NFL Coaches: The 10 Most Entertaining Signal Callers of the Past Decade

There are few jobs more stressful or difficult than that of a NFL coach. A good coach must successfully manage the egos of primadonna athletes, produce results for impatient owners and deal with the media; all while maintaining some semblance of composure.  He must keep his head when all those around him are losing theirs.

This kind of intense stoicism is exemplified by the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick, who will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest coaches of all time.  While Belichick's football success is undeniable he probably wouldn't be high on the list of people you'd like to invite to dinner. 

The Sweatshirt is notorious for giving some of the most mundane, boring press conferences of any coach in the league, especially following a loss.  If asked "what was your offensive strategy out there today?" He would probably answer "to score." Luckily for the fans there are a gaggle of more human and more entertaining coaches out there to provide laughs for the media and fans and footage for beer commercials.  Here are the top ten. 

#10 Jimmy Johnson

Four words. "How bout them Cowboys"

Subsequent stints on Survivor and as the spokesman for ExtenZe add considerably to his Q rating.  The fact that he continues to rock a blowout-like hairstyle that would make any one of the cast of Jersey Shore jealous doesn't hurt either. 

#9 Jon Gruden

The affectionately nicknamed "Chucky" makes the list thanks to his palpable passion for the game and trademark sideline intensity. 

Gruden's larger than life personality has had a positive effect on his post-football career, helping him to land a Monday Night Football Analyst gig almost immediately after he was relieved of his responsibilities in Tampa Bay . 

#8 Jim Mora

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

02 Dec 2001 : Jim Mora, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at PSINet Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Colts 39-27. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger/Allsport

"PLAYOFFS??"

During his coaching career Jim Mora gained a reputation as a loose cannon for his aggressive post game interviews and tendency to blast his teams' on field performance.  He once famously told reporters that his New Orleans Saints "Sucked" and that his team couldn't do "Diddly poo" on offense. 

His pop-culture relevance and popularity has recently experienced a resurgence thanks to the folks in the Coors Light advertising department. 

On an unrelated note, it is a dream of mine to discuss the merits of practice and playoffs with Mora and Allen Iverson.

#7 Herm Edwards

Another member of the Coors Light coaching tree, Herm makes the list almost entirely thanks to his legendary press conference preformance on October 30, 2002. 

Following an Edwards led Jets loss to the Cleveland Browns Herm succintly explained to reporters the object of the game of football. 

#6 Mike Singletary

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATLANTA - OCTOBER 03: Head coach Mike Singletary of the San Francisco 49ers against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 3, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Samurai Mike did not enjoy nearly as much longevity or success as other coaches on this list.  Singletary  posted a career record of 18-22 in less than three years at the helm of the 49ers, but, his general badassness and no nonsense style made it impossible to leave him off. 

Singletary made a name for himself in the Bay Area during the 2009 off-season by erecting multiple "I Want Winners" billboards around San Francisco.  Unfortunately for Mike and 49ers, he had a difficult time identifying exactly who these "winners" would be as the Gold Rush Kids dropped their first five games and failed to make the playoffs for the eight consecutive season.

Singletary is also infamous for dropping his pants in front of his team during halftime of a October 2008 49ers vs. Seahawks game in order to emphasize the embarrassment of losing. 

#5 Mike Ditka

George Rose/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES - DECEMBER 27: Head coach Mike Ditka of the Chicago Bears walks on the field as the bears prepare to take on the Los Angeles Raiders at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 27, 1987 in Los Angeles, California. The Bears won 6-3. (

Football fans will remember the original Iron Mike as Da Coach of Da Bears and the mastermind behind the 1985 Monsters of Midway, arguably the most dominant team of the Super Bowl Era. 

The rest of America will remember Ditka as a pop culture icon, the blueprint for what a football coach should look like.  His tough and gruff personality has inspired countless parodies, most notably a certain Saturday Night Live skit.

#4 Bill Parcells

Al Bello/Getty Images

23 Jan 1997: New England Patriots head coach Bill Parcells talks at a press conference at the New Orleans Mariott Hotel before Super Bowl XXXI against the Green Bay Packers at the Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Packers won the game, 35-21. Man

The Big Tuna checks in at number four thanks to his icy and at times antagonistic relationship with the media. 

If The Tuna had his way football wouldn't even be on TV so he could completely avoid the press. 

#3 Rex Ryan

No NFL coach has rocked a wig as well as Ryan since Ditka donned dreads for Ricky Williams on draft day. 

Ryan's ranking might seem somewhat inflated considering he has only had two seasons to make his mark as a head coach, but the frequency with which he produces sound bytes and viral videos (see: My Wife's Feet) is too much to ignore.  Plus Rex gets points for being the only coach who actually tries to entertain at press conferences. 

#2 Steve Spurrier

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

ATHENS, GA - SEPTEMBER 12: Head coach Steve Spurrier of the South Carolina Gamecocks against the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 12, 2009 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

While the Head Ball Coach is best known for stalking the sidelines of the SEC, Spurrier qualifies for this list by virtue of his ill fated stint as head coach for Dan Synder's Washington Redskins. 

Not one for the sound byte, Spurrier's sideline demeanor is what sets him apart from the other names on this list.  After any given play Steve's expression ranges from perturbed to exasperated.  I can think of few things more stressful than playing quarterback for Spurrier. 

How many times do you think he has uttered the phrase "Danny Wuerffel could have made that throw."

The Head Ball Coach will probably never make it back to the NFL, but, if Visor Throwing ever makes it into the Olympics he will most definitely be the odds on favorite to bring home the gold.

#1 Peyton Manning

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS - JANUARY 02: Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts gives instructions to his team during NFL game against the Tennessee Titans at Lucas Oil Stadium on January 2, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Manning is perhaps the funniest athlete of all time.  He does not employ the attention starved "look at me" kind of humor that is typical of most athletes, rather Peyton is witty and understated.  He is also one of the only athletes who makes fun of his own unwavering dedication to, and borderline obsession with his sport.

You might say "Peyton is a quarterback not a coach." Fair point.  But, since Ron Jaworski and every other NFL announcer ever is going to continue to call Peyton a coach on the field he qualifies for this list. 

Peyton secured the number one spot thanks to his undeniable entertainment upside.  He can only get funnier in retirement when he will have more time to focus on his true calling, commercials.  Lets just hope Peyton knows when its time to get some bigger shirts.