Pro Football Focus is known for its in-depth player grading and analytics database for both the NFL and college football, but a recent ranking of NFL coaches has left much up for debate.
PFF writer Dalton Wasserman took a stab at ranking the NFL's top 10 returning head coaches for the 2025 season, and his list quickly made rounds on social media. There were some no-brainers in there, like Andy Reid and Sean McVay in the top 3. It also included some debatable entries, like Nick Sirianni, Dan Campbell and Kevin Stefanski in spots 8 through 10.
One quick glance revealed a shocking omission, however. Where the heck is Kevin O’Connell?
The top 10 returning head coaches in the NFL today 📊 pic.twitter.com/eCEDHdKXjF
— PFF (@PFF) June 25, 2025
The Minnesota Vikings’ head coach surprisingly couldn’t crack PFF’s top 10, despite entering 2025 as the reigning AP NFL Coach of the Year.
Now, these lists are 100% subjective and serve little purpose outside of generating a healthy back and forth. We’re all for that. But to rank Stefanski, coming off a 3-14 season where he was nearly fired, ahead of KOC, who won 14 games, made the playoffs with Sam Darnold at quarterback, and literally accepted an award onstage as the NFL’s best head coach of the 2024 season, is one even Packers fans could have a hard time agreeing with.
O’Connell was easily the biggest snub. The others were Sean McDermott of the Bills, DeMeco Ryans of the Texans, and Dan Quinn, who just led the Washington Commanders to the NFC Championship Game with a rookie quarterback.
MORE VIKINGS NEWS:
- Proposed $4.2 million Vikings signing would add even more competition for Dallas Turner
- Vikings hit with J.J. McCarthy ‘red flag’ ahead of training camp
- Analyst drops bold win-loss prediction for ‘rookie’ quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Vikings
- Tom Brady reportedly urged Raiders against signing $100 million ex-Vikings Pro Bowler
- Analyst floats surprising trade target for Vikings as J.J. McCarthy's safety net