Three weeks into the 2026 NFL season, several head coaches have already seen their teams take very different paths. Some have their teams sitting at 3-0, while others are trying to steady things after a difficult Week 3.

With five teams still unbeaten and plenty of close games across the league, the latest results have also started to shape the conversation around the coaches leading them. As Week 4 approaches, here is a look at the top 15 NFL head coaches and where they stand after the opening three weeks of the season.

1. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are sitting at the top of the rankings after opening the season 3-0. Their offense has been moving the ball well through the first three weeks, with Brock Purdy also starting to get some MVP talk.

“As of now, though, San Francisco boasts an offense that has cruise control set five miles per hour over the speed limit and is rolling along down the fast lane,” analyst Nick Shook wrote on NFL.com.

The 49ers moved up six spots from their previous ranking. There are still questions around their schedule and injuries, but San Francisco has taken care of business in each of its first three games.

2. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

The Kansas City Chiefs moved up to No. 2 after reaching 3-0. They took care of the Miami Dolphins on Sunday without having to push every player to the limit, giving them another win while keeping an eye on the long season ahead.

“The Chiefs are very aware of who they are just three weeks into the season,” Shook wrote on NFL.com.

Kansas City moved up two spots. The Chiefs also cut down Kenneth Walker III’s workload against Miami, which gave him a lighter day with plenty of football still left to play this season.

3. Joe Brady, Buffalo Bills

The Buffalo Bills remain unbeaten at 3-0, although their latest win was a much tougher one than their first two. The Los Angeles Chargers had several chances to make things interesting, but Buffalo found a way to close out the game.

“Buffalo has plenty to clean up and can’t afford such a showing against the league’s best, but it’s telling when a team can look like a complete mess and still figure it out in time to prevail,” Shook added.

The Bills dropped one spot despite staying undefeated. Josh Allen and the offense did enough to get the win, even as Buffalo left plenty to clean up before Week 4.

4. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks dropped three spots after their loss to Washington. Sam Darnold returned to the lineup, but two interceptions, including a fourth-quarter pick-six, gave the Commanders some big opportunities.

“Two Darnold interceptions -- including a fourth-quarter pick-six -- doomed the Seahawks, who gave the Commanders a collection of extra chances and paid the price,” Shook wrote.

Seattle is now 2-1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba got the team off to a good start with a touchdown, but rookie running back Jadarian Price also lost a fumble and was briefly taken out of the game.

5. Jesse Minter, Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens stayed at No. 5 after their thrilling win in Rio. The offense looked closer to the group that opened the season in Week 1, with Zay Flowers back and giving the passing game another option.

“The Ravens returned closer to their explosive Week 1 form on Sunday, pulling off a thrilling win in Rio by executing slightly better than their opponent,” Shook wrote.

Baltimore is now 2-1. The red-zone offense still has work to do, but Flowers’ return helped open things up through the air during the win.

6. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

The Denver Broncos remain at No. 6 after moving to 2-1. They have yet to put together a full game from start to finish, but the defense has continued to keep them in position while the offense gets going.

“Eventually, the Broncos will play a complete game,” Shook wrote.

Denver's defense has come up with key plays, while the team's offensive playmakers have given the Broncos another level compared with last season.

7. Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars moved up two spots after taking care of the New England Patriots. It was a comfortable win for Jacksonville after a mixed start to the season.

“A nice get-right week for the Jaguars, who handled the Patriots with ease,” Shook wrote.

The Jaguars are now 2-1. Travis Hunter also recorded the first interception of his career during the win, adding another highlight to Jacksonville's afternoon.

8. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals fell five spots after their defense struggled against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh's offense scored 30 points, handing Cincinnati its first loss of the season.

“Cincinnati's hyped defense took a big reputation hit Sunday when it allowed Aaron Rodgers to turn back the clock and lead Pittsburgh -- the NFL’s second-worst scoring offense entering Week 3 -- to a 30-point performance and a one-score win over a division rival,” Shook added.

The Bengals are still 2-1, but the loss raised more questions about where the team stands. Their next game against Jacksonville should give them another chance to respond.

9. Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings moved up six spots to No. 9 after starting the season 3-0. Their offense has had its ups and downs, but the defense has helped keep the team unbeaten.

"I also know Minnesota’s defense is special and the reason these Vikes are 3-0. That’s enough for me to move them into the top 10 for the first time this season,” Shook added.

The Vikings entered the top 10 for the first time this season. While the offense has not been consistent, Minnesota's defense has been the biggest reason the team has won all three games.

10. Klint Kubiak, Las Vegas Raiders

The Las Vegas Raiders made one of the biggest moves in the rankings, jumping 12 spots to No. 10. They are also 3-0 after three weeks, putting them among the league's early surprises.

“Sure, I might be overreacting to the Raiders’ hot start, but how can I pass on the rare opportunity to push the Silver and Black into the top 10?” Shook added.

Klint Kubiak has helped give the Raiders a different look this season. Kirk Cousins and Brock Bowers have been part of the offense, while fifth-round rookie Hezekiah Masses already has three interceptions.

11. Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys

The Dallas Cowboys moved up one spot despite entering Week 4 at 1-2. They had chances to beat Baltimore, with their defense coming up with a goal-line stop before another late mistake ended their comeback attempt.

“There were plenty of positives in this game, though: The Cowboys' maligned defense finally earned a signature stop with a goal-line stand that opened the door for a fourth-quarter comeback,” Shook added.

Dak Prescott continued to connect with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, while rookie linebacker Jaishawn Barham made his first major stop as a pro. But Baltimore later hit a deep pass that helped set up the walk-off field goal.

12. Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears climbed four spots after beating the Philadelphia Eagles by 20 points. Case Keenum turned in a big performance, while Chicago's defense made life difficult for the Eagles throughout the game.

“As impressive as Keenum was, so too was Chicago’s defense, which stifled Philadelphia’s offense, forced three turnovers and ensured the Eagles weren’t going to come close to mounting a comeback,” Shook added.

Keenum helped lead the Bears' offense at 38 years old, while the defense picked off Philadelphia's chances with three takeaways. Chicago is now 2-1 after the win.

13. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

The Los Angeles Rams dropped five spots after another up-and-down performance. Through three games, they have already gone from a heavy loss to a big win and then a late collapse.

“We’ve seen the Rams look flat (20-point loss to the 49ers in Australia), play like an elite team (22-point win over the Giants in Los Angeles) and collapse in a road game they led 16-0 at halftime,” Shook added.

The Rams are 1-2 heading into Week 4. They had a 16-0 lead over Denver at halftime but couldn't hold on, adding another tough result to their start.

14. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions

The Detroit Lions dropped one spot to No. 14 despite moving to 2-1. Their offense has continued to put points on the board, with Jahmyr Gibbs playing a big part in that production.

“We know the Lions can put up points in bunches by leaning heavily on Jahmyr Gibbs, and this offense is capable of keeping them in every game they play,” Shook added.

Detroit's biggest concern came late in the game, when the defense struggled again in the fourth quarter. A takeaway, however, helped the Lions avoid another trip to overtime.

15. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles dropped five spots after taking their first major loss of the season against Chicago. Jalen Hurts had a difficult game, while the Eagles' defense struggled to slow down the Bears.

“The Eagles failed their first real test of 2026 in a fashion that suggested they didn’t even take time to study,” Shook wrote.

Philadelphia is now 2-1 after winning its first two games by narrow margins. Against Chicago, the Eagles gave up 375 yards, while Hurts also threw an interception in the end zone during a drive that could have changed the game.

Week 4 arrives with plenty still to sort out. The 49ers and Chiefs are leading the way, while teams such as the Raiders and Vikings have made big jumps after strong starts.

On the other side, the Bengals, Eagles and Rams have all fallen after tough Week 3 results. With the season still young, another Sunday could bring another major change to the NFL's pecking order.

Written by

Debanjali Rakshit