NFC North — Winning games doesn’t mean everything is working. Just ask the four head coaches in the NFC North. Campbell has pulled Detroit’s defense out of trouble, only to watch his offense cool down. Johnson has Chicago in first place but still hasn’t beaten a division rival. O’Connell has the NFL’s best scoring defense and an offense that keeps asking it to do all the heavy lifting. LaFleur has Jordan Love putting up big passing numbers while Green Bay struggles to run the football and finish drives.
So who’s actually doing the best coaching in the North? That’s what our NFC North Coaching Temperature Check is designed to answer. We’re ranking all four head coaches on a 100-point scale, evaluating their leadership, game management, adjustments, player development and ability to overcome adversity. This isn’t about who’s getting fired. It’s about who’s getting the most out of his team, who’s solving problems and who’s still searching for answers as the division race heats up.
THE TEMPERATURE OF LEADERSHIP
The scores are editorial assessments out of 100, not job-security ratings or a mathematical model. They weigh results, preparation, adjustments, player development, and the ability to keep a team functioning when injuries or mistakes wreck the original plan.
Together, these teams are 25–9. Chicago is 7–2, Detroit and Minnesota are 6–2, and Green Bay is 6–3. That’s an extraordinary division race, but the standings alone won’t explain who’s coaching best. Detroit is 2–0 against the North; Chicago is 0–2. Minnesota’s defense is outstanding, yet its offense has barely joined the conversation. Green Bay is in last place with a quarterback playing some of the best football in the league. Welcome to a division where even six wins can feel uncomfortable.
