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NFL Coach Power Rankings: Where Jay Gruden fits in among the 32 coaches

By Jacob Camenker

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/ Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 29: Head coach Jay Gruden of the Washington Redskins talks with quarterback Kirk Cousins #8 of the Washington Redskins in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 29, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Matt Hazlett/ Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 31: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers watches his team against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Ford Field on December 31, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – DECEMBER 31: Head coach Mike McCarthy of the Green Bay Packers watches his team against the Detroit Lions during the first quarter at Ford Field on December 31, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

player. 49. . Head Coach. Green Bay Packers. Mike McCarthy. 11

This may seem a bit low on the list for Mike McCarthy, but he has been overrated for the past couple of seasons. McCarthy’s Packers have achieved success in the regular season, and they have won a Super Bowl under his watch. But for the most part, the past couple of seasons have been disappointing.

Last year, the Packers missed the playoffs for the first time since 2008, which was the first year of the Aaron Rodgers era. Part of the problem was that Rodgers spent a good chunk of the season recovering from a collarbone injury. So, the Packers offense sputtered as a result.

That’s the one big knock on McCarthy. He hasn’t been able to at least get the offense to play at an average level when Rodgers is out. Granted, anytime a star quarterback can’t play a team will suffer. But, last season Brett Hundley went 3-6 in nine spot starts and couldn’t keep the Packers afloat. McCarthy didn’t do enough to help make his life easier on offense, so that’s a bit of a negative.

Also, McCarthy’s team has never really had a great defense. Save for a couple of top 10 units in 2009-2010, McCarthy’s team has largely been below average. Part of that falls on him, as he was too loyal to defensive coordinator Dom Capers, who worked with him from 2009-2017. He stuck with Capers a bit too long, and probably should have hired a guy a season or two earlier. That said, getting Mike Pettine to coach the defense was a great move by the Packers.

With those major negatives out of the way, it’s time to take a look at what makes McCarthy a borderline top 10 coach. For starters, he has posted a 121-70-1 since becoming the Packers head coach in 2006. He’s only had a total of two losing seasons, one of which came last year without Rodgers.

And most impressively, McCarthy has gotten the Packers to the playoffs nine times, including eight consecutive trips. The team’s 10-8 record is just above average, and the fact that they did beat the Steelers in the 2011 Super Bowl helped cement McCarthy’s status as a top coach.

With an improved defense this year, the Packers will have a chance to make a postseason run. McCarthy has to prove that he has what it takes to balance the offense a bit more and not rely on Rodgers so heavily. He’s great when organizing the pass game, and he has to improve the run offense. Had McCarthy made the playoffs with the Packers last year, he would have been a top 10 guy. For now, he has a bit of work to do to climb back up the coaching rankings.

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