Winningest Active NFL Coaches

The NFL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kind of business: You’re golden one minute, gone the next, as owners with itchy trigger fingers  obsess over one prize: That elusive Super Bowl ring.

Jimmy Johnson won two of those in Dallas, but his coaching career ended unceremoniously after a falling out with owner Jerry Jones and a failed stop in Miami. Bill Parcells’ “legendary” status took a hit when he couldn’t get the Cowboys deep into the playoffs, and hardly any tears were shed in Texas when the Tuna moved along.

Even Don Shula, the winningest coach of all time (347-173-6, including playoffs), was ushered out the door by the Dolphins — to make room for Johnson, ironically enough.

In the NFL, success and survival are two sides of the same coin, making it more difficult than ever for the current crop of coaches to achieve the kind of tenure and success enjoyed by the Shulas, Lombardis, Landrys and Nolls.

So, who are the current winningest active coaches? Heading into the 2008 season, these are the leaders of the pack:

– Mike Holmgren, Green Bay/Seattle, 16 seasons, 158-100.

– Mike Shanahan, Oakland/Denver, 15 seasons, 138-89.

– Bill Belichick, Cleveland/New England, 13 seasons, 129-82.

– Tony Dungy, Tampa Bay/Indianapolis, 12 seasons, 127-66.

– Jeff Fisher, Houston/Tennessee, 14 seasons, 115-100.

 Source: coacheshotseat.com