Andy Reid has a chance to become the fifth head coach in NFL history to capture at least three Super Bowl titles if his Kansas City Chiefs defeat the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday in Las Vegas.
The three-rings club already includes legendary coaches Bill Belichick, Bill Walsh, Joe Gibbs and Chuck Noll. But 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is also looking to make history, with hopes of becoming the 36th coach to win a Super Bowl, a list that includes his father, Mike, who won two Lombardi Trophies with the Denver Broncos.
With Super Bowl LVIII fast approaching, we decided it would be a good time to rank the Super Bowl-winning coaches. The four coaches with three or more Super Bowl titles will certainly be ranked high on this list.
35. Don McCafferty, Colts, Super Bowl V
McCafferty was only an NFL head coach for four seasons, but he spent a decade on the Baltimore Colts’ coaching staff before being promoted in 1970. McCafferty became the first rookie head coach to win a Super Bowl after the Colts defeated the Cowboys, 16–13. He coached the Colts for three seasons before spending one year as coach of the Lions.
34. Barry Switzer, Cowboys, Super Bowl XXX
Switzer often doesn’t get full credit for winning the Super Bowl because he did it with Jimmy Johnson’s stacked roster. But Switzer did plenty of winning throughout his illustrious career, including three national championships at Oklahoma in the 1970s and ’80s. Switzer coached the Cowboys for four seasons, winning the Super Bowl in his second season.
33. Jon Gruden, Buccaneers, Super Bowl XXXVII
Similar to Switzer, Gruden often doesn’t get proper credit for helping the Buccaneers win their first Super Bowl because many of the top players were developed by Tony Dungy, who coached in Tampa Bay for six seasons before being fired in 2002. But Gruden did his part by getting the team over the hump and delivering the perfect Super Bowl game plan vs. the Raiders, the team he coached the year prior.
32. Doug Pederson, Eagles, Super Bowl LII
Pederson helped the Eagles overcome the loss of starting quarterback Carson Wentz, who tore his ACL late in the 2017 season. Pederson and offensive coordinator Frank Reich formed the ideal scheme for backup Nick Foles, who flourished as the team’s starter. Foles outdueled Tom Brady in one of the more entertaining Super Bowls in NFL history.
31. Mike McCarthy, Packers, Super Bowl XLV
McCarthy fell short during Brett Favre’s final years in Green Bay, but behind the scenes he was instrumental in the development of Aaron Rodgers. The Packers’ offense didn’t miss a beat after Rodgers took over as the starter, and it all came together in 2010 when the team won it all as a sixth seed.
30. John Harbaugh, Ravens, Super Bowl XLVII
Harbaugh is one of the few special teams coaches who worked his way into a head coaching position. That area of expertise paid off when Jacoby Jones recorded a 109-yard kickoff return for a touchdown during the Super Bowl victory against the 49ers. That was the same postseason when quarterback Joe Flacco entered the elite conversation.
29. Bruce Arians, Buccaneers, Super Bowl LV
After a brief two-year retirement, Arians returned to coach the Buccaneers in 2019, but it wasn’t until Brady arrived a year later that the Bucs took off. Arians’s laid-back demeanor was embraced by Brady after spending two decades with Belichick in New England. Tampa Bay defeated Kansas City in the Super Bowl during an NFL season that had many obstacles because of the global pandemic in 2020.
28. Gary Kubiak, Broncos, Super Bowl 50
Kubiak had two stints as the Broncos’ offensive coordinator, including the two Super Bowl-winning teams in the late 1990s. But he finally got the top job in Denver in 2015 and was tasked with helping Peyton Manning win a Super Bowl with the Broncos, who fell short under John Fox. Kubiak’s Broncos got the best of the Panthers to send Manning into retirement as a two-time Super Bowl champion.
27. Mike Tomlin, Steelers, Super Bowl XLIII
Tomlin got away from Cowher’s shadow after helping the Steelers win their sixth Super Bowl in franchise history. The Steelers survived a late rally from the Cardinals after Santonio Holmes’s game-winning touchdown in the final minute. Tomlin hasn’t won a second Super Bowl, but he’s had plenty of success during the past 17 seasons in Pittsburgh.
26. Sean McVay, Rams, Super Bowl LVI
After getting outcoached by Belichick in Super Bowl LIII, McVay returned to the biggest stage in 2021 to bring the Rams their first Super Bowl title while residing in Los Angeles. McVay got it done with Matthew Stafford as his quarterback—the Rams traded Jared Goff to Detroit for Stafford in the offseason. Stafford finally won a Super Bowl after 12 rough years with the Lions.
25. Bill Cowher, Steelers, Super Bowl XL
Cowher had a successful stint with the Steelers, but his Super Bowl title didn’t arrive until his 14th season in Pittsburgh. Cowher leaned on second-year quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Jerome Bettis, who retired after the team defeated the Seahawks in the Super Bowl. Cowher made 10 postseason and two Super Bowl appearances during his time in Pittsburgh.
24. Pete Carroll, Seahawks, Super Bowl XLVIII
After a memorable run at USC, Carroll added a Super Bowl trophy to go with his national titles. Carroll quickly produced a dominant defense in Seattle and helped Russell Wilson find his footing as a young starting quarterback. The Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” defense crushed Manning and his record-setting Broncos offense during a lopsided Super Bowl.
23. Sean Payton, Saints, Super Bowl XLIV
Payton, with the help of quarterback Drew Brees, quickly turned the Saints into a winning franchise when he arrived in 2006, a year after the city was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. The Saints’ winning ways and Super Bowl title in 2009 helped New Orleans heal and thrive as a city. The Saints defeated the Colts in the Super Bowl.
22. Hank Stram, Chiefs, Super Bowl IV
Stram’s Chiefs fell to Vince Lombardi’s Packers in the first-ever Super Bowl, but returned a few years later to win it all against Bud Grant’s Minnesota Vikings. The Hall-of-Fame coach helped the Chiefs win three AFL titles, including in 1962 when the Chiefs were the Dallas Texans.
21. Weeb Ewbank, Jets, Super Bowl III
Ewbank coached the 1968 Jets, the team that was recently tabbed as the most influential team in NFL history, according to . Quarterback Joe Namath made his iconic guarantee before the Jets defeated Johnny Unitas and the Colts. Ewbank coached the Jets from ’63 to ’73. He also won two NFL championships in the 1950s while coaching the Colts.
20. Tony Dungy, Colts, Super Bowl XLI
Ironically, Dungy lost his job in Tampa Bay because he couldn’t get his team over the hump. The Colts had similar postseason failures before Dungy arrived in 2002. Dungy was tasked with helping fix the defense to assist Manning and his high-octane offense. The defense eventually came around in 2006 when the Colts hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after beating the Bears.
19. Brian Billick, Ravens, Super Bowl XXXV
Billick coached one of the most prolific offenses in NFL history as the offensive coordinator for the 1998 Vikings. He parlayed that into a head coaching gig, but his success in Baltimore was largely due to the dominant defense. Ray Lewis & Co. helped the Ravens crush the Giants in the Super Bowl. The offense wasn’t as talented, but they leaned on quarterback Trent Dilfer, running back Jamal Lewis and tight end Shannon Sharpe.
18. Mike Ditka, Bears, Super Bowl XX
The 1985 Chicago Bears are known for their vaunted defense, which embraced Ditka’s no-nonsense identity. The Bears unveiled their memorable “Super Bowl Shuffle” video weeks before the playoffs even began. They backed up that bravado by handily taking care of the Patriots in the Super Bowl. Chicago went 15–1 in the regular season and had Jim McMahon as the starting quarterback.
17. John Madden, Raiders, Super Bowl XI
Before he became an iconic TV broadcaster and the face of a popular video game series, Madden guided rugged Oakland Raiders teams on the sidelines. The Silver and Black reached the mountaintop for the first time after defeating the Vikings in the Super Bowl following the 1976 season. Ken Stabler and Fred Biletnikoff paced the productive offense.
16. George Seifert, 49ers, Super Bowls XXIV, XXIX
Seifert often gets overshadowed by the success of Bill Walsh, but Seifert continued the 49ers’ winning ways and won two Super Bowls with two different quarterbacks, Joe Montana and Steve Young. Walsh pushed 49ers ownership to promote Seifert after he transitioned into a front office role. It’s safe to say that Walsh knew what the team had in Seifert, who spent nine seasons as a defensive assistant in San Francisco before becoming the head coach.
15. Dick Vermeil, Rams, Super Bowl XXXIV
After a 15-year hiatus, Vermeil returned to coach the St. Louis Rams in 1997, but the team struggled for two seasons. Everything changed after Vermeil turned to Kurt Warner following the injury to new starting quarterback Trent Green. Warner operated a record-setting offense that became known as the “Greatest Show on Turf.” After the Rams kept Titans wide receiver Kevin Dyson out of the end zone on the game’s final play, Vermeil retired a second time, but as a Super Bowl champion. He later returned again to reunite with Green in Kansas City.
14. Mike Holmgren, Packers, Super Bowl XXXI
Holmgren worked under Walsh and Seifert in San Francisco as a quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. He got his first head coaching job in Green Bay and was tasked with helping a young Favre find consistency as a starter. Favre went on to become a league MVP multiple times and guided the Packers to a Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.
13. Mike Shanahan, Broncos, Super Bowls XXXII, XXXIII
The Broncos went 0–4 in Super Bowl appearances—three with quarterback John Elway—before Shanahan arrived in 1995. His influential zone-running scheme provided a balanced attack for Elway, as the Broncos leaned on running back Terrell Davis for back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Elway went out on top after the second championship, retiring as one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history.
12. Andy Reid, Chiefs, Super Bowls LIV, LVII
Similar to Vermeil, Reid was unable to win it all with the Eagles before landing with the Chiefs. Reid had a reputation for losing games due to poor game management. Everything changed when the Chiefs took a chance on Patrick Mahomes, the raw prospect out of Texas Tech. Reid and his 2017 first-round pick have won two Super Bowls and are back in the big game this week.
11. Tom Flores, Raiders, Super Bowls XV, XVIII
Flores and Ditka are the only two people in NFL history to win Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach and head coach. Flores is also one of few to win multiple Super Bowls as a head coach. He often got overshadowed as the successor to Madden, but his resume speaks for itself. Flores guided the Raiders to Super Bowls in Oakland and Los Angeles.
10. Bill Parcells, Giants, Super Bowls XXI, XXV
Parcells is revered as one of the NFL's greatest head coaches, particularly for his Super Bowl success with the Giants from 1983-90. Known for his defensive expertise, he also coached the Patriots, Jets and Cowboys, leaving a lasting impact on each franchise. Parcells is best remembered for his tough coaching style and knack for getting the best from his players.
9. Tom Coughlin, Giants, Super Bowls XLII, XLVI
Similar to Parcells, Coughlin built a winning reputation with his tough coaching style and guided the Giants to two Super Bowls, both coming against Belichick’s Patriots. The 2007 Giants prevented the Patriots from completing a perfect season, giving them a record of 18–1. Coughlin coached the Giants for 12 seasons (2004-15) and also coached the Jaguars for eight seasons before arriving in New York (1995-2002).
8. Joe Gibbs, Washington, Super Bowls XVII, XXII, XXVI
Leading Washington from 1981-92 and again from 2004-07, Gibbs secured three Super Bowl victories for the franchise. Gibbs, renowned for his innovative offensive strategies and exceptional leadership, guided Washington to a dominant Super Bowl victory over the Broncos, which included an historic second-quarter explosion of 35 points to conclude the ’87 season. Gibbs also won championships in NASCAR as the owner of Joe Gibbs Racing.
7. Vince Lombardi, Packers, Super Bowls I, II
Lombardi guided the Packers to five NFL championships in seven years, including victories in the first two Super Bowls. Lombardi's legacy as one of the greatest Super Bowl-winning head coaches is forever enshrined in the trophy bearing his name, awarded annually to the Super Bowl champion. Lombardi also had a one-year stint as the coach and general manager in Washington in 1969.
6. Jimmy Johnson, Cowboys, Super Bowls XXVII, XXVIII
Johnson produced one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history, while coaching the Cowboys from 1989-93, leading them to back-to-back Super Bowl victories. Johnson's innovative strategies transformed the Cowboys into a dominant force, which started after he traded running back Herschel Walker for a boatload of draft picks. Johnson also coached the Dolphins for three seasons, joining them in ’96.
5. Tom Landry, Cowboys, Super Bowls VI, XII
Landry had plenty of success coaching the Cowboys for nearly three decades (1960-88). He led the Cowboys to five Super Bowl appearances, winning two championships in ’72 and ’77. His innovative strategies, including the "flex defense" and "shotgun formation," revolutionized the game. Landry's calm demeanor and strategic game plans earned him respect as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history.
4. Chuck Noll, Steelers, Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, XIV
Leading the Steelers from 1969-91, Noll transformed the struggling franchise into a powerhouse. Under his guidance, the Steelers won four Super Bowls in six years, becoming the first team to achieve such success. Noll's emphasis on defense, known as the "Steel Curtain," revolutionized the game. Noll's impact on the Steelers and the league cements his legacy among the coaching elite.
3. Don Shula, Dolphins, Super Bowls VII, VIII
Shula coached for 33 seasons and amassed an NFL record of 347 wins, including the postseason. He led the Dolphins from 1970-95, securing two Super Bowl titles and completing the only perfect season in NFL history in ’72. Shula's coaching prowess, attention to detail and adaptability made him an icon. Shula also guided the Colts to a Super Bowl, losing to the Jets and Namath.
2. Bill Walsh, 49ers, Super Bowls XVI, XIX, XXIII
Walsh revolutionized the game with his innovative West Coast Offense. Under his guidance, the 49ers won three Super Bowls between 1979 and ‘88 and became a dominant force with Montana and wide receiver Jerry Rice. Walsh’s influence extended beyond the field, as many of his former assistants became successful head coaches.
1. Bill Belichick, Patriots, Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII
Belichick built a dominant dynasty in New England, winning six Super Bowls and appearing in nine, the most for any head coach. His innovative defensive schemes and talent evaluation reshaped the NFL. Belichick’s legacy, which he built with the help of Brady, likely won’t be topped by an NFL head coach for many years to come. Belichick had plenty of memorable Super Bowl moments, from defeating Warner and the Rams in 2001 to rallying from a 28–3 deficit against the Falcons in 2016.
