Alright, let’s talk about the brains behind the NFC North. We’ve looked at players already, but now it’s time to shine the spotlight on the folks calling the shots — the head coaches and coordinators. Who’s got the best setup? Spoiler: Minnesota’s sitting pretty at the top. Let’s break it down.
#4 – Detroit Lions
This might ruffle some feathers, but yeah — the Lions are at the bottom of this coaching ranking. Sounds wild, right? Back-to-back division champs, tons of hype… but here’s the catch: both of their top coordinators just dipped for head coaching gigs. Ben Johnson’s in Chicago now, and Aaron Glenn’s off to the Jets. That’s a big blow.
Now it’s on John Morton (offense) and Kelvin Sheppard (defense) to fill those shoes. Morton’s only been a full-time OC once, and Sheppard’s never done it at all. Dan Campbell’s still the guy you’d want to run through a wall for, but this new-look staff has a lot to prove without the old crew.
#3 – Chicago Bears
Ben Johnson flipped sides and now leads the Bears, and honestly, he might be the guy to finally get things rolling in Chicago. His job? Turn Caleb Williams into a star — simple as that. He’s got Declan Doyle, a 29-year-old offensive whiz kid, running the offense, plus Eric Bienemy and Antwaan Randle El helping out.
Dennis Allen’s the new DC. Sure, he flopped as a head coach, but the man knows defense. This is a way better coaching setup than what Chicago’s had in recent years.
#2 – Green Bay Packers
Matt LaFleur’s resume speaks for itself — 67 wins in six seasons. Even though they’ve cooled off a bit post-Aaron Rodgers, LaFleur still has one of the sharper offensive minds in the league. He’s rolling with Adam Stenavich on offense and Jeff Hafley on defense (a major upgrade from Joe Barry, by the way).
Hafley’s stock is rising — he’s already getting looks for head coach jobs. Green Bay’s staff isn’t flashy, but they’re steady, experienced, and they’ve been in the mix long enough to trust.
#1 – Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota’s got the best setup in the division — maybe one of the best in the league. Kevin O’Connell just grabbed Coach of the Year and is 34-17 in three seasons… and that’s with five different QBs starting games for him. His next mission: groom J.J. McCarthy into a franchise quarterback.
Wes Phillips (OC) and Josh McCown (QBs coach) are locked in on that task too. But let’s not forget the real wild card: Brian Flores. He’s cooked up one of the most aggressive, creative defenses in the league. And he’s got more talent than ever this year. He interviewed for head coaching jobs again — and if he leaves soon, Daronte Jones might be next in line.
Bottom line? The Vikings are stacked on the sidelines. O’Connell, Flores, Phillips, McCown — any one of these dudes could be running their own teams before long.
Vikings Run the North – Coaching Staff Ranked Best in Division
