We have four more men to put in order after having spent the last month ranking all the position groups in the NFC North division. More specifically, it’s the men in charge: the NFC North head coaches.

NFC North Head Coach Rankings for 2026

— Check back on the position rankings through the following links QB, RB, WR, TE, OL, iDL, EDGE, LB, CB, S —

In keeping with everything else in the division there is very little to choose between the four head coaches. All four have an NFC North division title to their name, and all four will be hungry for more post-season success, which is what will eventually separate these coaches.

1. Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears)

It might be early to make this claim but any doubts that he could take his success from offensive coordinator to the head coach role were quickly put to bed. Ben Johnson led the Bears to an 11-win season that secured the division title (first since 2018) and then a playoff win (first since 2010) over the Packers. Chicago would eventually fall in the divisional round to a narrow 20-17 loss to the LA Rams in overtime.

Following up a great first season could be an issue especially with the Bears having a very tough schedule on paper, but Johnson has proven he can adapt his offense in the past. If Johnson can keep the good times rolling in Chicago in his second year, he will quickly thrust his name into the conversation about the best coaches in the league.

2. Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings)

He has his flaws but dragging his team to nine wins last season should be seen as impressive as the 13 and 14-win seasons of 2022 and 2024.

Kevin O’Connell has a new QB to work with in 2026 in Kyler Murray. O’Connell has had lots of success with many different QBs but the fact that there have been so many is also the problem. The Vikings are in desperate need of stability at the QB position to allow the 2024 Coach of the Year to get the best out of his offense.

The biggest question mark hanging over the Vikings’ head coach is his poor playoff record. Two visits to the playoffs following dominant regular seasons have yielded zero playoff wins. That needs to change.

3. Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers)

Matt LaFleur had a great start to life as Green Bay’s head coach, winning the division three times and making the NFC Championship Game twice.

Since then, with the departure of future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers – who had back-to-back MVP seasons in that run – LaFleur has kept the Packers competitive only missing out on the playoffs once in the last four seasons, but also only winning one playoff game. The Packers have been set up to win it throughout LaFleur’s tenure and if anything they’ve been getting further away.

This feels like a pivotal season for his future with the Packers and how he is viewed as a head coach.

4. Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions)

Some people might have him at the top of this list but I’m not a huge Dan Campbell fan.

Don’t get me wrong; his “us against the world” shtick that took a Lions franchise that had been suffering for decades to back-to-back division titles was impressive. I always had questions over what would happen after the success when you can’t rely on the poor downtrodden Lions’ motivation anymore and what would happen when he lost his coordinators – with both Johnson and Aaron Glenn both leaving last season.

What happened is Campbell took one of the most talented rosters in the NFL from first to worst and finished bottom of the division. The Lions did manage a winning season but 2026 is a big test of Campbell’s credentials. A return to the playoffs and we can put last year down to a hiccup, another disappointing season and it will look even more like Johnson was the brains behind Detroit’s success all along.

Proud UK Viking. Family Man. Enjoy writing about my team. Away from football an advocate for autism acceptance.

Kawhi Leonard‘s trade hasn’t been finalized as the NBA‘s investigation of the LA Clippers hasn’t concluded yet. This summer, Leonard was traded to the Toronto Raptors for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, unprotected first-round picks in 2031 and 2033, a 2027 first-round pick swap, and two future second-round selections.

Leonard and the Clippers are being investigated for allegedly improperly using an additional $28 million in off-the-books endorsement money to get around the salary cap. This has put the NBA star’s future with the Raptors at risk.

ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported on Thursday that Toronto is being given a choice regarding the risk of what the NBA’s conclusion of the investigation.

“This was the Toronto Raptors being given a choice of are you willing to assume the risks of something happening with Kawhi Leonard after the investigation is completed? And they are not willing to assume those risks,” Shelburne said. “If they’re not, and we get to the end of the summer and there’s not a resolution here and there’s nobody from the NBA who can say with 100% certainty that there won’t be any fallout for Leonard, specifically. Then, it’s up to the Raptors.

Shelburne said that there is a chance that Kawhi Leonard could start the 2026-27 NBA season with the Clippers.

“I can see a world in which Kawhi Leonard is back on the Clippers if this trade doesn’t go through. And the Clippers, quite frankly, are fine with that.”

Shelburne added that the Raptors and Clippers are fine with the trade not falling through. LA is willing to accept Leonard back since the issue between them is the contract extension negotiations.

The Raptors Had an Opposite Stance on the Kawhi Leonard Trade

The Raptors addressed their current situation with the Leonard trade on Thursday. According to the statement, the team is willing to assume the risk once the NBA’s investigation ends.

“Regarding our planned trade with the L.A. Clippers for Kawhi Leonard, the NBA league office informed us that as a result of the ongoing investigation involving the Clippers, we would assume the risk of any potential outcome of the investigation impacting Kawhi,” the team stated.

They added that the franchise is “eager” to bring Leonard back to the team. They consider him a major part of their future as they try to contend for the championship.

If he gets traded, it will be Leonard’s second stint with the Raptors. Back in the 2018-19 season, he was traded to the franchise by the San Antonio Spurs. Although he only played one season, it was productive, and he led the team to its first championship. After that, the NBA star joined the Clippers.