Most Wins by a Head Coach in NFL History (All-Time Rankings)
Some coaches stack wins. Others build legacies. The men in this list? They do both.
This post breaks down the most head coach wins in NFL history, tiered by total victories. From all-time icons like Don Shula to underappreciated legends like Marty Schottenheimer, this isn’t just a stat list. It’s a ranking of the guys who did the job better — and longer — than anyone else in football history.
There’s no fluff here. Just wins. If you’re building a coaching Mount Rushmore, this is where you start.
Don Shula holds record for most career wins by a head coach in NFL history
Tier 1 – 325+ Wins
- Don Shula (328 wins)
The NFL’s all-time win king. No asterisks, no caveats. Shula built juggernauts in multiple eras, defined the 1970s, and still holds the crown.
Tier 2 – 275+ Wins
- George Halas (318 wins)
Founder. Innovator. Titan. Halas didn’t just win — he built the game. He coached for 40 seasons and still ranks second all-time. - Bill Belichick (302 wins)
Love him or hate him, Belichick redefined the modern dynasty. Six rings, two decades of dominance, and a defensive mind that tortured a generation of QBs.
Tier 3 – 225+ Wins
- Andy Reid (273 wins)
Walrus by build, wizard by brain. Reid’s resume is as thick as his playbook. Still active, and still winning. - Tom Landry (250 wins)
The hat. The Flex D. The 20-straight winning seasons. A true architect of consistency and innovation. - Curly Lambeau (226 wins)
The namesake of Lambeau Field — and for good reason. Six championships, and the face of early NFL success.
Tier 4 – 175+ Wins
- Paul Brown (213 wins) –
If you like modern football, thank Paul Brown. He practically invented it. One of the sport’s greatest minds. - Marty Schottenheimer (200 wins)
No Super Bowl? Doesn’t matter. Martyball was real — and consistently got his teams to January. - Chuck Noll (193 wins)
Four Super Bowl rings. Built the Steel Curtain. Forever the blueprint in Pittsburgh. - Dan Reeves (190 wins)
Underrated legend. Took three different teams deep into the playoffs and still doesn’t get his flowers. - Chuck Knox (186 wins)
“Ground Chuck” ran the ball and racked up wins. Pure football grit. - Mike Tomlin (183 wins)
Never had a losing season. If longevity is the bar, Tomlin clears it with room to spare.
Tier 5 – 170+ Wins
- Mike McCarthy (174 wins)
Overshadowed by Rodgers, but McCarthy’s results speak loud. One of the winningest active coaches. - Jeff Fisher (173 wins)
The king of 8-8, but the wins add up. Had some serious longevity in a brutal business. - John Harbaugh (172 wins)
Elite special teams guy turned Super Bowl champ. Has kept Baltimore relevant for over a decade. - Bill Parcells (172 wins)
The Big Tuna. Two Super Bowls and a coaching tree deeper than the Mariana Trench. - Sean Payton (170 wins)
Offensive innovator. Finally broke the Saints curse with Drew Brees and built a legacy from the ground up. - Pete Carroll (170 wins)
Energy, gum, and Legion of Boom. Brought swagger and a title to Seattle. - Mike Shanahan (170 wins)
Two Super Bowls with Elway, and the father of a coaching revolution. West Coast excellence. - Tom Coughlin (170 wins)
May have looked like he chewed glass, but beat Belichick twice in the Super Bowl. That’s legacy.
Tier 6 – 133+ Wins
- Mike Holmgren (161 wins)
Brett Favre owes a lot to Holmgren. Turned around two franchises and did it the right way. - Bud Grant (158 wins)
Stoic. Successful. Four Super Bowl appearances with zero rings… but still one of the greats. - Joe Gibbs (154 wins)
Three Super Bowls with three different quarterbacks. Enough said. - Steve Owen (153 wins)
Dominated in the pre-Super Bowl era. The original sideline legend. - Bill Cowher (149 wins)
The chin. The fire. The ring. Cowher was Pittsburgh through and through. - Marv Levy (143 wins)
Four straight Super Bowls. Never won one, but changed the game forever in Buffalo. - Tony Dungy (139 wins)
Calm. Consistent. Classy. A Super Bowl winner and a culture builder. - John Fox (133 wins)
No rings, but two conference titles. Got the most out of every roster he led.
Tiered ranking of NFL head coaches by all-time career wins, featuring Don Shula, Bill Belichick, and Andy Reid.
FAQ Section
Who has the most head coach wins in NFL history?
Don Shula leads all head coaches with 328 combined regular season and playoff victories.
Which active coach has the best shot to pass Shula?
Andy Reid is the closest active coach with over 270 wins — if he sticks around, he’s got a shot.
Does Bill Belichick still count even without a current team?
Absolutely. With 302 wins, Belichick is third all-time and still eligible to return.
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