The day after the final Sunday of the NFL regular season is infamously known as Black Monday — doomsday for a host of NFL head coaches who underperformed and are likely to lose their jobs.
For unfortunate reasons, the coaches on the hot seat will be in spotlight. But as news circulates about those receiving pink slips and their possible replacements, what about the NFL head coaches who don’t have to face the same threat to their job security?
Coaching is a tough profession, where only one season can make a difference between buying a home in one city or looking for a one in another city. But following are the 10 safest NFL head coaches, listed in reverse order.
10. Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
Season in Miami: 2nd
Career coaching record: 20-14
McDaniel has done an exceptional job orchestrating the NFL’s No. 1 offense and getting the Dolphins to the playoffs in each of his two seasons.
Hired from the San Francisco 49ers, where he was the offensive coordinator under Kyle Shanahan, McDaniel has gotten the most out of the talent on his roster.
While we aren’t suggesting he’s the second coming of Don Shula among NFL head coaches, McDaniel has nothing to suggest he’s in danger of leaving Miami anytime in the near future.
9. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Season in Pittsburgh: 17th
Career coaching record: 173-100-2
Just a few weeks ago, there was speculation that Tomlin’s time might be done in Pittsburgh. The Steelers were reeling, looking doomed to miss the playoffs.
But Tomlin made the most important decision of the season only three weeks ago when he inserted third-stringer Mason Rudolph. Since then, the Steelers have caught fire with three straight wins to play their way into the playoffs.
It’s not like the Rudolph move saved his job because the Steelers haven’t fired a head coach in more than 80 years, and Tomlin is the Steelers’ third head coach since 1969. Still, the move did move up a few spots on this list among NFL head coaches.
Related: Travis Kelce calls Mike Tomlin “one of the best coaches the NFL has ever seen”
8. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Season in Cleveland: 4th
Career coaching record: 37-29
Coaching the Browns to two appearances in four seasons would buy anyone an ample amount of time, as it has done for Stefanski.
But even greater is the fact those are the Browns’ only two playoff appearances since 2002 and he’s done it with five starting quarterbacks, only the fifth team to play five starting QBs in NFL history and the first to win 10+ games with any more than four.
Stefanski has the NFL’s best defense, and QB No. 4, Joe Flacco, who has the offense clicking heading into the playoffs. You could say Stefanski is in Cleveland to stay.
7. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
Season in Green Bay: 5th
Career coaching record: 55-27
LaFleur has the Packers back in the playoffs, after they missed out last year in their final season with Aaron Rodgers.
LaFleur’s accomplishment looks even more amazing when you consider he has the NFL’s youngest roster, and his first-year starting quarterback, Jordan Love, is playing at a Rodgers-esque level, certainly one of the most dangerous QBs heading into next week’s wild-card round.
It’s all a credit to LaFleur, who excelled in his first three seasons with Rodgers, and now is faring just as well without him.
6. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Season in Denver: 1st
Career coaching record: 160-97
The Broncos paid a heavy price to land Payton, so there’s little possibility of him being relieved of his post anytime soon.
To acquire his contractual rights from New Orleans, Denver gave up a first-round pick last year and a second- and third-rounder in 2024. And then the Broncos signed Payton to a five-year contract worth $18 million per season, making him the NFL’s second highest-paid head coach.
Plus, the Broncos finished with an 8-9 record in his first season, a three-game improvement over the previous year.
5. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Season in Detroit: 3rd
Career coaching record: 28-33-1
Campbell has taken the Lions from the outhouse to close to the penthouse in his three seasons — from three wins to nine wins to 12 wins.
They won the NFC North, the franchise’s first division franchise since 1993, and the Lions have improved every season under Campbell. Who knows how far Campbell can take the Lions, but at his current rate, he could lead them to their first Super Bowl appearance. This year.
And the Lions remain the only NFC team to never make the Super Bowl. The Lions’ ownership are likely to keep Campbell around for a long time to see just how far he can take them.
4. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Season in San Francisco: 7th
Career coaching record: 64-50
Shanahan might seem a little low on this list, considering he’s led the 49ers to three NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance.
Among NFL head coaches, though, the only three who rank above him have won at least one Super Bowl. Shanahan has a great working relationship with GM John Lynch, and together they have built one of the NFL’s best rosters. Not only that, but Shanahan deserves credit for his development of Brock Purdy, transforming him from Mr. Irrelevant as the final pick in the 2022 draft to an NFL MVP candidate.
If Shanahan finally wins a Super Bowl next month, he could move up this list.
3. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Season in Los Angeles: 7th
Career coaching record: 69-45
There’s no denying McVay’s record with the Rams, leading them to two Super Bowl appearances with two different quarterbacks and a championship with one of them (Matthew Stafford).
But this year might be McVay’s finest. The Rams looked nothing like a playoff team when they started off 3-6. But McVay struck gold with running back Kyren Williams and record-setting rookie receiver Puka Nacua, and now the Rams are entering the NFC playoffs as the No. 6 seed.
On top of that, McVay is still the youngest among NFL head coaches, at 37. If McVay ever leaves the Rams, it will likely be of his own free will.
Related: NFL’s highest-paid coaches
2. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Seasons in Baltimore: 16th
Career coaching record: 160-99
Harbaugh has been a model of consistency during his time in Baltimore. He’s led the Ravens to 11 playoff appearances in 16 seasons, and now his team enters the NFL playoffs with the best record (14-3) and the No. 1 seed in the AFC.
He also has the NFL MVP favorite in quarterback Lamar Jackson, who’s already won it once before under Harbaugh in 2019. Harbaugh won a Super Bowl with Joe Flacco as his quarterback 11 years ago, and now the only left for him to do is win another one with Jackson.
His brother, Jim, is likely to return to the NFL next season, but he has a ways to go to match John’s NFL success.
1. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
Seasons in Kansas City: 11th
Career coaching record: 257-144-1
Reid stands alone on this list as the only two-time Super Bowl champion. Granted, Bill Belichick has won more championships in New England, but this list is about job security, and Belichick might have coached his final game with New England on Sunday.
Since coming from Philadelphia, Reid has enjoyed tremendous success in Kansas City with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback. And he’s likely to ride with Mahomes for as long as he can, hoping for the same success as Belichick had with Tom Brady with the Patriots.
When Reid’s time finally ends in Kansas City, it will likely be due to his retirement.