INDIANAPOLIS — While NFL Draft selections do not choose where or for whom they will begin their professional careers, recent combine attendees were asked which NFL coach they would prefer to play under if given the choice. This question was posed to 42 players participating in this year’s NFL Combine Survey, aiming to uncover which coaches are most admired by incoming talent.
Some prospects approached this question cautiously, emphasizing gratitude for any opportunity rather than favoring specific coaches. One player admitted,
“I don’t really know the names of the head coaches,”
illustrating the challenge some face in making a definitive choice.
Top Coaches Named by Prospects Reflect Recent Success and Emerging Leaders
Out of the respondents, 10 chose not to answer. Several notable coaches who recently departed their positions were unavailable as options, contributing to changes from previous years. A year ago, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin topped similar polls, but this year the current favorites shift towards coaches fresh from the latest Super Bowl season.
The coach receiving the most votes was Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots, recognized not only for his team’s performance but also for earning Coach of the Year honors for a second time in 2025. Eight prospects indicated they would prefer to play for Vrabel, marking him as the leading coach in the survey.
Following Vrabel, Seattle Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald secured the second-highest number of votes with five. Some players referenced him as
“the young head coach of the Seahawks,”
while one mistakenly named Seattle’s Mike McDaniel, who is the former Miami Dolphins head coach.
One prospect stated,
“It’s hard not to say the Seahawks,”
continuing that Macdonald
“led them to the Super Bowl,”
underscoring respect for his recent accomplishments.
Emerging Coaches and Traditional Leaders Also Garner Favor
The survey also highlighted interest in some of the NFL’s newer head coaches. Baltimore’s Jesse Minter and Miami’s Jeff Hafley were noted, partly due to their recent roles in collegiate coaching, which likely helped build relations with current prospects. Minter served as Michigan’s defensive coordinator up until 2023, while Hafley transitioned from Boston College head coach to Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator in 2024.
Andy Reid, head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs with a record three Super Bowl victories among active coaches, received three votes. Additionally, John Harbaugh, recently hired by the New York Giants after departing Baltimore, attracted two votes, reflecting ongoing respect despite his coaching changes.
Other coaches with multiple mentions were Detroit Lions’ Dan Campbell, Miami’s Jeff Hafley, and Houston Texans’ DeMeco Ryans, each with two endorsements.
Complete List of Favorite Coaches According to Prospects
Below are the full results from the NFL Combine Survey question regarding prospects’ preferred coaches:
1. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots: 8 votes
2. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks: 5 votes
3. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs: 3 votes
4. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions: 2 votes
5. Jeff Hafley, Miami Dolphins: 2 votes
6. John Harbaugh, New York Giants: 2 votes
7. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans: 2 votes
Coaches with one vote each include Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears), Jesse Minter (Baltimore Ravens), Sean Payton (Denver Broncos), Brian Schottenheimer (Dallas Cowboys), Kevin Stefanski (Atlanta Falcons), and Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers).
Significance of Prospects’ Coach Preferences
The preferences expressed by these NFL prospects reveal the influence of recent success and emerging coaching talent on young players’ decisions. Coaches like Mike Vrabel and Mike Macdonald have quickly earned reputations that resonate with incoming players, while veterans such as Andy Reid maintain their status based on long-standing achievements.
As draft day approaches, these insights into coaching popularity provide a glimpse into which leadership styles and programs might be attractive to future NFL players. The recruitment and retention of top coaching talent will continue to play a crucial role in shaping team performance and player development in upcoming seasons.
