Aug 15, 2024; Foxborough, MA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni works from the sideline during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports The NFL playoffs are a time for celebration—and, in some cases, desperation.
As the divisional round of the playoffs takes place this weekend, the stakes will be high for all involved. That is especially true for each team’s head coach, where the outcome of these winner-take-all games can go a long way toward shaping someone’s job security.
Not every coaching situation is the same, of course.
So as another great weekend of playoff football kicks off, here are the remaining eight coaches ranked in order of most desperate to least desperate for a win this weekend.
1. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
This is Year 4 for Sirianni in Philadelphia, and the pressure is on for him and his coaching staff to show that they can win when it matters most. Sirianni has a terrific 48-20 record during the regular season, including a 14-3 mark this year. The playoffs have been more turbulent, as his Eagles were knocked out in their first game in 2021 and 2023 but were NFC champions in 2022. A loss against the Rams this weekend would put a ton of scrutiny on Sirianni going forward.
2. Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills
Jan 21, 2024; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott reacts against the Kansas City Chiefs during the second half for the 2024 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. credits: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports McDermott is in Year 8 in Buffalo, and he still is searching for his first trip to the Super Bowl. A lot of that has to do with a certain dynasty in Kansas City that consistently has blocked the way in the postseason, but this year offers another great chance for McDermott and the Bills to break through. McDermott is 86-45 in the regular season but 6-6 in the playoffs. This weekend offers a tough test against the Ravens, and McDermott needs to find a way to advance.
3. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell looks on at a timeout during the second half against Buffalo Bills at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024. PHOTO USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES Yes, it seems a little goofy to put Campbell at the No. 3 spot, but hear me out. First, this is the start of a different tier of desperation—Sirianni and McDermott are the clear top two (in whatever order you prefer). Campbell leads the second tier, perhaps only for this weekend, because a loss at home against the Commanders would be a big blemish on his record. Campbell has entirely changed the culture for the better in Detroit, but sometimes a franchise’s window for a championship might be only a few seasons. The window is wide open right now for the top-seeded Lions, and they cannot falter against a heavy underdog this weekend.
4. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Harbaugh is obviously a very good coach, with double-digit wins six times in the past seven seasons. But time is ticking in Baltimore, and Harbaugh’s Super Bowl title came a dozen years ago in the 2012 season. Since then, he is 4-6 in the postseason, and at some point the front office and the fan base are going to start to wonder if he has what it takes to get back to the promised land.
5. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
Jan 11, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik look on from the field before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC wild card game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images Ryans has gone 10-7 in back-to-back seasons in Houston and reached the playoffs in both of his first two years. That is a really impressive start to his coaching career. It is hard to see major negative consequences if he loses this weekend, but if anything, he is one of the coaches with the most to gain from a possible win. Imagine if he and the Texans slay the dragon that is Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs. That would elevate his status nationally and strengthen his job security that much more as he looks to mold the Texans into a title contender.
6. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Dec 31, 2023; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay coaches against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. credits: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports It is hard to believe that McVay is only 38—he does not turn 39 until next week. It seems like he has been coaching forever already. Now in his eighth year in Los Angeles, McVay has a Super Bowl ring from the 2021 season and two NFC titles (2018, 2021). He is 8-4 in the postseason and helped the Rams overcome a slow start this year to win the NFC West and knock off the 14-win Minnesota Vikings in the wild-card round. Now he goes up against Sirianni and the Eagles, and the pressure is basically off as the Rams look to pull off an upset and produce more playoff magic.
7. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
Quinn and the Commanders are playing with house money right now. They have outperformed expectations at every turn, going 12-5 in the regular season and earning a road playoff win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Another playoff challenge, this time at Detroit, can only help with Jayden Daniels’ development going forward. The future is looking bright for the Commanders.
8. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Reid is headed straight to the Hall of Fame before too long—the only question is how many wins and how many championships he brings with him to Canton. He has three Super Bowl titles in the past five seasons, and he will try to make it four out of six this year. A loss to the Texans this weekend clearly would not be good, but Reid’s future is entirely up to him. He has earned it by this point.
