The last vestiges of mandatory minicamps are coursing through the league as they enjoy a brief respite before the action heats up in training camp. Who are the best coaches in the league? While the AFC South stabilizes with name brands, the AFC East and AFC North bring intrigue for vastly different reasons. The coaches in the AFC South are relatively young and energetic. Can the youth bring a vigorous diet of competition? Interestingly, it is an even split between offensive and defensive minds.
AFC South Stabilizes With Steady Hands In 2026 NFL Head Coach Rankings
1. Houston Texans
Head Coach: DeMeco Ryans
The former standout linebacker for the Crimson Tide and Texans won two consecutive division titles until the second-place coach pipped him by a single game in 2025. Ryans is a steadying force for Houston as they amassed 35 wins (including playoffs) in his three seasons in charge. As the AFC South stabilizes with a clear-cut favorite at the top, he’s a giant in the coaching industry. The Texans’ defense has been brilliant under his watch, with several monstrous additions like Danielle Hunter, Will Anderson, Jr., and Derek Stingley, Jr. While a few pieces were left over before his arrival, it’s clear that their development under him is tangible.
However, his reign at the top could be short-lived if the Texans don’t address the omnipresent struggles of quarterback C.J. Stroud. After a brilliant rookie campaign, the embattled young passer has struggled to regain consistency, forcing the Texans to battle hard for the division as the AFC South stabilizes and several contenders emerge. Ryans’ coaching staff isn’t chock-full of name brands, but they get the job done. DC Matt Burke could get HC looks as early as next offseason.
2. Indianapolis Colts
Head Coach: Shane Steichen
Indianapolis got off to a hot start after Steichen navigated the choppy waters of a quarterback change to start the season. Unfortunately for the Colts and Steichen, Daniel Jones tore his Achilles tendon late in the season while dealing with previous injuries. The 2025 season for the Colts’ quarterback room was a tragic comedy of errors once Jones went down. Things were so dire for Indianapolis that they dragged out future Hall of Fame quarterback and grandfather Philip Rivers from mothballs. Predictably, things did not end well for the Colts. They went from 8-2 to losing seven straight, missing the playoffs as a result.
Steichen assembled a veteran team of coordinators, including infamous Bengals scapegoat Lou Anarumo, to oversee the defense, which did improve in 2025. OC Jim Bob Cooter did his best, but the Jones injury devastated the offense. Steichen is an offensive mind, but Cooter is heavily involved in the offense. Both are Andy Reid-adjacent disciples, having served under Reid’s proteges in Philadelphia. It could be inferred that the Colts have the most staff continuity as the AFC South stabilizes as a competitive entity. However, Steichen is ranked second, entering his fourth season as head coach.
3. Jacksonville Jaguars
Head Coach: Liam Coen
The hotshot head coach of the Jaguars took a similar tack to the villainous Lane Kiffin and left the Buccaneers in the lurch for the Jacksonville job. It turned out to be a good call for the career opportunist who once served on Sean McVay’s staff in LA. He led the Jaguars to a division crown after wresting it away from the Texans’ clutches. Now comes the hard part: sustaining the momentum after a universally panned draft class that isn’t expected to make an impact. Coen flitted between LA and the University of Kentucky for several seasons before serving on Todd Bowles’ staff in Tampa for one year.
While the division is the epitome of consistent inconsistency, he could provide a steady hand while the AFC South stabilizes with several fun, contending non-Super Bowl contenders. The Jaguars shed some talent while propping up a maddeningly inconsistent Trevor Lawrence. Jacksonville’s defense under DC Anthony Campanile should be stout once again while the offense gets its act together. Can the young head coach make another run at the division crown? He ranks third in the division due to his limited experience in the role, but the future looks bright as the AFC South stabilizes.
4. Tennessee Titans
Head Coach: Robert Saleh
Saleh is the rookie head coach in the division, as the AFC South stabilizes with a veteran coaching staff with years of experience leading teams. While the coaching staff assembled is full of experienced coaches, they have a distinct lack of success on their CVs. Saleh, in particular, did not have the best of times in Gotham, as many coaches before and after him had. He has the potential to rise up in the power rankings, given his credentials as a defensive savant and the team of former cadres he’s surrounded himself with. Having locked up the team’s best player to a long-term contract certainly helps the cause.
Coach Saleh shares a connection with the top coach in the AFC South, with both having experience leading the star-studded defenses in San Francisco. The Titans have had a sordid run of coaches and executives being fired after brief stints in charge, so it’s hoped that Saleh can help the cause as the AFC South stabilizes and becomes the best division in the conference. Can the veteran head coach vault himself to the top with a young rebuilding team in 2026?
