Detroit Lions

Mike McCarthy highest-ranked coach in NFC North, John Fox cracks top 10

Published Jul. 9, 2015 10:03 a.m. ET

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Strong leadership is the key to success, and an NFL head coach often serves as an invaluable spearhead.

NFL Media analyst Elliot Harrison recently power ranked all 32 of the league's head coaches, and it was no surprise to see New England's Bill Belichick top the list after winning a fourth Super Bowl with the Patriots last February.

However, not far behind Belichick was Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy at No. 4. McCarthy was the highest-ranked coach from the NFC North, which is just since he is also the longest-tenured coach in the division. After nine seasons in command, his Packers have been one of the league's most dominant teams.

"You could certainly mount a case for McCarthy to make the top three. Green Bay has been in the hunt nearly every season since he took over in 2006, reaching the playoffs in seven of nine seasons under the expert play-caller's direction and winning it all in the 2010 season," Harrison wrote. "Last season looked to be another golden year for the cheeseheads—until it all went awry in Seattle. Predicting a different outcome this time around ..."

Harrison linked to the following Tweet, in which he predicted a second Super Bowl victory for McCarthy and the Packers.

Although John Fox lost his job with the Denver Broncos after last season and has since taken over as head coach of the Chicago Bears, he still cracked the top 10, coming in at No. 9 on Harrison's list. Fox has reached the Super Bowl twice (2003, 2013), but his teams have never claimed the elusive Lombardi Trophy.

"Like Andy Reid, Fox has been at this profession a long time. Perhaps I'm misreading the tea leaves, but does it seem like most fans either a) don't think much of Fox or b) don't think he will make much of a difference in Chicago this year? Fox won four straight AFC West titles with the Broncos, including one with Tim Tebow at quarterback. In Carolina, he rode an unknown in Jake Delhomme to Super Bowl XXXVIII. Wherever he's been, the defense has improved. Give the man his respect," Harrison wrote.

A pair of second-year coaches round out the rest of the NFC North coaches on the countdown. Harrison ranked Detroit Lions head coach Jim Caldwell No. 16; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer was ranked No. 24. Both Caldwell and Zimmer have the potential to climb this power ranking in the near future.

(h/t NFL.com)

Photo Credit: Derick E. Hingle/USA TODAY Sports