There has been little debate over who the brightest offensive mind in football has been over the past decade, but now Pro Football Focus has gone one step further. In its rankings entering the 2026 season, PFF named Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay as the best head coach in the NFL, placing him ahead of some of the league’s biggest names.
PFF’s top 10 head coach rankings are:
- Sean McVay
- Andy Reid
- Kyle Shanahan
- Mike Macdonald
- Dan Campbell
- Matt LaFleur
- DeMeco Ryans
- Sean Payton
- Mike Vrabel
- Jim Harbaugh
1. Sean McVay
While McVay’s résumé already includes a Super Bowl championship, multiple NFC Championship appearances, and nearly a decade of sustained success, what continues to separate him from the rest of the league is his ability to evolve.
One of the best examples came during the 2025 season. For years, McVay’s offense became synonymous with 11 personnel, featuring one running back, one tight end, and three wide receivers. Defenses spent years trying to solve it, and many eventually copied it. Rather than stubbornly sticking to the system that made him famous, McVay adjusted once again.
As injuries and personnel changed throughout the season, the Rams leaned heavily into 13 personnel packages featuring three tight ends. Instead of forcing players into a familiar system, McVay redesigned the offense around the strengths of his roster. The result was an offense that became more physical, more unpredictable, and once again difficult to defend. That willingness to reinvent rather than repeat is one of the defining characteristics of elite coaching.
Just as important is the culture McVay has built in Los Angeles.
Since arriving in 2017, the Rams have consistently developed a locker room centered around accountability, competition, and selflessness. Players frequently describe the environment as demanding but empowering, where veterans and rookies alike understand their responsibilities. The organization’s “We over Me” mentality has allowed Los Angeles to remain competitive despite constant roster turnover, salary cap challenges, and the departure of star players.
That level of player buy-in does not happen accidentally. It starts with the head coach.
McVay has also built one of football’s most influential coaching trees. Offensive assistants continue to earn promotions around the NFL, with former coordinators and assistants becoming successful head coaches and play callers throughout the league. His ability to develop coaches mirrors his ability to develop players, creating an organizational pipeline that extends well beyond Los Angeles.
Perhaps McVay’s greatest strength, however, remains his offensive knowledge and weekly game planning.
Few coaches attack opponents with better situational awareness. His preparation often produces unique game plans that maximize favorable matchups while hiding weaknesses. The Rams’ offensive performance against the Seahawks during the 2025 season showcased exactly why defensive coordinators dread facing McVay. Through creative formations, motion, personnel changes, and sequencing, Los Angeles consistently manipulated defensive leverage and created opportunities that appeared to be available before the ball was even snapped.
That level of schematic detail has become routine throughout McVay’s tenure.
There are certainly other outstanding coaches across the NFL. Reid has built a dynasty in Kansas City. Shanahan remains one of football’s premier offensive designers. Campbell has transformed Detroit’s culture, while Ryans and Macdonald have quickly established themselves among the league’s rising stars.
But when evaluating sustained success, adaptability, culture, innovation, and offensive brilliance together, it’s easy to understand why PFF placed Sean McVay at the very top. Nearly a decade into his tenure, the Rams head coach continues to redefine what elite coaching looks like—and he may still be getting better.
