but the Cardinals played a lackluster game against the Chicago Bears. Gannon’s Cardinals have been playing without much Pro Bowl-like talent despite Kyler Murray doing everything he can with the current roster and coaching staff around him. Eventually, Gannon and company need to rebuild the current roster if they want to compete for the playoffs in 2024. Gannon and the Cardinals also have a very tough road test ahead of them as they travel east for a matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles in week 17.
Atlanta Falcons: Arthur Smith: B-
Arthur Smith and the Falcons had a very good Christmas Eve as he and the Atlanta Falcons got the 29-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The Falcons played very aggressively under Smith’s leadership which is how they should be playing if they want to compete for the NFC South crown and a trip to the playoffs. There are two weeks left in the regular season and teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints are ahead for Falcons and they will test the team’s performance and coaching.
Baltimore Ravens: John Harbaugh: A
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John Harbaugh led the Ravens to a massive victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. Harbaugh’s team was aggressive and relentless as they attacked Brock Purdy all night long. This win should open the case for potentially awarding Harbaugh with the Coach of the Year award and Harbaugh can get credit with the Ravens playing at an elite level on all sides of the football so far this season.
Buffalo Bills: Sean McDermott: B-
Sean McDermott has the Bills moving in the right direction with their current three-game winning streak against competitive playoff-caliber teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys in weeks 14 and 15 respectively. However, McDermott needs to make some improvements in the passing game as the Bills need to win out against their remaining opponents (both of which are AFC East divisional opponents in the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins respectively). If anyone can get that done and keep the team’s heads up for a playoff run, it’s McDermott who is the right leader for the Bills both in the thick and the thin moments.
Carolina Panthers: Chris Tabor: C-
Tabor came close to getting a second straight win against the Green Bay Packers but came up short thanks to an Anders Carlson field goal near the very end of the game. The Panthers have played slightly better in mid-December under Tabor’s leadership despite a lack of Pro Bowl-like talent on the roster for Tabor to work with, as well as moving past tough losses after Frank Reich was fired. Tabor is a good coach but ultimately may return to being an assistant coach in the 2024 season depending on which direction the Panthers choose when they look for their next head coach.
Chicago Bears: Matt Eberflus: C-
Matt Eberflus may not be the best coach in the league but he can lead the Bears to some good wins like they did on Christmas Eve against the Arizona Cardinals. Eberflus, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, and quarterbacks coach, Andrew Janocko need to drastically improve the performance of Justin Fields if he wants to be a true winner in the NFL. There is time for improvement, even with two weeks left in the season 2023 and definitely for the upcoming 2024 regular season. Only time will tell what happens.
Cincinnati Bengals: Zac Taylor: D+
Despite an 8-7 record, Zac Taylor’s Bengals have been 0-5 in division play due to unlucky circumstances and injuries to key guys like Joe Burrow. All of the conditions and circumstances have not harmed Taylor’s standing. Backup quarterback Jake Browning has done a great job stepping up for the Bengals despite getting dropped by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the team’s Week 16 matchup. Taylor needs to get the offense to step up in conference play with one divisional opponent left on the schedule and enter the 2024 season ready to make some changes to gain relevance in the ever so competitive AFC North.
Cleveland Browns: Kevin Stefanski: B-
Kevin Stefanski has done a solid job coaching a Browns team that is hungry for a playoff run. He has used all the tools in the toolbox, utilizing everyone around him including resurrecting Joe Flacco’s career despite losing Deshaun Watson to season-ending shoulder surgery. The defense has been a juggernaut thanks to Stefanski bringing in Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator and the results have shown this unit is not finished terrorizing the league with two more weeks to go in the regular season.
Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy: B-
Mike McCarthy has done a very good job so far in bringing this Cowboys team within striking distance of potentially winning the NFC East despite some serious competition with the Philadelphia Eagles and a week 16 loss on the road against the Miami Dolphins. McCarthy has this Cowboys team moving in the right direction regardless of whether they win the NFC East or not. With McCarthy at the coaching helm, it is only a matter of time when the Cowboys will make it past the divisional round- for the first time since 1995.
Denver Broncos: Sean Payton: C
Sean Payton is a great coach who has started to see things click in the second half of the 2023 season despite a rocky start in the first half. Despite that, the Broncos did suffer a painful loss to the New England Patriots and made a strong coaching decision to bench Russell Wilson for the team’s remaining two weeks as the team looks to potentially move on from Wilson in favor of another signal caller that can work and align much better with Payton and the Broncos offense in the 2024 season.
Detroit Lions: Dan Campbell: A-
Dan Campbell has brought a massive culture change for the better to the Detroit Lions and their NFC North Championship shows this is just the beginning for a rejuvenated franchise looking to make a serious playoff run in the coming weeks. The Lions also played well against the Minnesota Vikings by finding the path to victory when it mattered most which helped them claim the division title- for the first time in 30 years.
Green Bay Packers: Matt LaFleur: B-
Matt LaFleur did a good job coaching the Packers in a very close 33-30 win over the Carolina Panthers. LaFluer has lead the Packers in a very mixed result season with Jordan Love as his main starter ever since the Packers traded Aaron Rodgers to the New York Jets. Whether the Packers make the playoffs or not, LaFleur will return for the 2024 season and possibly longer if the Packers improve and regain their winning ways against the likes of the Minnesota Vikings and up and coming Detroit Lions.
Houston Texans: DeMeco Ryans: B-
Despite a couple of dropped games against the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns in weeks 14 and 16 respectively, DeMeco Ryans has done a tremendous job as head coach revitalizing this franchise from where they were a year ago to where they are now. If his coaching style continues to move his team, they can potentially sneak into the playoffs and possibly make a run if they have a healthy C.J. Stroud or in 2024 if they can improve upon this season.
Indianapolis Colts: Shane Steichen: D-
Shane Steichen’s Colts took a massive upset loss in the team’s week 16 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons where the team was shockingly outmatched on offense against the Falcons’ defense. Steichen has done a great job leading the Colts to a potential playoff run with Gardner Minshew filling in for Anthony Richardson recovering from shoulder surgery. Steichen needs to pull things together as the Colts take a hard long look in the mirror and try to turn things around with only two weeks remaining in the regular season.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson: D+
As of late, the Jaguars have been on a losing skid as evidenced by their recent 12-30 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They could potentially lose their footing for the AFC South crown and a playoff bid if they don’t turn things around very quickly. Doug Pederson has taken accountability for the team. He and the coaches need to make sure the team does not continue to turn the ball over and they need to motivate and get the team’s focus back on winning their remaining two games if the Jaguars want to win the AFC South and make it to the playoffs.
Kansas City Chiefs: Andy Reid: D+
Andy Reid is a great coach, without question, but the Chiefs have been on the downside of the ball and have dropped crucial games. This shows that even great coaches can do their best, but at the end of the day, even with talent such as Travis Kelce, they may have circumstance such as a lack of Pro Bowl-like wide receivers and tight ends on the roster to contend with. Reid needs to bring in more talented wide receivers for the 2024 season if the Chiefs want to return to the Super Bowl again. He should also consider cutting players like Kadarius Toney, who have been holding the Chiefs’ offense back from winning games at certain points this season.
Las Vegas Raiders: Antonio Pierce: B+
Antonio Pierce is having an incredible time working with the talent brought in by Josh McDaniels and has shifted the mentality of this Raiders team, in the right direction defensively, as they gave the Kansas City Chiefs a tough Christmas at home. It would be very shortsighted, and a real shame, if Pierce isn’t given the Raiders’ head coaching job in 2024 or a high-level coaching job elsewhere because of the renaissance the Raiders are experiencing, at this moment, as they try to hunt for a playoff spot.
Los Angeles Chargers: Giff Smith: D+
Giff Smith did a decent job leading the Chargers after taking over for Brandon Staley, who was fired after the Chargers’ 21-63 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. This is despite falling to the Buffalo Bills 22-24 in week 16. Is Giff Smith head coach caliber for the future? Most likely, not. However, he can still be a great defensive coach and interim coach who can fill in for a sick or fired head coach, when needed. It also doesn’t help that key names like Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, Joey Bosa, and Josh Palmer are dealing with injuries and concussions with only two weeks left in the regular season.
Los Angeles Rams: Sean McVay: B
Sean McVay has done a great job helping the Rams make a push for the playoffs after injuries affected their 2022 season just last year. With McVay’s support, Matthew Stafford’s performance recently has improved. The Rams are possibly one defensive linebacker and a new quarterback away from returning to the Super Bowl and McVay has shown he knows how to make the best of what he has around him.
Miami Dolphins: Mike McDaniel: B+
If anyone should be up for a possible Coach of the Year award, it’s Mike McDaniel. The amount of work he has done to improve the Dolphins, so far this season, cannot be ignored. This is especially true after the Dolphins earned their week 16 22-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys. McDaniel and the Dolphins have a very tough slate of games remaining against the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills respectively to close out the 2023 season before the playoffs begin.
Minnesota Vikings: Kevin O’Connell: D+
Ever since Kirk Cousins went down with the Achilles injury, it’s been a hit-or-miss for the Vikings as O’Connell has transitioned from Joshua Dobbs to Nick Mullens as well as lost other key contributors to injuries like Cam Akers, T.J. Hockenson, and Marcus Davenport to name a few. Once the Vikings return to full health and possibly get another veteran or new quarterback signed to the roster, things may get better for O’Connell moving forward.
New England Patriots: Bill Belichick: C-
Bill Belichick and the Patriots have struggled all season long, but did get a surprise Christmas Eve 26-23 victory over the Denver Broncos. Belichick is one of the greats and has nothing to prove, even with Bailey Zappe in the post Tom Brady era. There are rumors swirling around that this is Belichick’s final season in Foxborough, MA despite the win and two more games left in the regular season. If Belichick does leave New England, there’ll be a handful of teams that will request Belichick’s services like the Los Angeles Chargers which would be the perfect home for the eight-time Super Bowl winning coach.
New Orleans Saints: Dennis Allen: C+
Dennis Allen is a decent coach that is doing everything he can to keep things moving in the Big Easy. All Allen needs, is better quarterback production from Derek Carr, who’s been a hit-or-miss quarterback all season long as well as some better production from Alvin Kamara who even though he hasn’t played his best even though he hasn’t played the worst on the Saints so far all season.
New York Giants: Brian Daboll: C-
The 2022 Coach of the Year has had a rough go-around with the Giants this season as they try to stay above water in a stacked NFC East. He’s made the best use of Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito ever since Daniel Jones injured his ACL, but Daboll needs to fix the G-Men’s offensive line, immediately, if they want to be relevant in the 2024 season.
New York Jets: Robert Saleh: C
Robert Saleh led his Jets squad to a close but fair win against the Washington Commanders in week 16. He’s done everything he’s been able to do with Zach Wilson and Trevor Siemian as Aaron Rodgers recovers from his Achilles surgery for next season. However, if the Jets can’t get it together by next season, it could be time for the Jets to move in another direction.
Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Sirianni: B-
Nick Sirianni has had a great 2023 season despite a three-game losing streak which the Eagles recently snapped in their Christmas Day win over the New York Giants. As long as Jalen Hurts is on the offense, and the defense continue to play well and improve from their mistakes, Sirianni’s squad will continue to be a force to contend with for years to come.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Tomlin: C
The Steelers have had a hit-or-miss season with lack luster quarterback production all season long. However, Mike Tomlin never gives up and knows how to make the best of his roster as the team continues to play very well on defense and does show strides of resilience on offense. All Tomlin needs is a true number one quarterback for 2024 and the Steelers should be ready to compete against the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Cincinnati Bengals in the AFC North.
San Francisco 49ers: Kyle Shanahan: C-
Kyle Shanahan is a quarterback guru but week 16 saw Brock Purdy struggle against an elite Baltimore Ravens defense. Shanahan and rest of the coaching staff need to brush up from their mistakes made in their week 16 loss for the last two games of the season if they want to earn the one-seed. Shanahan has talent on all sides of the ball that can get the job done and potentially win a Super Bowl!
Seattle Seahawks: Pete Carroll: B-
The Seahawks may not be playing to the caliber they were last year, but Pete Carroll knows how to get the best of his roster whether it’s making quarterbacks like Geno Smith and Drew Lock play well or o bring out the greatness in the Seahawks defensive game. Carroll is also doing everything he can to lead this Seahawks team on a possible playoff push as they need to win their last two games of the season if they want to secure a spot.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Todd Bowles: B+
The NFC South has been a mess and predicting a clear path to victory can be murky. Todd Bowles has been very good as a leader, getting a lot of good production out of Baker Mayfield. The Bucs need to figure out if Mayfield is their long term quarterback solution when the season is finished. The Bucs defense continues to power through and play strong against opposing offenses. If the Bucs win their last two games and the NFC South, thank Coach Bowles’ defense for making it happen.
Tennessee Titans: Mike Vrabel: D+
Mike Vrabel is a good coach but this 2023 season has been a mess for the Titans at quarterback. Vrabel got as much as he could from Will Levis as Ryan Tannehill recovered from a broken foot. If Tannehill does leave the Titans next season, Vrabel needs to improve the offensive line and make sure Levis has offensive weapons like Derrick Henry, DeAndre Hopkins, and possibly more around to help him and the Titans succeed in the AFC South.
Washington Commanders: Ron Rivera: D-
It has been a complete train wreck in the nation’s capital with the Commanders sitting at a 4-11 record. It wouldn’t be a complete surprise if the Commanders parted ways with the veteran coach and replaced him with someone more skilled for a fresh 2024 season. Rivera has not been helped as Sam Howell has not proved to be the needed talent in quarterback and he has been saddled with an only above-average defense around them all season long.
