NFL Coach Confidence Ranking: Best and Worst Body Language
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Sep 20, 2026; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel reacts in the seond half of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images | Source: Lastwordonsports.com - Michael Zimmelman, Editor
Casino.org asked body language expert Inbaal Honigman to analyze post-game press conferences from head coaches across all 32 NFL teams, ranking them from most to least confident. NFL Coach Confidence Ranking: Best and Worst Body Language
New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel talks to quarterback Drake Maye (10) during the second quarter at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tenn., Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025.NFL Coach Confidence Ranking: Best and Worst Body Language
Aug 15, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales has a word with an assistant in the second quarter game against the Buffalo Bills at the New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn ImagesNFL Coach Confidence Ranking: Key Findings
- Patriots’ head coach, Mike Vrabel, is the most confident in his team, with his towering stance and commanding presence described as a “territorial show of confidence.”
- Jeff Hafley (Dolphins) ranks second, showing what Inbaal calls “fearless and dominant” body language, while Sean McVay (Rams) completes the top three.
- Eagles’ Nick Sirianni ranks in the bottom five at 29th place, with rapid blinking and protective gestures suggesting a coach under pressure.
- Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) ranks 30th, with shifting facial expressions interpreted as signs of agitation and a struggle with confidence.
- Dan Quinn (Commanders) is the least confident in his team, with his hunched shoulders and closed-off posture interpreted as signs of anxiety and unease.
NFL Coach Confidence Ranking: Most Confidentin Their Team
- Mike Vrabel – New England Patriots, territorial. “Vrabel’s stance is so confident, tall and strong, that when he’s seen pressing his lips impatiently, it makes him seem as if he’s impatient with the actual press. Vrabel stands up to his full height, looking down at the gathering journalists, leaning on both his arms. It is a mark of interest, engagement, even a territorial show of confidence.”
- Jeff Hafley – Miami Dolphins, intense. “Hafley’s intense way of standing and talking comes across as massively confident. Hafley leans on his podium with both arms, unafraid to take up space. He speaks slowly, with a lowered brow which indicates seriousness. Some of Hafley’s moves, such as pointing and clenching his hand into a fist, are fearless and dominant.”
- Sean McVay – Los Angeles Rams, proud. “McVay is not just confident. His raised eyebrows, square shoulders, and wide, moving arms indicate enthusiasm. He comes alive in front of the media as he gets to describe his team’s achievements. McVay juts his chin into a proud, determined shape.”
- Dave Canales – Carolina Panthers, unapologetically confident. “Canales is a masterclass in understated confidence. His square stance, shoulders strong, looking downwards at the press, enthusiastic raised eyebrows, all indicate an inner confidence that would be hard to beat. Canales flashes an apologetic facial expression here and there, furrowed brow and outward-facing apologetic hands, but his occasional charming half-smile dominates his presentation and shows his unwavering confidence.
- Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs, quietly confident. “Reid spreads his arms wide as he leans on his podium, extending his form and taking up space. This is a display of confidence. Nodding frequently, he appears to agree with himself, which says that Reid feels like he knows what he’s doing. Breaking into frequent little smiles, none of the questions throw Reid off his pace; he feels secure.”
NFL Coach Confidence Ranking: Least Confident in Their Team
Oct 11, 2026; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn looks on from the sidelines against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images- Dan Quinn – Washington Commanders, submissive. “Quinn’s discomfort is viewed in his shoulders. Instead of straightening his back and squaring his shoulders, Quinn’s shoulders are rolled forward, decreasing his perceived size. When someone is uneasy with taking up space, this speaks to anxiety, fear, and submission.”
- Kevin O’Connell – Minnesota Vikings, agitated. “O’Connell is seen shaking his head often, looking down and smiling with both dimples showing. This is a display of disbelief. O’Connell’s quick, shifting facial expressions indicate an agitated disposition and a struggle with confidence.”
- Mike LaFleur – Arizona Cardinals, agitated and fidgety. “LaFleur appears extremely agitated, fidgeting and fussing before he’s asked a single question. His tightened lips signify stress and discomfort, and he touches the microphone as a blocking gesture, his arm covering his body slightly. When LeFleur starts speaking, he wrinkles his forehead immediately in an apologetic expression, as if he’s getting ready to make excuses.”
- Nick Sirianni – Philadelphia Eagles, under pressure. “Sirianni closes himself off by lacing his fingers together in front of his body. This is protective body language, and it is joined by his fast blinking, which shows that he’s feeling under pressure. We see him scratching his shoulder, reaching for his face. All those self-soothing moves are natural responses to stress.”
- Klint Kubiak – Las Vegas Raiders, restless. “Kubiak’s body language is restless and jumpy. His eyes look from side to side; he turns his head from side to side, and is seen nodding and shifting his body weight, too. All those moves, and the fact that he doesn’t stand still, convey the message that Kubiak feels uncomfortable and nervous.”
NFL Coach Confidence Ranking: Full Ranking of 32 NFL Head Coaches
From most confident to least confident in their team:
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- Mike Vrabel – New England Patriots
- Jeff Hafley – Miami Dolphins
- Sean McVay – Los Angeles Rams
- Dave Canales – Carolina Panthers
- Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs
- Matt LaFleur – Green Bay Packers
- Joe Brady – Buffalo Bills
- Aaron Glen – New York Jets
- Jesse Minter – Baltimore Ravens
- John Harbaugh – New York Giants
- Sean Payton – Denver Broncos
- DeMeco Ryans – Houston Texans
- Zac Taylor – Cincinnati Bengals
- Dan Campbell – Detroit Lions
- Brian Schottenheimer – Dallas Cowboys
- Kyle Shanahan – San Francisco 49ers
- Mike McCarthy – Pittsburgh Steelers
- Shane Steichen – Indianapolis Colts
- Robert Saleh – Tennessee Titans
- Todd Bowles – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Liam Coen – Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kellen Moore – New Orleans Saints
- Todd Monken – Cleveland Browns
- Ben Johnson – Chicago Bears
- Mike Macdonald – Seattle Seahawks
- Jim Harbaugh – LA Chargers
- Kevin Stefanski – Atlanta Falcons
- Klint Kubiak – Las Vegas Raiders
- Nick Sirianni – Philadelphia Eagles
- Mike LaFleur – Arizona Cardinals
- Kevin O’Connell – Minnesota Vikings
- Dan Quinn – Washington Commanders
The Last Word
Body language is a set of characteristics that we often do not realize are outwardly displayed. In the study on body language, it is worth noting that the most and least confident coaches displayed body language that didn´t follow a pattern of wins and losses. The best coaches are not always the coaches with the most wins, but rather the ability to keep an even keel and be a positive leader. Stay tuned to LWOS for additional study results on head coaches across the entire NFL.
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Main Photo: [Bob DeChiara] – Reuters Connect