The Top 10 NFL Defensive Coordinators For 2020

Stoney Keeley offers up his 10 favorite defensive coordinators in the NFL as we head towards the 2020 season.

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As it stands for the moment, the NFL is playing its season in full come September. As the season approaches, I’m going to be taking a look at the landscape of the NFL, position by position, over the course of the next several weeks. We’ll be talking about the who’s who of the NFL in our own little version of the NFL Network’s “Top 100 Players” bit they do every year. Up first, we’re talking about the top 10 NFL defensive coordinators for 2020!

FYI: I’m not including Bill Belichick in the conversation – that’s too easy. Plus, the DC position is technically vacant in New England…sooooo….logic, right?

The Top 10 NFL Defensive Coordinators For 2020

10. Vance Joseph, Denver Broncos – The Broncos allowed 19.8 points per game in Joseph’s first year returning to a DC role, but that number came down a bit in the team’s last three games (18.3 (16 PPG in their last two). The Broncos finished the year 4-1, and figure to be one of the sexy teams of the offseason. With Joseph getting another year at the helm, and the additions they made on that side of the ball, we could see a significant step up for this unit.

9. Steve Spagnuolo, Kansas City Chiefs – The Chiefs had a good year as a secondary, and on defense, they only allowed 19.3 points per game. There’s no better example of how prepared Spagnuolo gets his guys than watching how that defense played the Titans in the AFC Championship.

8. Jim Schwartz, Philadelphia Eagles – Schwartz is just one of those career DC types. He’s always excelled in that role, and I expect that he will as long as he wants to keep coaching. The Eagles already have a stout run defense, and with some major upgrades in the secondary, Schwartz could have a killer unit in 2020.

7. Gregg Williams, New York Jets – No matter how you feel about Williams, you can’t deny the impact he has on a defense. The Jets fielded the second best rushing defense in the NFL in 2019 in Williams’ first year with the team. Another season implementing his system could see the feisty Jets take the next step in 2020.

6. Gus Bradley, Los Angeles Chargers – The Chargers have what feels like a bit of a sleeping giant on defense. They were 6th in yards allowed per game a season ago, but were 14th in points allowed per game in 2019. There’s so much talent there, and when you factor in Bradley’s previous work (he’s been with the Chargers since 2017), there’s no reason to think he can’t guide them to becoming one of the NFL’s elite.

5. Chuck Pagano, Chicago Bears – That 2018 Bears defense was historic under Vic Fangio. So, though it seemed like the unit took a step back in 2019, it was still among the best in the league under Pagano, who was a legendary DC before becoming Colts head coach. With a wealth of talent on the defensive side of the ball, and hopefully a little help from the offense, Pagano should field another elite defense in 2020.

4. Keith Butler, Pittsburgh Steelers – Butler is one of the longest-tenured defensive coordinators in the league, taking over the position in 2015. The Steelers defense is among the best in the league, boasting a couple of Defensive Player of the Year candidates in T.J. Watt and Minkah Fitzpatrick in the process, under Butler.

3. Don Martindale, Baltimore Ravens – Top 10 in the major defensive statistical categories, third in the league in points allowed. It seems like the Ravens just churn out defensive coordinator talent year in and year out, and Martindale is no different. Expect him to get some head coaching buzz after 2020.

2. Leslie Frazier, Buffalo Bills – The Bills have one of the better, and most underrated, coaching staffs in the entire NFL. Last year, the Bills were 2nd in points allowed per game and in yards allowed per game with Frazier serving in his third year as DC. This guy has prospects of being a head coach in the NFL again, so I don’t expect anything to change. This unit has been consistently great under Frazier.

1. Robert Saleh, San Francisco 49ers – Another hot name that figures to be in contention for a head coaching job in 2021, Saleh had the 49ers defense transcend from bad to one of the best in the entire league. They fielded the NFL’s best secondary in 2019 (in terms of passing yards allowed per game), and if they can improve on run defense, they could easily be the most complete defense in football. If they get there, expect Saleh to be a head man somewhere else this time next year.

OTHER 2020 NFL TOP 10S

Head Coaches
Offensive Coordinators

Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Nashville, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley

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