They are the two hardest positions to fill for any NFL team: Head coach and quarterback. The best teams usually have a star at both spots. So how do all 32 teams’ coach-quarterback duos stack up heading into the 2016 season? We’ve ranked them all…

32. Rams: Jeff Fisher and Jared Goff

Goff is a complete unknown, and unfortunately for Rams fans, we know exactly who Fisher is: A coach who will grind out a 7-9 record no matter what kind of roster he has to work with.

31. Titans: Mike Mularkey and Marcus Mariota

It’s not you, Marcus. You exceeded all expectations during an impressive rookie campaign. But we’ve already ranked your coach last out of all 32, so you can thank him for this low ranking.

30. Browns: Hue Jackson and Robert Griffin III

Jackson turned Dalton into a legit MVP candidate in 2015. If anyone is capable of getting RGIII back to his 2012 form, it’s him.

29. Jets: Todd Bowles and Geno Smith

Just so you know, the Jets aren’t any higher on this list if Ryan Fitzpatrick is on the roster. New York needs to give Smith a shot with this loaded offense; Fitz has already proven he can’t get the team to the playoffs.

28. Jaguars: Gus Bradley and Blake Bortles

I’m not sold on either of these two. The defense has shown no progress during Bradley’s three seasons in charge — although it should be improved next season thanks to offseason additions — and Bortles’ 2015 season was eerily similar to Derek Anderson’s fluke Pro Bowl season in 2007.

27. Buccaneers: Dirk Koetter and Jameis Winston

These two impressed during their first season together. Let’s see if they keep it going now that Koetter has more responsibilities as a head man.

26. Eagles: Doug Pederson and Sam Bradford

Bradford showed signs of life down the stretch last season, but I’m not sure if Pederson is the man to finally unlock his potential. Will Bradford even get a chance in Philly?

25. Dolphins: Adam Gase and Ryan Tannehill

Gase was a star as an offensive coordinator, and Tannehill has been a popular breakout pick for three years running. These two could be much higher on this list by next year.

24. Broncos: Gary Kubiak and Mark Sanchez

Sanchez is one of the two or three worst quarterbacks on this list. Kubiak is an average coach who rode Wade Phillips’ defense to a Super Bowl ring. Let’s just move on before I drop these two a few spots.

23. Lions: Jim Caldwell and Matthew Stafford

Stafford quietly put together a fantastic season in 2015. Caldwell quietly stood there with a blank stare on his face the entire time.



22. Falcons: Dan Quinn and Matt Ryan

If Quinn goes for a touchdown on fourth down from the 1-yard-line late in that 49ers game, the Falcons are higher on this list. That’s the exact moment when Quinn’s honeymoon phase came to an abrupt end.

21. 49ers: Chip Kelly and Blaine Gabbert

It pains me to put San Francisco this low on the list because I think the 49ers offense — whether it’s Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick starting — will be a lot better than expected in 2016.

20. Raiders: Jack Del Rio and Derek Carr

I was all-in on the Derek Carr Experience early last year but he regressed over the last two months of the season when his blocking broke down, which is just a bit concerning. Also concerning? Del Rio’s time management gaffes, as well as other questionable game day decisions.

19. Giants: Ben McAdoo and Eli Manning

McAdoo is the highest-ranked rookie coach on the list thanks in large part to the success he and Manning have already enjoyed together.

18. Bills: Rex Ryan and Tyrod Taylor

Taylor is proof that you can get a good performance out of a below average quarterback so long as you build around his strengths. Credit Ryan for choosing the right offensive coach (Greg Roman) to build an offense suitable for Taylor.

17. Texans: Bill O’Brien and Brock Osweiler

I hated the Osweiler contract. Hated it. But it’s going to end up looking like a smart move because O’Brien is a quarterback guru and the Texans have built a solid cast around their new franchise passer.

16. Chargers: Mike McCoy and Philip Rivers

Can we get these two a healthy offensive line? The last time they had one, the Chargers won a playoff game. Having offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt back on the coaching staff will help both parties.

15. Redskins: Jay Gruden and Kirk Cousins

Based on his comments, Cousins knows how good he’s got it in Washington. Gruden is a smart play-caller and the Redskins are loaded at receiver. There’s no chance Cousins leaves after his contract is up.

14. Cowboys: Jason Garrett and Tony Romo

With all of the talent these two have had around them in Dallas, it’s crazy that the Cowboys have just one playoff win under Garrett. It’s hard to blame Romo for that lack of success; he’s been very good for the most part. Garrett … not so much.

13. Bears: John Fox and Jay Cutler

Cutler is coming of his most impressive season as a pro and he’s teamed up with a coach who just knows how to build a playoff team. Don’t be surprised if Chicago is still playing in January this season.

12. Vikings: Mike Zimmer and Teddy Bridgewater

There’s a very good chance these two outperform this ranking in 2016. Zimmer has been impressive during his first two seasons as a head coach, and Bridgewater was a lot better in 2015 than his volume stats suggest he was. The third-year pro has a much better offense around him heading into next season.

11. Bengals: Marvin Lewis and Andy Dalton

Sure, the two have yet to produce a playoff win but getting the Bengals to the postseason five seasons in a row is quite the achievement. It will be interesting to see how they do after suffering some key losses this offseason.

10. Chiefs: Andy Reid and Alex Smith

This pair will probably never get Kansas City to a Super Bowl but they’ve done some impressive work together, including three consecutive winning seasons and the franchise’s first playoff win in decades.

9. Ravens: John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco

This is the lowest-ranked pair with a Super Bowl trophy on their collective resume. Flacco, and the Ravens along with him, have been trending down since their triumph in New Orleans and the loss of leaders like Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Then again, the team was just a game away from the Super Bowl in 2014 and held two 14-point leads in that game. That’s enough to keep them in the top-10.

8. Colts: Chuck Pagano and Andrew Luck

The 2015 season was a disaster — especially so for Luck, whose season was cut short after a disappointing start. Pagano deserves some credit for keeping the team together and somehow getting eight wins out it. These two will be back in the playoffs in 2016.

7. Cardinals: Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer

Give Bruce Arians any quarterback and he’ll find himself high on this list. Palmer has his flaws as a passer — which were on full display during a brutal NFC title game performance — but he fits perfectly into Arians field-stretching passing scheme.

6. Panthers: Ron Rivera and Cam Newton

These two have been through some ups-and-downs during their time together in Carolina. Rivera has allowed Cam to be Cam and the team has flourished because of that trust. Both Newton and Rivera enjoyed the best season of their respective careers in 2015 and are only getting better at their jobs.

5. Steelers: Mike Tomlin and Ben Roethlisberger

Tomlin and Roethlisberger form one of five Super Bowl-winning tandems on this list. With Tomlin being a defensive coach, there may not be a lot of collaboration between these two but they make a perfect pair. Neither one is afraid to take a chance at anytime.

4. Seahawks: Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson

Carroll deserves a lot of credit for realizing what he had in Wilson. Instead of trying to change Wilson, Carroll built the offensive identity around a scrambling quarterback and let his young quarterback naturally develop into more of a pocket passer.

3. Saints: Sean Payton and Drew Brees

2. Packers: Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers

Like every great coach and quarterback combo in history, Payton and Brees have become synonymous with one another. This is a truly symbiotic relationship: I’m not so sure Payton is as successful as he’s been without Brees, and I’m not sure if Brees is the hall-of-famer he’s become without Payton.

Rodgers is the smoothest passer in the game, but he didn’t always play with that fluidity. Look back at some of his college highlights and you won’t recognize him. Because Rodgers spent his first few years on the bench, we didn’t see that evolution and McCarthy does not get nearly enough credit for grooming the league’s most talented quarterback.

1. Patriots: Bill Belichick and Tom Brady

Any objections here? Arguably the greatest coach of all-time paired up with arguably the greatest quarterback of all-time. Neither would be as decorated without the other but the same could be said for any of the greatest coach-QB relationships throughout NFL history.