In recent years, NFL teams have been increasingly willing to hire younger head coaches. If teams find a talented up-and-coming coach with a promising future, they would rather hire them a year or two early than miss out on them by being a year or two late.
There were 15 head coaches aged 45 or younger at the start of the season. Let’s break down this season’s youngest NFL coaches, followed by a look at the youngest head coaches in league history. Also, check out our full list of NFL head coaches by age.
Who Are the Youngest Head Coaches in the NFL?
Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints | July 5, 1988 (37)
Fresh off helping the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl 59, former Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore became the New Orleans Saints’ head coach. This had been in the works for a while, but New Orleans had to wait until the Eagles’ season was over before finalizing the move.
Moore’s name has been on the head coaching radar for quite some time now, and the more the rules shift toward the offensive side of the ball, it’s no wonder he received plenty of buzz, as he led successful offenses in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia as a coordinator.
Philadelphia ranked seventh in red zone trips per game this season, thanks in large part to a suppressed turnover rate. Under Moore’s watch this season, the Eagles had the fourth-lowest giveaway rate, a large reason why this team was able to dominate the postseason, unlike a season ago (when they ranked 30th in turnover rate).
Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks | June 26, 1987 (38)
The Seattle Seahawks named Mike Macdonald the ninth head coach in franchise history on January 31, 2024.
Macdonald joined Seattle after spending nine of the last 10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, including the last two as their defensive coordinator. His 2023 Ravens defense made history by finishing first in the NFL in points allowed (16.5 points per game), points per drive (1.35), yards per play (4.6), sacks (60), takeaways (31), and DVOA (-23.3%) while also leading in point differential (+203) and turnover margin (+12).
In his first season with Seattle, he led the team to 10 wins, although they just missed the playoffs. Macdonald helped the Seahawks turn around their defense, going from the NFL’s 29th-ranked unit to the sixth-best defense, according to PFSN’s Defense+ metric. Seattle’s best trait last season was its ability to generate pressure, as the Seahawks generated pressure without blitzing at the third-highest rate of any defense (36.5%).
This unit improved more than anyone could have expected in Macdonald’s first season, and in his second season, they are a Super Bowl contender. According to PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric, Seattle has the third-best defense in the league, and Macdonald continues to prove that he has a bright future as a head coach.
Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears | May 11, 1986 (39)
On January 21, 2025, the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson as their head coach. Johnson was one of the most highly coveted candidates during the NFL’s current coaching cycle, drawing interest from numerous teams.
After turning down a head coaching opportunity last offseason to chase a title with the Detroit Lions, Johnson accepted the Bears’ job.
Johnson became a key figure in the Lions’ offense in 2019 and assumed full control as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2022. He helped Detroit average an NFL-best 33.1 points per game this season while also ranking No. 1 in PFSN’s Offense+ metric.
The unit’s stock soared this season, but the improvement was a steady progression. Now, he’ll try to help former No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams realize his full potential.
Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams | January 24, 1986 (39)
On January 12, 2017, Sean McVay was appointed the 23rd head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, making him the youngest head coach in the modern NFL at the age of 30. Across his first eight seasons, McVay guided the Rams to six playoff appearances and two trips to the Super Bowl, capturing a championship in Super Bowl LVI.
McVay has produced seven winning seasons in Los Angeles and reached his 100th career regular-season game in 2023, compiling an impressive 88-57 record along the way.
Under his leadership, the Rams have consistently fielded one of the league’s most effective offenses while maintaining a defense that regularly ranks among the NFL’s better units. Still among the youngest head coaches in the league, McVay continues to mold Los Angeles into a reliable and dangerous contender.
Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars | Nov. 8, 1985 (40)
How Liam Coen became the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars was one of the wildest coach-hiring sagas in NFL history. Coen initially withdrew his name from the Jaguars’ head-coaching search and verbally agreed to an extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, becoming one of the highest-paid offensive coordinators in the NFL.
However, the next day, Coen never showed up to sign his agreement, and the Bucs couldn’t reach him. When they finally got Coen on the phone, he lied about his whereabouts and met with the Jaguars behind Tampa Bay’s back, accepting an offer to become Jacksonville’s next head coach.
Coen is 40 years old and has just one season of NFL playcalling experience, but despite that he has been able to turn around the Jaguars franchise and has made the playoffs in his first season.
Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings | May 25, 1985 (40)
Kevin O’Connell was named the 10th head coach in Minnesota Vikings history on February 16, 2022, after previously serving as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams.
Across his first two seasons, O’Connell became the fastest coach in franchise history to reach 20 wins, accomplishing the feat in just 30 games.
Even after losing quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency, O’Connell led Minnesota to a 14-win season with Sam Darnold starting under center. The Vikings emerged as the surprise team of the 2024 NFL season, ranking third offensively and 13th defensively based on PFSN’s metrics.
O’Connell has since established himself as one of the league’s premier offensive minds and was recently rewarded with a multi-year contract extension to remain in Minnesota.
Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts | May 11, 1985 (40)
Shane Steichen was 17-17 through two seasons as the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach, including an 8-9 finish this year. Indianapolis fell short of preseason expectations, with growing concerns about poor culture and a lack of accountability under Steichen.
There were rumblings that the Colts might move on, but owner Jim Irsay confirmed that both Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard would return next season.
Turnovers have been a recurring issue throughout Steichen’s tenure, limiting his appeal. From 2022 to 2024, the Colts ranked 25th in turnover margin (85 turnovers, ahead of only the Browns), making it nearly impossible to sustain success. Over that stretch, the team managed more than two consecutive wins just once, an unsurprising outcome given this glaring flaw.
Like it or not, coaches and quarterbacks are tied together, and Anthony Richardson remains well behind expectations. Injuries have played a role, but the lack of visible growth falls at the feet of the head coach.
Pressure on Steichen eased somewhat due to the play of Daniel Jones before his injury, but Indianapolis still finds itself in a difficult position after missing the playoffs. With uncertainty surrounding who will open next season as the starting quarterback, the franchise faces major questions heading into the offseason.
Before joining Indianapolis, Steichen served as the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive coordinator, helping guide the team to Super Bowl LVII in 2022.
DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans | July 28, 1984 (41)
Before moving into coaching, DeMeco Ryans enjoyed an outstanding NFL career as a linebacker with the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles. Across his playing career, he amassed 971 tackles, 13.5 sacks, seven forced fumbles, 10 fumble recoveries, and seven interceptions. Ryans earned first-team All-Pro honors, was selected to two Pro Bowls, and led the league in tackles during the 2006 season.
Ryans transitioned into coaching in 2017, joining the San Francisco 49ers as a defensive quality control coach. He steadily climbed the staff, later serving as inside linebackers coach and defensive coordinator. His success in that role was evident, as he was named AP Assistant Coach of the Year in 2022 for his work as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator. His rapid ascent quickly made him a popular head-coaching candidate. On January 31, 2023, the Texans hired Ryans as their head coach, completing a full-circle return to the franchise that originally drafted him.
In his first season leading Houston, Ryans guided the Texans to a 10-7 record, a playoff berth, and the organization’s seventh AFC South title. The Texans made history by becoming the first NFL team to win a division with both a rookie quarterback, C.J. Stroud, and a first-year head coach.
Ryans and Stroud also became just the fourth rookie quarterback and head coach pairing to win a playoff game, dominating the Cleveland Browns 45-14 in the Wild Card round.
Under Ryans’ leadership, Stroud and Will Anderson Jr. captured the NFL’s Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year awards, completing a rare sweep of the league’s top rookie honors. Ryans was named PFWA Coach of the Year, while Houston finished inside the top 10 in both turnover margin and rushing defense. His leadership has sparked a turnaround in Houston, positioning the Texans as one of the NFL’s rising teams.
Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals | May 10, 1983 (42)
Zac Taylor was named the 10th head coach in Bengals history on February 4, 2019. Entering his sixth season in 2024, Taylor has a regular-season record of 46-52-1 and a postseason record of 5-2.
In 2024, he led the Bengals to their fourth consecutive winning season with a 9-8 record, but Cincinnati ultimately missed the playoffs.
In 2022, Taylor’s Bengals tied a team record with 12 regular-season wins and earned their second straight AFC North title. The team advanced to its second consecutive AFC Championship, with Taylor becoming the 13th head coach to win five of his first six postseason games.
In 2021, he led the Bengals to an AFC title and a Super Bowl appearance while overseeing the development of star players like Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase.
Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins | March 6, 1983 (42)
The Miami Dolphins hired Mike McDaniel as their head coach on February 7, 2022. McDaniel’s coaching career began with the Denver Broncos as an intern in 2005 at age 22.
His big break came with the San Francisco 49ers, where he was an assistant under Kyle Shanahan for five seasons from 2017-2021. After spending four of those seasons as the 49ers’ run game coordinator, he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2021 at age 38. The offense thrived, and McDaniel was able to run his own team.
In his first two seasons, McDaniel led the Dolphins to consecutive playoff appearances, becoming just the third coach in franchise history to do so in his first two years. In 2023, Miami achieved its first 11-win season in 15 years and led the NFL in total offense (401.3 yards per game) for the first time since 1994.
Unfortunately, the team took a step back in 2024 and missed the playoffs with an 8-9 record. Now, after a 0-2 start in 2025, McDaniel is on the hot seat.
Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals | January 4, 1983 (42)
Jonathan Gannon was named the head coach of the Arizona Cardinals on February 14, 2023, after serving as the defensive coordinator for the Eagles from 2021-2022. Gannon brings 16 years of NFL experience, having worked with teams like the Colts, Vikings, Titans, Rams, and Falcons before joining the Cardinals.
In his first season with Arizona, Gannon led the Cardinals to three wins over postseason-bound teams, including two impressive victories on the East Coast in December. The Cardinals also set a franchise record in 2023 by having eight games without a turnover.
In 2024, Arizona won eight games and missed the playoffs, but it’s worth noting that they played one of the NFL’s hardest schedules. Injuries to key players ruined the Cardinals’ season in 2025, and they once again missed the playoffs.
During his tenure with the Eagles, Gannon’s defense ranked in the top 10 both seasons, including a second-place finish in total defense in 2022. His 2022 Eagles defense led the NFL with a franchise-record 70 sacks and boasted four players with 10+ sacks, a first in NFL history.
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns | May 8, 1982 (43)
Kevin Stefanski was hired as the 18th head coach of the Cleveland Browns on January 13, 2020. Now in his sixth season in Cleveland, Stefanski owns a 44-56 record and has been honored as the AP NFL Coach of the Year two times during his tenure.
He guided Cleveland to two postseason appearances and two 11-win seasons in his first four seasons, becoming only the second coach in franchise history to achieve multiple 11-win seasons alongside Paul Brown.
It’s unclear how much blame Stefanski deserves for the Browns’ horrendous 2024 season. He did take a franchise that was dead and out and got them to two postseason appearances, and prior to 2024, his worst record was 7-10. Deshaun Watson has only played 19 games over three seasons, and when he has played, he has been dreadful, ranking dead last in PFSN’s QB Impact Metric last season.
It’s worth noting that Stefanski and Browns GM Andrew Berry signed extensions with the club in June. Despite that, the expectation around the league is that the Browns head coach will get fired after the season.
Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles | June 15, 1981 (44)
Nick Sirianni, the son of a longtime coach, grew up around the game as his father served as head coach at Southwestern Central High School in West Ellicott, New York.
A former collegiate wide receiver, Sirianni broke into the NFL coaching ranks in 2009 with the Kansas City Chiefs as an offensive quality control coach. He spent four seasons there, eventually earning promotions to assistant quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach.
In 2013, Sirianni joined the San Diego Chargers, where he spent five years in a variety of offensive roles, including quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach. His next step came in 2018, when the Indianapolis Colts hired him as offensive coordinator. In three seasons, he helped guide the Colts to two playoff appearances.
On January 24, 2021, the Philadelphia Eagles named Sirianni their head coach, replacing Doug Pederson. After an up-and-down start, he has since reached the pinnacle, leading the Eagles to victory in Super Bowl 59. Sirianni now holds a 48-20 regular-season record and a 6-3 mark in the postseason.
Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers | May 7, 1981 (44)
Dave Canales was hired as the head coach of the Carolina Panthers on January 25, 2024, becoming the seventh head coach in franchise history.
Before joining Carolina, Canales served as the offensive coordinator for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2023, leading the team to an NFC South title and a playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Under his guidance, quarterback Baker Mayfield had a career year with 4,044 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and a 64.3% completion rate. Running back Rachaad White also excelled, nearly reaching 1,000 rushing yards and ranking third among NFL running backs in receiving yards.
Prior to his time in Tampa Bay, Canales spent 13 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, contributing to a Super Bowl title and multiple playoff appearances. He played a key role in developing quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Geno Smith.
Canales brings a strong background in offense and player development to the Panthers, aiming to turn around the young, rebuilding squad.
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers | December 14, 1979 (46)
The San Francisco 49ers hired Shanahan as their head coach on Feb. 6, 2017, and he’s now in his eighth season with the club. He replaced Chip Kelly, who was fired after just one 2-14 season.
Shanahan has guided the Niners to four NFC Championship Game appearances and two Super Bowls. Every year that Shanahan has been to the playoffs with San Francisco, they have made the NFC Championship Game or the Super Bowl.
MORE: List of Current NFL Head Coaches
His sustained level of success shouldn’t be surprising, as his father, Mike Shanahan, was a legendary NFL head coach. Mike served as the Denver Broncos’ head coach from 1995 to 2008. He won two Super Bowls with the Broncos, defeating the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII and the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. Shanahan is Denver’s all-time leader in regular-season games coached, regular-season wins, and playoff wins, and he was inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame.
Shanahan is considered one of the best coaches and offensive minds in football. Many teams have attempted to replicate the “Shanahan scheme” to varying degrees of success. The annual dominance of Shanahan’s offense has led to many 49ers assistants leaving for better jobs, including head coaching gigs in recent years.
Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers | November 3, 1979 (46)
Matt LaFleur was hired as the 15th head coach of the Green Bay Packers on January 8, 2019. Through his first five seasons, LaFleur posted a 56-27 regular-season record, a .675 winning percentage that ranked best in the NFC and tied for third across the NFL during that stretch. His 56 victories are tied for the second-most by any head coach through five seasons, trailing only George Seifert.
LaFleur led Green Bay to four playoff appearances in those five years, highlighted by three consecutive 13-win seasons and two trips to the NFC Championship Game. In 2021, he finished as the runner-up for AP NFL Coach of the Year honors. During that same period, LaFleur also coached quarterback Aaron Rodgers to back-to-back MVP awards in 2020 and 2021.
Prior to taking over in Green Bay, LaFleur served as offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 and the Tennessee Titans in 2018. He also worked as quarterbacks coach for the Washington Redskins from 2010 to 2013 and the Atlanta Falcons from 2015 to 2016.
Who Are the Youngest Head Coaches in NFL History?
While Macdonald is currently the NFL’s youngest active head coach at 37 years old, how does that stack up against the youngest head coaches in league history?
Sean McVay holds the distinction of being the youngest head coach ever hired, as he was just 30 years and 11 months old when the Rams hired him in 2017. Here’s a look at the 10 youngest head coaches of all time.
- Sean McVay | 30 years, 11 months
Los Angeles Rams – 2017 - Lane Kiffin | 31 years, 8 months
Oakland Raiders – 2007 - Harland Svare | 31 years, 11 months
Los Angeles Rams – 1962 - John Michelosen | 32 years, 2 months
Pittsburgh Steelers – 1948 - Raheem Morris | 32 years, 4 months
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2009 - David Shula | 32 years, 7 months
Cincinnati Bengals – 1992 - Josh McDaniels | 32 years, 8 months
Denver Broncos – 2009 - John Madden | 32 years and 10 months
Oakland Raiders – 1969 - Don Shula | 33 years, 4 days
Baltimore Colts – 1963 - Al Davis | 33 years, 6 months
Oakland Raiders – 1963
