Ranking the NFL’s Top Offensive Masterminds: Who are the Best Play Callers Heading into 2025?

In the ever-evolving chess match that is the National Football League, the ability to scheme, adapt, and outwit the opposition is paramount. As we gear up for the 2025 season, the spotlight shines on the brilliant minds orchestrating NFL offenses: the play-callers. These offensive masterminds are the architects behind the league’s most explosive attacks, and their strategic prowess can make or break a team’s Super Bowl aspirations. Just look at the Kansas City Chiefs, who, despite a Super Bowl LVIII victory over the San Francisco 49ers, ranked just 17th in offensive PFF grade during the first three quarters of games, before jumping to fourth in the same category in the fourth quarter and overtime. That kind of situational mastery is a testament to coaching.

So, who are the names to watch as we head into the 2025 season? Which play-callers are poised to revolutionize their offenses and lead their teams to new heights? Let’s dive into a data-driven ranking of the NFL’s top offensive masterminds.

The Elite Tier

These are the play-callers who have consistently demonstrated an ability to innovate, adapt, and produce top-tier offenses, regardless of personnel changes or defensive trends.

Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers): Despite the 49ers falling short of expectations in 2024, Shanahan remains the gold standard. His ability to evolve his offensive schemes is unparalleled, and his offenses consistently rank among the league’s most efficient. Even with injuries impacting the team, San Francisco still finished 11th in EPA per play on offense last season. Shanahan’s adaptability is what sets him apart, building offensive systems from the ground up and adjusting each element to match his personnel and opponents.
Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams): McVay, like Shanahan, has proven to be a master of offensive evolution. The Jared Goff-led Rams offense looks nothing like the current Matthew Stafford-led attack, showcasing McVay’s ability to tailor his schemes to his players’ strengths. McVay has taken different concepts from his time in LA and blended them. His creativity and adaptability paid off again in 2024, as the Rams ranked 11th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric and top 10 in offensive EPA. McVay also draws inspiration from other coaches, including Liam Coen.
Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): A seasoned veteran and arguably the best head coach in the league, Reid’s offensive genius has been on full display for over two decades. His ability to scheme for Patrick Mahomes and exploit defensive weaknesses is unmatched, and his offenses are consistently among the league’s highest-scoring units. Even if Mahomes would be Brady 2.0 without his Belichick, Reid has something Bill doesn’t: a lengthy track record without his QB. It can be difficult to remember Reid won over 60 percent of his games as NFL head coach before Mahomes became starter.

The Rising Stars

These play-callers have shown flashes of brilliance and are on the cusp of joining the elite tier.

Ben Johnson (Chicago Bears): After orchestrating one of the league’s most explosive offenses in Detroit, Johnson takes his talents to Chicago as head coach. His ability to design systems tailored to his roster consistently produced explosive results. Johnson’s 2024 Detroit Lions ranked third-best in Offense+ since 2019, trailing only the 2019 Baltimore Ravens and the 2020 Green Bay Packers. Now, Johnson faces a very different challenge as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. The Bears are hoping to get from Johnson as their head coach. Chicago has spent a lot of draft and trade capital in recent years building up its offense.
Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings): The 2024 Coach of the Year has been one of the league’s most creative play-callers during his Minnesota tenure. He had the best and most expansive menu of creating space on crossers and that expanded to outs and digs with Sam Darnold at quarterback. The O’Connell offense, a branch from the McVay tree, has excelled at creating space and easy throws for quarterbacks, which could be what the offense leans on if there is a transition to J.J. McCarthy this offseason.
Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins): McDaniel’s innovative run schemes and ability to maximize the talents of his players have transformed the Dolphins’ offense into a dynamic attack. After designing the best run game in the league last season, the Dolphins managed one of the least efficient in the league this year. Still, Miami got the ball to De’Von Achane in space in the passing game to counter.

The Established Veterans

These play-callers have a proven track record of success and continue to produce solid offenses.

Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers): LaFleur has maintained a high level of offensive production in Green Bay, adapting his schemes to fit the strengths of his quarterbacks.
Sean Payton (Denver Broncos): Payton inherited a disaster in Denver in 2023, and his quarterback, Russell Wilson, was clearly unhappy. Payton is a respected offensive mind, and a change of scenery could be exactly what he needs to revitalize his play-calling.
Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns): The two-time NFL Coach of the Year deserves respect as someone who gets his team to compete regardless of the circumstances. Stefanski broke the Browns’ long playoff drought in 2020 and picked up the franchise’s first playoff win since reentering the league in 1999. He also led a surge to the postseason in 2023 with Joe Flacco as his quarterback from Week 14 onward.

The Wild Cards

These play-callers are either new to their roles or have a history of inconsistency, making them difficult to predict.

Chip Kelly (Las Vegas Raiders): Kelly landing in Las Vegas is one of the most fascinating hires of the offseason. Kelly helped revolutionize NFL offenses during his Eagles tenure but failed to adapt once defenses caught on. As he went back to college, Kelly had some fun run concepts at UCLA and then let loose while just focusing on the offense last season at Ohio State as offensive coordinator. If Kelly brings more adjustments to his offense, it could leap up these rankings quickly.
Liam Coen (Jacksonville Jaguars): The Jaguars had 275 million reasons to bring in Coen to revolutionize the offense while helping the franchise quarterback finally realize his potential as a starter. The former No. 1 overall pick has flashed elite qualities as a pocket playmaker, but his injuries and inconsistencies have prevented the Jaguars from emerging as an AFC heavyweight. McVay drew inspiration from his former offensive coordinator and current Jaguars head coach Liam Coen according to Rams senior writer Stu Jackson, with McVay complementing Coen on how he handled injuries and kept his team humming all the way into the postseason.
Josh McDaniels (New England Patriots): After being fired by the Las Vegas Raiders as their head coach in the middle of the 2023 season, he spent his year away from coaching to study the game. He picked the brains of football people he respects. He’s seen different ways of doing things. And now he has an opportunity to try to revive a Patriots offense that has wallowed in ineptitude since his departure following the 2021 season.

As the NFL continues to evolve, these offensive masterminds will be at the forefront, shaping the game with their innovative play-calling and strategic brilliance. The 2025 season promises to be another exciting chapter in the ongoing saga of offensive innovation.