6 Greatest NFL Coaches of Any Era, with Super Bowl Playoff Scenarios

The NFL has had many great coaches who have coached the game of football in the National Football League, and some have won many games over consecutive years.

This list is composed of greatest NFL coaches who won games and Super Bowls from the ground up and could have competed in any era of the National Football League.

These coaches have built their teams by taking over losers and turning them into winners. They were great teachers of men who were able to get the best out of their players.

Included is a playoff scenario and eventual all-time Super Bowl Champion of any NFL time period.

Bill Parcells-New York Giants vs. Jimmy Johnson-Dallas Cowboys

Bill Parcells

Bill Parcells was one of the best NFL coaches ever. He was a motivator and a great leader of men.

Parcells was an excellent evaluator of talent and he knew how to motivate men and get the extra mile out of them through a method of frustration. The players would be pissed off, and they wanted to prove that Bill was wrong.

He led the New York Giants to two Super Bowls and appeared in a third with the New England Patriots. Players wanted to play for Parcells because they knew they were working for someone they could hate and also trust.

He believed in coaching from the heart and that meant cussing a player out on field. He’d do just that, and today there’s no coach that can duplicate what the "Big Tuna" accomplished.

Jimmy Johnson

Jimmy Johnson makes this list because he was a pure coaching genius who worked his players until there was nothing left in their bodies.

Johnson had never coached at the pro level but he won a national championship at the University of Miami. He believed in self-motivated players who believed in winning first, and there’s no greater second alternative.

Johnson took over the Dallas Cowboys with a 1-15 record and built the team back up to dominance in the National Football League. Johnson went on to win back-to-back Super Bowls and would have won more if he would have been allowed to do things his way, and his way was winning.

He took over for Tom Landry and realized the players weren’t very good. He was a master in the NFL draft because he selected playmakers and believed in team speed and quickness.

Results: Parcells' Giants defeat Johnson's Cowboys 17-10

The Cowboys' speed was a factor, but the Giants were just too physical.

Tom Landry-Dallas Cowboys vs. Bill Walsh-San Francisco

Tom Landry-Dallas Cowboys

Tom Landry was better known for his dress on game day by wearing a suit in every game he coach America’s team the Dallas Cowboys. He coached the team for 28 years and built in the new era of pro football.

The Cowboys lost championship games and a Super Bowl, but didn’t lose faith in Landry as he led them to their first Super Bowl in 1971.

Bill Walsh-San Francisco 49ers

Bill Walsh was the greatest NFL coach to ever coach the game, and he could have won games in any era of the NFL.

Walsh believed in getting the most out his players. He knew when it was time to move on and not fall in love with players who might have lost a step, but could have played three or four more years with the team.

Walsh believed in the replacement philosophy of drafting your replacement and forcing him into your position, and forcing you to go out and find another team to play for in the NFL. He had a boxer’s mentality and knew the weak points on opposing teams roster and prepared to attack those areas of weakness.

He was a true master of the NFL draft board and was able to hire coaches that were super intelligent. Many coaches that coached under him went on to win or play in Super Bowls.

He’s the original creator of the “West Coast Offense” and retired after just 10 years of head coaching and winning three Super Bowls. If Walsh would have continued coaching, he could have eventually won six to eight Super Bowls.

Results: Walsh 49ers beat Landry Cowboys 24-21

This game came down to the wire and match the masters of innovation; 49ers win on last-second drive.

Vince Lombardi-Green Bay Packers vs. Bill Parcells-New York Giants

Vince Lombardi-Green Bay Packers

Vince Lombardi was the greatest coach of his era and built the Green Bay Packers from the ground up. He started coaching with the Packers in 1959 after a season of winning only one game and eventually won five titles, including the first Super Bowl. Green Bay is called “Title Town” because of Lombardi

Lombardi was demanding and set the stage of winning the right way. His game was based on execution and preparation, and he knew how to develop better players.

His message was clear to the team: Run the football, and we will do it better than any one else in the National Football League.

Lombardi ran the same play again and again that coaches tried to stop, but the power sweep was too formidable.

Results: Packers beat Giants 17-3

Game weather conditions played a factor, but the Packers were just too good.

Chuck Noll-Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Bill Walsh San Francisco 49ers

Chuck Knoll-Pittsburgh Steelers

Chuck Knoll was hired on January 28, 1969 to coach the Steelers. He came in and took over a team that had a losing record and coached the game with honesty. He had pure guts as a 37-year-old head coach taking the job and building the Steelers into a dynasty.

Noll knew changes had to be made, and he never was friendly about doing it. He really didn’t believe in motivating players to play the game of football. He believed in no pregame speeches.

Noll picked winners and had the ability to draft Hall of Fame players who loved to play the game of football.

Noll was a solid as a rock as a coach and never changed in his entire coaching tenure.

Results: 49ers win 34-31

This was the greatest playoff game in the history of the NFL. The field was covered with Hall of Fame players and coaches.

Super Bowl Vince Lombardi-Green Bay Packers vs. Bill Walsh San Francisco 49ers

The all-time era Super Bowl featured the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, and it finally gave a chance to have the best coaches to ever coach the game finally meet on the 50-yard line.

The teams battled and the legendary coach Vince Lombardi had a chance to win his own trophy, but the 49ers' last-second field goal gave them the victory.

Results: 49ers 17, Packers 14