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Top 10 College Football Coaches Who Could Succeed in the NFL

Caleb Calhoun
Caleb Calhoun

Saturday Blitz

Dec 30, 2014; Nashville, TN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly prior to the game against the LSU Tigers in the Music City Bowl at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Coaches going from college to the NFL rarely have success, but some do make it. Here are the Top 10 college football coaches who would succeed in the NFL.

You have probably heard the perception 1,000 times by now. College football coaches rarely make it as NFL head coaches.

But here’s the part they don’t tell you: coaches in general rarely make it as NFL head coaches. It is not like college coaches are fired more often than other coaches. It is rare for coaches not to be fired in the NFL.

There are certain coaches from college, though, who would be much more likely to succeed at the NFL level. Who are they?

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The overwhelming factor in NFL success is the type of talent you have around you. It’s a players’ game much more than the college game. But being an X’s and O’s guru is also important.

The type of system you run is important as well. Obviously, more pro-style focused coaches are more likely to succeed at the next level. Paul Johnson clearly will not make it running the triple-option.

As we bring you the list of coaches most likely to succeed in the NFL, we are factoring in coaches who coached last year. That obviously eliminates Jim Harbaugh, who would clearly be the most likely to succeed at the NFL level given that he has proven it.

But we are not eliminating coaches who might have failed at the NFL level before. Perhaps they were in the wrong situation and have since thrived in college.

So knowing that so many exterior factors are in play, here are the Top 10 college football coaches ranked based on how they would succeed at the NFL level.

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Mar 3, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Steve Sarkisian at spring practice at Cromwell Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Next: #9: Mark Dantonio

Nov 22, 2014; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans head coach Mark Dantonio stands on the sidelines during the 2nd half of a game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports

Next: #8: Nick Saban

Jan 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban against the Ohio State Buckeyes during the second quarter in the 2015 Sugar Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Next: #7: Charlie Strong

Sep 6, 2014; Austin, TX, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Charlie Strong prior to kick off against the Brigham Young Cougars at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brendan Maloney-USA TODAY Sports

His abilities on that end alone would have half an NFL team completely covered if he has the right personnel. And Strong also showed at Louisville that he can get the right offensive minds in there to turn out great offenses and great quarterbacks like Teddy Bridgewater.

If Strong could give up his tendency to be a strict disciplinarian, which is a great quality in a college coach, he would thrive at the NFL level. The guy is known for being intense, tough, and brilliant as well as commanding the respect of his players. The only question would be whether or not he joins the right NFL team.

But Strong proved to be savvy as a college coach, not leaving Louisville until the absolute best opportunity in the world opened up at Texas. That business savviness would be a perfect fit for a cut-throat place like the NFL.

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Charlie Strong

43-23, Texas Longhorns (6-7)

We understand that Charlie Strong is still trying to prove that he is the right fit for the Texas Longhorns. He’ll get there soon.

The guy might even be a better fit, however, for the NFL. Strong is a man of few words, which works out better in the NFL environment anyway. He also is a brilliant defensive mind, probably the absolute best in all of college football, and has turned out numerous defensive superstars.

His abilities on that end alone would have half an NFL team completely covered if he has the right personnel. And Strong also showed at Louisville that he can get the right offensive minds in there to turn out great offenses and great quarterbacks like Teddy Bridgewater.

If Strong could give up his tendency to be a strict disciplinarian, which is a great quality in a college coach, he would thrive at the NFL level. The guy is known for being intense, tough, and brilliant as well as commanding the respect of his players. The only question would be whether or not he joins the right NFL team.

But Strong proved to be savvy as a college coach, not leaving Louisville until the absolute best opportunity in the world opened up at Texas. That business savviness would be a perfect fit for a cut-throat place like the NFL.

Next: #6: David Shaw

Aug 30, 2014; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal head coach David Shaw watches the game from the sidelines during the fourth quarter against the UC Davis Aggies at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports

Next: #5: Todd Graham

Nov 28, 2014; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Todd Graham against the Arizona Wildcats during the 88th annual territorial cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Next: #4: Brian Kelly

Nov 29, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly walks onto the field for warmups before the game against the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Next: #3: Jim Mora

Nov 8, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Jim Mora looks to the scoreboard during the fourth quarter against the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Next: #2: Bobby Petrino

Sep 20, 2014; Miami, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals head coach Bobby Petrino in the first quarter of a game against the FIU Golden Panthers at FIU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Mayer-USA TODAY Sports

Anyway, Petrino’s lack of loyalty is similar to Graham’s which is another reason he could be a perfect fit for the NFL. But the main reason is he is the biggest guru in college football right now.

Petrino may not be as great at running a program, but all of his teams win because he is so brilliant with X’s and O’s, and he does it running a pro-style offense. As a result, in the right situation, Petrino would be a superstar head coach in the NFL.

Give him a team with a quarterback that has lots of physical tools but has not been able to develop them, and he would work wonders. In a year that team would have the best offense in the NFL.

So yes, for all his faults, Petrino’s style would thrive at the next level, and he should take another shot at it if he can.

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Bobby Petrino

92-34, Louisville Cardinals (50-13)

Yes, Bobby Petrino had a chance at the NFL too, ironically with the Atlanta Falcons, just like Jim Mora. But unlike Jim Mora, he did not even have a chance to work with Michael Vick the way he was hired to because Vick got caught with the dogfighting scandal.

Then Petrino bolted back for college before the season was even over.

Anyway, Petrino’s lack of loyalty is similar to Graham’s which is another reason he could be a perfect fit for the NFL. But the main reason is he is the biggest guru in college football right now.

Petrino may not be as great at running a program, but all of his teams win because he is so brilliant with X’s and O’s, and he does it running a pro-style offense. As a result, in the right situation, Petrino would be a superstar head coach in the NFL.

Give him a team with a quarterback that has lots of physical tools but has not been able to develop them, and he would work wonders. In a year that team would have the best offense in the NFL.

So yes, for all his faults, Petrino’s style would thrive at the next level, and he should take another shot at it if he can.

Next: #1: Jimbo Fisher

Jan 1, 2015; Pasadena, CA, USA; Florida State Seminoles head coach Jimbo Fisher looks on before the 2015 Rose Bowl college football game against the Oregon Ducks at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Next: Top 15 Transfers Who Will Dominate College Football in 2015

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Caleb Calhoun

Caleb Calhoun

As a Maryland graduate who was born and raised in Memphis, Tenn., I have been following college football since Peyton Manning played at the University of Tennessee. I went to school for journalism because of the fact that I wanted to write about sports, and despite growing up a Volunteer fan and an SEC fan, moving to the East Coast has allowed me to embrace college football from a more national perspective. As of right now I still live in Maryland and consider the DMV home, but I never have forgotten my Memphis roots, which I consider home as well.