The 2022 NFL offseason was full of big-name movement, and one look around the league confirms it: among the 32 teams, literally half of them will enter the year with new pairings at the most important positions. A whopping 16 different clubs will debut new quarterback-head coaching duos. As you may have guessed, some are more promising than others.

Here, we're ranking all 16.

A few clarifiers:

  • A team just needs one new starting QB or head coach to qualify (e.g. Daniel Jones has been the Giants' QB for years, but he represents a new duo alongside new hire Brian Daboll). Surprisingly, only one team has both a new QB and HC.
  • We're ranking the duos, not their respective teams. That said, QB-HC duos can be a good indicator of a team's standing. Chances are, if your favorite team's pairing is high on the list, they're better positioned to overcome other weaknesses.
  • This is a 2022 ranking more than a "draft." We'd much rather gamble on Trevor Lawrence or Trey Lance for the long term, for example, but Matt Ryan and Kirk Cousins are already proven starters.

Without further ado, the rundown:

NFL

Sam Darnold confident he can be one of the best QBs in the league

Note: * = new QB/HC

 

1. Buccaneers: Tom Brady (QB), Todd Bowles (HC)*

TB12 seals it. Bowles is not the proven winner as a head man that Bruce Arians was, but the defense is his game, which basically just means Brady and offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich are running the other side. And you can't do much better than Brady, even as he approaches 45. His aura alone is championship-caliber.

 

2. Broncos: Russell Wilson (QB)*, Nathaniel Hackett (HC)*

The only totally new duo on the list, they represent the brightest beacon of hope for Denver since Peyton Manning in 2012. Wilson shoulders most of the load here; even if he isn't at his peak, he remains one of the most poised dual threats and deep throwers in the game. Hackett, by nature of being an Aaron Rodgers favorite, at least has the offensive pedigree.

 

3. Browns: Deshaun Watson (QB)*, Kevin Stefanski (HC)

This one comes with a monumental asterisk. Watson is a big upgrade on Baker Mayfield, giving Cleveland an athletic, top-10ish pocket passer. It's very possible he and Stefanski will make multiple playoff runs together, especially if the latter gets back to a run-centric approach. But Watson's legal issues could derail his availability and/or leadership both now and for the long haul.

 

4. Colts: Matt Ryan (QB)*, Frank Reich (HC)

Both Ryan and Reich have straddled the line of passable production as of late, and in that way they might be perfect for each other. The former is no longer an elite arm, but he's generally reliable. Paired with a coach who's logged three winning seasons and two postseason berths in four years despite annual QB change, they should at least headline a wild-card run.