NFL head coaches Mount Rushmore of the Super Bowl era
By Erik Lambert
Oh boy. The NFL head coaches Mount Rushmore edition? Now this is something that’s bound to create some backlash from fans.
If only because it’s inevitable that somebody deserving has to get left off the list. So let’s address the elephant in the room right off the bat. The most glaring omission from the four slots is Chuck Noll, architect of the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers dynasty. Now please understand this is in no way a shot at the man. What he did with that team was nothing short of exceptional.
He transformed an organization that never won anything into a powerhouse that won four Super Bowls in six years. So how could he be left out? Two reasons. He didn’t really change the game in any significant way. He just built a great team and coached it to all-time heights. Also, the latter half of his career was rather disappointing in the 1980s. Little things like that matter in a situation like this.
Noll isn’t alone though. Other Hall of Fame names were left out including Washington Redskins legend Joe Gibbs and the “Big Tuna” himself Bill Parcells. If the list were only a couple spots bigger, they’d be on it for sure but hard sacrifices are needed. So it’s time to ask the question. Who actually managed to survive the battle royale to make the cut?
Bill Belichick (New England Patriots)
Probably the one name on the list that people are least surprised about. Most would say that Bill Belichick is not only the greatest coach of the Super Bowl era but the greatest of all-time. He certainly has the accolades to back it up. He’s gotten his New England Patriots to eight Super Bowls in 17 years and has won five of them.
No other head coach can say they have five rings nor that they even reached that many. Belichick’s sustained excellence since he took over in New England is nothing short of incredible. He’s had one losing season in that span and that was his first year in 2000. He won three of his championships between 2001 and 2004. Then he underwent a long dry spell only to win two more in 2014 and 2016.
This speaks to how the man has been able to handle the difficulties of the salary cap era. Despite his teams undergoing constant changes in the roster, he’s been able to keep it competitive through a mix of draft and free agency mastery. The last time his Patriots did not play in at least an AFC championship game was 2010. Just insane.