Scholarship table
Vincent T. Lombardi. I would argue the greatest head coach in any sport. Belichick was mediocre at best in Cleveland and mediocre to lousy without Brady. It’s not him. Lombardi was never mediocre. He was going to make Washington great too.
Belichick 6 NFL Championships in 29 seasons; Vince Lombardi 5 NFL Championships in 10 seasons. Thoughts?
1. Lombardi2. Belichick3. Halas (6 'Chips)
Others to consider:SabanWoodenBear BryantShulaK
Gotta have Phil Jackson in that list.
Belichick was mediocre at best in Cleveland and mediocre to lousy without Brady. It’s not him. Lombardi was never mediocre. He was going to make Washington great too.
Belichick took over an absolute dumpster fire in Cleveland. The year before he was hired was the literal worst defense in the NFL in the entire 90s. And the offense was lead by a broken Kosar who had just had the worst season of his career. Belichick turned them into a very good playoff team in 4 years. Entered his final year as a presumptive Super Bowl contender and then Modell dropped a bomb on the franchise and the city and the season imploded. Looking at BB and Cleveland his last two years, its not hard to see the makings of what then happened in New England.Plus his staff between the 94 and 95 seasons had 3 future NFL head coaches, plus Nick Saban and Kirk Ferentz, and also Pat Hill who coached Fresno State for 15 years.
It’s Belichick for navigating the salary cap era.Lombardi is in the discussion, but then so is Paul Brown and Chuck Noll and Tom Landry and Don Shula and Joe Gibbs.Lombardi had the luxury of roster continuity. He saw the writing on the wall when he left.Also, I’d pay top dollar to see Lombardi take used car salesman and try to win football games today
Bill Walsh?
I agree Belichick was for a long time was the best GM in the game on top of being an all time coach. If we are including non-coaching duties and contributions, hands down it's Halas for me. There is no NFL without Halas.
Most influential offensive coach of the modern era. Cultivated a lineage down to Andy Reid, born from Paul Brown.In ‘86, Niners lost Montana in week one. Navigated the team to a 4-3-1 record with Jeff Kemp and Mike Moroski at QB. Saved Steve Young. He’s in the discussion. Wouldn’t be my choice but I’d listen
His legacy and lineage is long, too. Definitely can’t have the discussion without him
GOAT discussions bore me. I agree with your assessment about Walsh. But he belongs in the discussion.
He was a complicated man. Still not sure if Ditka loved him or hated him. He was the hard nosed SOB needed to make the NFL endure and become successful. He started the NFL when there was no interest in professional football.
Lombardi’s style would never work today.
Maybe. I think most people would agree with you. But coaching still comes down to relationships. That was Lombardi’s strength. He didn’t know more X’s and O’s Than other guys. Parcells is a more modern coach who was Lombardi-ish. Tomlin also follows in that tradition and certain guys can’t play for him, especially wide receivers. But I’ve never seen a ‘tough guy’ who wanted out in Pittsburgh because Tomlin was too hard on players. Anyway, I’d put Shula, Lombardi, and Parcells ahead of Belichick.