Most NFL teams like to have plenty of help around to coach up their players, especially the 90-plus players on rosters during the offseason. But the Patriots prefer a smaller operation.
While most NFL teams employ more than 20 coaches on their staff, Bill Belichick likes to keep things simple. The Patriots have the second-smallest staff in the NFL with just 17 coaches under Belichick, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com. The Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers share second with the Patriots, as they also have just 17 coaches on staff.
The smallest coaching staff in the NFL, though, belongs to Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers, as they have just 15 coaches on payroll.
It’s interesting to see how many coaches each team employs, especially considering the winning percentages of teams with more as opposed to less coaches. Seven teams with 20 coaches or fewer made the playoffs in 2012 — the 49ers (20), Colts (20), Texans (20), Bengals (18), Redskins (18), Falcons and Patriots. Meanwhile, just two teams with 22 or more coaches — the Seahawks (24) and Vikings (22) made the playoffs in 2012. The Broncos, Packers and Ravens are the three outliers with just 21 coaches on each of those staffs.
So, at least in a very small sample size, it seems that teams with smaller coaching staffs like the Patriots are more likely to have success than ones with more coaches. Maybe the more intimate setting allows for coaches to work more closely with players and, in turn, have a bigger impact. Then again, that trend could well change and so may the numbers with the new season.
Check out the full list of coaches on each of the 32 NFL teams below.
Eagles — 24
Seahawks — 24
Buccaneers — 23
Cardinals — 22
Chiefs — 22
Jaguars — 22
Rams — 22
Vikings — 22
Broncos — 21
Cowboys — 21
Dolphins — 21
Packers — 21
Raiders — 21
Ravens — 21
Saints — 21
49ers — 20
Bears — 20
Bills — 20
Browns — 20
Chargers — 20
Colts — 20
Giants — 20
Jets — 20
Texans — 20
Titans — 20
Lions — 19
Bengals — 18
Redskins — 18
Falcons — 17
Panthers — 17
Patriots — 17
Steelers — 15
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