RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 2 sourcesWe have four more men to put in order after having spent the last month ranking all the position groups in the NFC North division. More specifically, it’s the men in charge: the NFC North head coaches.
NFC North Head Coach Rankings for 2026
— Check back on the position rankings through the following links QB , RB , WR , TE , OL , iDL , EDGE , LB , CB , S —
In keeping with everything else in the division there is very little to choose between the four head coaches. All four have an NFC North division title to their name, and all four will be hungry for more post-season success, which is what will eventually separate these coaches.
1. Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears)
Aug 17, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson on the field before a game against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
It might be early to make this claim but any doubts that he could take his success from offensive coordinator to the head coach role were quickly put to bed. Ben Johnson led the Bears to an 11-win season that secured the division title (first since 2018) and then a playoff win (first since 2010) over the Packers. Chicago would eventually fall in the divisional round to a narrow 20-17 loss to the LA Rams in overtime.
Following up a great first season could be an issue especially with the Bears having a very tough schedule on paper, but Johnson has proven he can adapt his offense in the past. If Johnson can keep the good times rolling in Chicago in his second year, he will quickly thrust his name into the conversation about the best coaches in the league.
2. Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings)
Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell during the first half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
He has his flaws but dragging his team to nine wins last season should be seen as impressive as the 13 and 14-win seasons of 2022 and 2024.
Kevin O’Connell has a new QB to work with in 2026 in Kyler Murray. O’Connell has had lots of success with many different QBs but the fact that there have been so many is also the problem. The Vikings are in desperate need of stability at the QB position to allow the 2024 Coach of the Year to get the best out of his offense.
The biggest question mark hanging over the Vikings’ head coach is his poor playoff record. Two visits to the playoffs following dominant regular seasons have yielded zero playoff wins. That needs to change.
3. Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers)
Nov 23, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur shake hands at midfield prior to a game at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Kayla Wolf-Imagn Images
Matt LaFleur had a great start to life as Green Bay’s head coach, winning the division three times and making the NFC Championship Game twice.
Since then, with the departure of future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers – who had back-to-back MVP seasons in that run – LaFleur has kept the Packers competitive only missing out on the playoffs once in the last four seasons, but also only winning one playoff game. The Packers have been set up to win it throughout LaFleur’s tenure and if anything they’ve been getting further away.
This feels like a pivotal season for his future with the Packers and how he is viewed as a head coach.
4. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell watches a play against Seattle Seahawks during the first half at Ford Field in Detroit on Monday, Sept. 30, 2024. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Some people might have him at the top of this list but I’m not a huge Dan Campbell fan.
Don’t get me wrong; his “us against the world” shtick that took a Lions franchise that had been suffering for decades to back-to-back division titles was impressive. I always had questions over what would happen after the success when you can’t rely on the poor downtrodden Lions’ motivation anymore and what would happen when he lost his coordinators – with both Johnson and Aaron Glenn both leaving last season.
What happened is Campbell took one of the most talented rosters in the NFL from first to worst and finished bottom of the division. The Lions did manage a winning season but 2026 is a big test of Campbell’s credentials. A return to the playoffs and we can put last year down to a hiccup, another disappointing season and it will look even more like Johnson was the brains behind Detroit’s success all along.
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