Bill Belichick and the NFL's 5 Best Coaches

A National Football League head coach has the most critical and important coaching position in all of sports.

NFL coaches have to game plan, call plays, design and install playbooks, make executive decisions and do many more things.

Out of the NFL's 32 head coaches, here are the top five entering the 2011 season. 

NOTE: This article was first seen at PatriotsPlus.net.

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Most Overrated: Rex Ryan

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Head coach Rex Ryan of the New York Jets reacts during their 2011 AFC Championship game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

Like it or not, Rex Ryan is extremely overrated. He hasn't done squat. 

Ryan has put up the illusion that the New York Jets are an elite NFL team, and will always be a contender for the Super Bowl. He makes self-proclaimed Super Bowl predictions with the Jets winning every single season—in fact, he did it recently at the NFL combine in Indianapolis. 

Sure, Ryan has a great record in his first two seasons: 20-12. But, the Jets have fallen short in two straight seasons. New York has reached the AFC title game in the past two years, and lost both times. It's time to move over the hump, Rex. 

New York loves Ryan right now, but Sexy Rexy will get old. 

Fans will start to turn on Sexy Rexy this season or next season due to his arrogant antics and no rings to back him up. 

I'm sorry, but Rex Ryan is not a good NFL coach—he's a great coordinator. 

No. 5: Mike Smith

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 26: Head coach Mike Smith of the Atlanta Falcons throws out the red challenge flag during the game against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on September 26, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Falcons defeated the

When Mike Smith took the reins as the Atlanta Falcons head coach in 2008, he had a giant mess on his hands.

The team had no quarterback and no hope. Many fans expected Atlanta to be a league-worst team for years to come, thanks to quarterback Michael Vick and former head coach Bobby Petrino.

However, Smith turned that around, with a little help from quarterback Matt Ryan.

Smith currently has a 33-15 record with the Falcons, and has one Coach of the Year Award under his belt. 

Smith and Ryan have become the faces of Atlanta's franchise, and while they made the playoffs two out of the previous three seasons, you should expect much more from this pair. 

No. 4: Andy Reid

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 09: Head coach Andy Reid of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on against the Green Bay Packers during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris

No matter what the negative Nancy Philadelphia Eagles fans say, Andy Reid is one hell of a football coach.

Reid is known for his great offensive system, and it has worked to extreme success during his time in Philly. 

In 11 seasons with the Eagles, Reid has posted a 118-73-1 record, and has led the team to five NFC title game appearances and one Super Bowl appearance.

Have some faith Philly fans, Reid will get you a Super Bowl parade sooner or later. 

No. 3: John Harbaugh

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OAKLAND, CA - JANUARY 03: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on January 3, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Like Mike Smith, Harbaugh has had some help thanks to quarterback Joe Flacco. 

Harbaugh joined the Ravens in 2008, and has recorded an impressive 32-16 record.

Under Harbaugh, Baltimore has made three straight playoff appearances.

No. 2: Sean Payton

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MIAMI GARDENS, FL - FEBRUARY 07: Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints celebrates with the Vince Lombardi Trophy after his team defeated the Indianapolis Colts during Super Bowl XLIV on February 7, 2010 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fl

Sean Payton has been a savior in the city of New Orleans. 

After the natural disaster of Hurricane Katrina, the city of New Orleans could have lost its football team. Times were bad in New Orleans, and the Saints weren't very good. Then Sean Payton came along.

Payton took the head coaching job in 2006, and has turned the Saints franchise right around, recording a 49-31 coaching record.

While winning an AP Coach of the Year Award, Payton has led his Saints to two NFC title game appearances and one Super Bowl victory in 2009. 

No. 1: Bill Belichick

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 06: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots celebrates with the Lombardi trophy after defeating the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX at Alltel Stadium on February 6, 2005 in Jacksonville, Florida. Th

Three-time AP Coach of the Year Award winner Bill Belichick is the NFL's best coach and will go down as one of the league's greatest coaches of all time. 

Belichick took his New England Patriots somewhere no Patriots fan could have ever imagined, becoming an NFL dynasty in the early 2000's. 

From 2001-2004, Belichick coached New England to three Super Bowl victories—joining the elite category of a NFL dynasty.

Overall, Belichick has a career coaching record of 162-94 with the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots. 

In New England, Belichick has gone 126-50 in 11 regular seasons. When in the playoffs, Belichick has been near unstoppable, posting a 14-5 record, 3-1 in the Super Bowl. 

One of the most impressive facts about Belichick is that every time New England has faced the NFL's MVP in the postseason, New England won. 

Infamously, New England went 18-1 in the 2007 season, losing in the Super Bowl against the New York Giants. However, Belichick is the only head coach in NFL history to lead his team to a perfect 16-0 record in the regular season. 

While sitting at 58 years of age, Belichick does not have much time left on the clock, and will look towards much more success with quarterback Tom Brady in the years to come.