WHO IS THE 3rd BEST COACH OF ALL TIME ????

[Patler]

My basis for order is what the coach did for the team after he was hired and what the team was doing before the hire. Lombardi is a lock at 1 with his championship record with GB. He took the same players who previously stunk up the joint and built a dynasty. He also took over a bad Redskin team and had them winning instantly. #2 goes to Parcells. Giants from nothing to champs, Patriots from mostly bad to very good-almost champs and Dallas from bad to very good. For #3 I'd go with Walsh. The Niners were OK some years before he took over but once Bil took the reigns they were super. Also, after these men stepped down or moved on, the teams they coached went backwards for the most part. Exception would be the Niners but I'd credit Walsh with building such a great team that had the talent to still compete even after he left.

Then there are guys like Landry and Shula, who coached so long they could have coached sons and maybe even grandsons of players on their earliest rosters. Their roster included hundreds and hundreds of different players. and they won consistently with all of them (especially Shula), even as the NFL changed dramatically. For me, that is huge in ranking the coaches.

[The Shadow]

I think Walsh & Gibbs could both vie with Billy B for the #2 spot.

[Fritz]

Part of the issue is defining what is meant by "great coach," odd as that sounds. For example, Don Coryell was probably one of the most innovative coaches around, ever, but does that count for "great" or is a guy who is not necessarily creative but gets his teams to win and win - maybe Chuck Noll in Pittsburgh? - is that the guy who gets more "great" points.

Combining those two facets, I'd go with Bill Walsh and Tom Landry.

[TravisWilliams23]

Then there are guys like Landry and Shula, who coached so long they could have coached sons and maybe even grandsons of players on their earliest rosters. Their roster included hundreds and hundreds of different players. and they won consistently with all of them (especially Shula), even as the NFL changed dramatically. For me, that is huge in ranking the coaches.

Both are very deserving of top 5. Shula couldn't get Marino a ring. That takes something away from his record IMO. If he'd won one with Dan, I'd put him at #2. Landry has the record and longevity to be considered but I though he stayed too long. His teams at the end of his tenure were pretty bad.

Hoody gets knocked back because of his Cleveland record. Perhaps he needed those years to "learn" how to be great but he did fail at his first attempt.

[pbmax]

Part of the issue is defining what is meant by "great coach," odd as that sounds. For example, Don Coryell was probably one of the most innovative coaches around, ever, but does that count for "great" or is a guy who is not necessarily creative but gets his teams to win and win - maybe Chuck Noll in Pittsburgh? - is that the guy who gets more "great" points.

Combining those two facets, I'd go with Bill Walsh and Tom Landry.

He was hamstrung by his defense at times and his offense's turnovers at others. Giilliam is an interesting case. In the AFL, he was among the very best.

[bobblehead]

I would argue number two....three is Bellicheat.

Number 2...Only one coach has brought 2 teams to a superbowl, 3 to a conferance championship game and 4 to the playoffs. Let me see Bellicheat bring a team without Brady to the Superbowl. Let me see him get to the AFCC with Vinny Testeverde.

More importantly look at how hapless those frachises had become before Parcells turned them around. Dysfunctional teams. Teams coming off 4 win seasons and 5 straight losing seasons. Look at the QB's Parcells worked with.

You don't go place to place and turn around longtime losers without marquee QB's and win playoff games without being TRULY great.

[pbmax]

I would argue number two....three is Bellicheat.

Number 2...Only one coach has brought 2 teams to a superbowl, 3 to a conferance championship game and 4 to the playoffs. Let me see Bellicheat bring a team without Brady to the Superbowl. Let me see him get to the AFCC with Vinny Testeverde.

More importantly look at how hapless those frachises had become before Parcells turned them around. Dysfunctional teams. Teams coming off 4 win seasons and 5 straight losing seasons. Look at the QB's Parcells worked with.

You don't go place to place and turn around longtime losers without marquee QB's and win playoff games without being TRULY great.

Parcells never got to the Super Bowl without Other Bill though ...

[Bretsky]

Both are very deserving of top 5. Shula couldn't get Marino a ring. That takes something away from his record IMO. If he'd won one with Dan, I'd put him at #2. Landry has the record and longevity to be considered but I though he stayed too long. His teams at the end of his tenure were pretty bad.

Hoody gets knocked back because of his Cleveland record. Perhaps he needed those years to "learn" how to be great but he did fail at his first attempt.

You should watch the NFL documentary via NFL Network on everything about that last season with Cleveland. Given all the circumstances with the move I don't even acknowledge that season.

I'm not sure I'd put Parcells in top 10. He's a very good coach but I wouldnt consider him for the top 5.

[Fritz]

Really? Not even top five?

He was an ass, but he was a helluva coach. Those 80's Giants teams were tough, tough, tough. And he won everywhere he went.

[Bretsky]

Really? Not even top five?

He was an ass, but he was a helluva coach. Those 80's Giants teams were tough, tough, tough. And he won everywhere he went.

Guys that I would rate as no brainers above Parcells...from what I've witnessed and took in

Lombardi
Shula (basing this guy off a pretty strong view in here)
Hoody
Jimmy Johnson
Bill Walsh

Why has Chuck Knoll never entered the conversation ?
To my Parcells is in the next level .....maybe top 5.....but I've never bought into his greatness

[Bretsky]

Parcells never got to the Super Bowl without Other Bill though ...

Great Benefit to have Hoody Genius as a DC

[Smeefers]

Man, there's been a lot of really good coaches when you look back through all the teams. Why do I feel that it's going to be difficult ever including MM in that conversation? Is it because I believe his success is more a product of the players on the field than his coaching ability? I don't know. Has our team the last couple years been more a product of our front office? Or is it that we have such a high bar with Lombardi that everyone else will always pale in comparison?

I'm not saying that he's not good. I think he's really good. Great? Well... I'm willing to be we'll start the season with a complicated ass play book with a ton of deep routes. Then something will happen that will make MM scale it back and we'll start playing good Packer football. Then again, maybe I'm just to close to the subject and can't see the forest for the trees.