When it comes to the top offensive coordinators in the NFL today, some of the first names that come to mind include Detroit’s Ben Johnson and Washington’s Eric Bieniemy, among others. Both have been interviewed for NFL head coaching vacancies on several occasions, and Johnson is viewed as one of the best coaching candidates in this upcoming hiring cycle.
Yet, when the NFL Players Association asked each team to rate their offensive coordinator, oddly enough, those two well-known names didn’t appear at the top of the list.
So, who’s the top-ranked offensive coordinator in the NFL today?
According to the poll, where voting took place from Aug. 28 and Nov. 16, the top offensive coordinator is Frank Smith of the Miami Dolphins. Smith is in his second year coordinating Miami’s offense, but he doesn’t call plays. That honor goes to head coach Mike McDaniel.
Yet, Smith, a former Chargers offensive line coach and run game coordinator, is still held in high regard. For one, Miami is leading the highest-scoring offense in the NFL, and Smith surely plays a role.
Unlike other lists, like the NFL’s top 100, all players were allowed to cast a vote. Yet, Smith came in first place. The NFLPA also released the top five offensive coordinators. Here’s how the list stacks up.
- Frank Smith – Miami Dolphins
- Thomas Brown – Carolina Panthers
- Brian Schottenheimer – Dallas Cowboys
- Brian Callahan – Cincinnati Bengals
- Kellen Moore – Los Angeles Chargers
Smith, 42, could very well become a popular head coaching candidate in the future. Based on how players view him, it wouldn’t hurt to give the Dolphins coordinator an interview and see what he offers. Otherwise, it sounds like Miami is more than happy to employ him as long as possible.