Green Bay Packers: 5 Assistants Who Became Top NFL Head Coaches

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With the recent flight of offensive coordinator Joe Philbin to become the head coach of the Miami Dolphins and the serious head coach consideration by the Oakland Raiders of assistant head coach Winston Moss, the Packers organization has turned out assistant coaches who have gone on to become top NFL head coaches.

In fact, you'll see how the Packers past coaching staff is connected to this year's Super Bowl. Former Packers assistants have covered the gamut from being the youngest and the oldest coach to win a Super Bowl at the time of their victory.

Here are the top 5 Packers assistants who became head coaches.

#5 Steve Mariucci

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Steve Mariucci, a lifelong Packers fan who grew up nearby in Michigan's upper peninsula, spent four seasons as an assistant coach from 1992-1995.

He was an NFL head coach for nine seasons, six with the San Francisco 49ers and three with the Detroit Lions.

Mariucci's best season was in 1997 when the 49ers went 13–3 in the regular season and got home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. However, San Francisco lost to the Packers in the NFC Championship at home. 

Mariucci is now a featured analyst for the NFL Network.

#4 Dick Jauron

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Dick Jauron was a defensive backs coach for the Packers for nine seasons before becoming a head coach for five seasons with the Chicago Bears, one-half with the Detroit Lions (interim) and four with the Buffalo Bills.

Jauron's best season was with the Bears, where he was named 2001 AP Coach of the Year during Chicago's 13-3 season. Unfortunately, they lost in the Divisional Playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Jauron is now the defensive coordinator for the Cleveland Browns.

#3 Jon Gruden

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Jon Gruden spent three seasons as an offensive assistant for the Packers under head coach Mike Holmgren. He became the head coach of the Oakland Raiders in 1998 where he coached for four seasons.

In 2002, he was named the head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he won a Super Bowl in his first season against his former employer. At 39 years of age, he was the youngest coach to win a Super Bowl. He went on to coach the Bucs for six more seasons.

Gruden is now a color commentator for ESPN's Monday Night Football.

#2 Andy Reid

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Andy Reid spent seven seasons as a Packers offensive assistant under Mike Holmgren. Reid just completed his 13th season as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Reid is one of the most accomplished coaches to not receive a Super Bowl ring. His Eagles have made five NFC Championships and one Super Bowl in 2004, which they lost 24-21 to the New England Patriots.

Reid is considered one of the top coaches in the NFL, where he is currently the longest-tenured head coach.

#1 Tom Coughlin

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Tom Coughlin was the Packers receivers/passing game coach for two seasons under head coach Forrest Gregg.

Coughlin went on to become the head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars for eight seasons and just completed his eight season as the head coach of the New York Giants.

Coughlin is fresh off his second Super Bowl win with the Giants and is almost assured a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

At age 65, he is the oldest coach to win a Super Bowl.

With two Super Bowl rings as a head coach, Tom Coughlin has to be the top Packers assistant to become an NFL head coach.