TOP 10 NFL COACHES

By War Room Scouts

updated 10:32 p.m. ET July 24, 2008

Coaching in today's NFL involves a delicate balance of motivation, coddling and discipline, along with a healthy dose of X's and O's. The most successful coaches are the ones who relate well to their players, and more importantly, adapt to changes in personnel and game situations while choosing the right offensive and defensive systems to suit the elite athletes at their disposal.

Our team of scouts argued and debated and almost came to blows a few times before they settled on this list of the top 10 coaches in the NFL:

1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Spygate aside, Belichick is the standard for modern NFL head coaches, maybe for all time. Few coaches spend as much time as he does breaking down film and studying tendencies, which is why his teams are always so well-prepared. Argue all you want about the moral and ethical implications of his video-taping: It has little to do with his ability to guide his team to victory.

2. Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts
During his long, successful coaching career, Dungy has made a point of doing things "the right way." In the process, he has gained the respect of just about every one of his peers, and it's hard to find a player or coach who doesn't like him. His positive, upbeat presence, calm demeanor and ability to relate to players on a personal level have helped him build winners in Tampa Bay and Indy.

3. Mike Shanahan, Denver Broncos
Although his teams have slipped a bit in recent years, Shanahan did lead the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles. His strength is his ability to build offensive schemes around the personnel he has, which led to his implementation of the zone-blocking scheme--almost to perfection--regardless of the running back or linemen he's had on hand. With quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall coming into their own, we might see Shanahan reach into his old 49ers playbooks and change his stripes again.

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4. Mike Holmgren, Seattle Seahawks
The league's winningest active coach says he is retiring after this season, leaving behind quite a legacy. Another offensive mind out of the Bill Walsh school, Holmgren has groomed many a quarterback in the West Coast offense and started his own coaching tree. But in the later part of his career he also has lived by the "adapt and survive" mantra, first placing the burden of the offense on running back Shaun Alexander, and then opening up the playbook and handing his team to Matt Hasselbeck when injuries hindered the running game. While some coaches force schemes on players, Holmgren has carved out his place in the coaching ranks by matching schemes to personnel.

5. Jon Gruden, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While Dungy might have built a winner in Tampa Bay, Gruden is the one who finally delivered a championship to the organization. He is the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl and gained a reputation as a creative offensive coach, learning at the feet of Holmgren in Green Bay. Gruden is another legendary preparer, arriving at his office at 3 a.m. for the first peek at game film. That doggedness, coupled with his intensity on the field, helps his teams compete year in and year out. Despite a perceived recent downturn, Tampa has won the NFC South twice in the last four years, and Gruden has the team back on the upswing in 2008.

6. Tom Coughlin, New York Giants
No matter where he has been, all Coughlin has done is win. A longtime member of Bill Parcells' staff, Coughlin used an old-school approach to mold the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars into perennial playoff contenders in the 1990s. In 2004, he brought the same fire to the Giants, winning the NFC East in 2005. But it wasn't until he adjusted his approach and became more player-friendly that he earned his first Super Bowl ring as a head coach last season. His ability to balance tough, disciplined football with a better understanding of today's player again has his star on the rise.

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