2021 NFL head coach rankings: Andy Reid edges Bill Belichick as No. 1, Bruce Arians, Matt LaFleur crack top 10

Ranking all 32 head coaches going into the new year

Winning NFL games goes way beyond good coaching. Take the 49ers, for example, who've gone from last-place finishers to Super Bowl contenders back to last-place finishers over the last three years. They've had Kyle Shanahan, the same well-regarded head coach, atop their staff the whole time, but other circumstances -- quarterback play, big-name injuries -- weighed in heavily. Still, one of the best tickets to consistent success is having a smart mind manning the headset on the sidelines. The 49ers are expected to rebound in a big way in 2021, partly because they'll be healthier and improved at certain spots, but also because of the man in charge. As we approach the new season, which teams are best suited at head coach? We're glad you asked. We decided to rank all 32, from worst to first. This involved quite a bit of projection in some areas, considering nearly a quarter of the NFL will trot out a new head coach this fall. But some of the elite candidates were obvious. A couple of notes and noteworthy figures before we get into the full rundown: