Five Super Bowl Coaching Legends

The Super Bowl LVIII has recently drawn to a close, and many Americans are left excited and enthused. Many older generations have begun reflecting on the great Super Bowl games they’ve seen and the incredible players that made them so spectacular. However, we often forget the coaches behind those players. In this article, we’d honor some Super Bowl coaching legends who elevated their teams to the top.

Vince Lombardi

Throughout the history of football, there have been many men who could be considered great coaches. If one were to ask any of them who the greatest coach of all time is, they’d answer “Vince Lombardi.” An NFL coach and executive, Vince Lombardi dominated the football scene in the 50s and 60s and helped his team, the Green Bay Packers, become legends in the NFL.

To this day, the Green Bay Packers are one of the most well-respected and well-loved NFL teams. They are often the first team that comes to mind when people discuss how to bet on the Super Bowl and who. Though Lombardi may not have created their fame, he was an instrumental figure behind it.

Lombardi gets credit for creating the “Packers sweep,” a famous (or infamous) play that the Green Bay team has been pulling off for decades. The Rotary Lombardi Award is a college football trophy awarded to the players who “best embody the spirit of the legendary coach.” Truly, he is one of the greats.

Bill Walsh

William Earnest Walsh, more commonly known as Bill Walsh, was an American football coach who spent time in both the professional and college world. His most notable coaching stint was with the San Francisco 49ers, whom he elevated to incredible success.

Perhaps best remembered for the 1981 championship, during which Walsh’s team managed to get an incredible win/loss ratio of 13 – 3, still regarded as one of the most incredible win ratios today. His accomplishments have been honored on three separate occasions, most notably in 1989 when he won the Golden Plate Award for his achievements in the world of sports.

Chuck Noll

Throughout his life, Chuck Noll only had one head coaching position: working for the Pittsburgh Steelers, who currently have one of the highest-paid athletes in the NFL. During his stint with the Steelers, Noll proved himself to be one of the greats, and today, he is named next to incredible coaching talents like Walsh and Lombardi.

Unlike Walsh and Lombardi, though, Noll had personal experience with the game. Before he was a coach, Noll was a player. He played for the Cleveland Browns, and though his credentials as a player are nothing too impressive, he managed to incorporate his practical experience into theoretical success. He has won the NFL Coach of the Year award and four Super Bowl wins.

Bill Belichick

Regarding the National Football League, Bill Belichick’s name is synonymous with success. As of 2024, he holds the world record for most Super Bowl wins by a head coach, with six. Not only that, but he also holds the record for most playoff wins, most appearances, tied with one other coach, and most championship game appearances.

For 30 years, Belichick has been dominating the NFL coaching scene, and his teams have had incredible streaks of success. Once he partnered up with Tom Brady, the coach and player became national sensations and secured a place in NFL Valhalla for themselves. Today, when most people think of “the best Super Bowl coach,” they think of Belichick.

Tom Coughlin

“Colonel” Coughlin spent 25 years coaching one of America’s most spectacular and popular football teams. He began his career in colleges, Boston College to be exact, before switching over to coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

In 2004, he got his first taste of the professionals as the head coach of the New York Giants, with whom he spent the rest of his career. Throughout that time, he managed to propel the New York Giants to the Super Bowl on several occasions and even won two of the big games.

Coughlin has the fewest Super Bowl wins (two) of the other names on this list. However, his tenacity, coaching style, and understanding of the game earned him a spot on the list as one of the best Super Bowl coaches ever.

FAQ

What is the Super Bowl?

The Super Bowl is the championship game of the NFL, however, it is so much more than that. It is a cultural spectacle in the USA, watched by millions, both nationally and internationally.

Do coaches play a role in winning the Super Bowl?

Coaches play an integral role in a team’s Super Bowl success. Without the aid of some of the men mentioned in this article, the teams might not have achieved the fame they have today.

Which coach has won the most Super Bowls?

That would be Bill Belichick, who has won six Super Bowl championships as head coach of the New England Patriots.

Who is the most popular coach in the history of the NFL?

Most likely, that would be Vince Lombardi, who many consider the greatest coach in NFL history to this day.