The NFL has seen a youth movement among head coaches in recent seasons, with a number of sub-40-year-olds getting jobs leading football franchises.
That doesn't mean there aren't plenty of veterans roaming the sidelines for NFL clubs.
With experience comes success, and it's not surprising to see that a number of the NFL's elder statesmen in the coaching world are among the most successful. Bill Belichick, Andy Reid and Pete Carroll are three of the older coaches out there that are still getting results out of their squads.
In today's NFL, there are turns of turnover on coaching staffs year after year, but certain coaches have been able to secure long-term roles with their teams. In some cases, these leaders have been in their position for over a decade now.
MORE: Who are the youngest NFL coaches of 2023?
Which NFL teams employ the oldest coaches in 2023? Here's a rundown of those leaders, including a couple who have crossed the 70-year threshold.
Oldest NFL coaches of 2023
The NFL has seen a recent influx of young head coaches, however there are still plenty of veterans among the NFL's team leaders. The two oldest coaches in NFL history are currently active, and both have been coaching for over a decade.
Below is a look at the 10 oldest coaches in the NFL for the 2023 season.
Age and record listed as of Sept. 1, before the start of the 2023 regular season.
1. Pete Carroll, Seahawks
- Age: 72
- Experience: 18th season
- Record: 161-112-1
It's hard to tell when you see how animated he is on the sidelines, but Carroll is the oldest coach currently in the NFL, and one of the oldest in league history. He is one of just six coaches in NFL history to coach at the age of 71 or older, along with Romeo Crennel, George Halas, Marv Levy, Al Saunders and Bill Belichick.
Carroll's first head coaching gig came in 1994 when he was hired by the Jets. He lasted just one season in that role but was hired three years later by the Patriots in 1997. He spent three seasons in New England before going back to the NCAA to take the USC head coaching job.
After a decade with the Trojans, Carroll returned to the NFL in 2010, as he was hired by the Seahawks to replace Jim Mora. It's the role Carroll remains in today, and has helped lead Seattle to nine consecutive winning seasons and two Super Bowl appearances, winning Super Bowl 48 against the Broncos.
2. Bill Belichick, Patriots
- Age: 71
- Experience: 29th season
- Record: 298-152
If it feels like Belichick has been around forever, that's because he has. At 71 years old, he comes in as the second-oldest coach in the league.
Belichick began his coaching career with the Browns in 1991, but after Cleveland posted just one winning season in five years, he was let go by the team. It appeared as though he would take over the Jets, however, in a stunning move, Belichick infamously resigned at the podium of his opening press conference, and instead, was named the Patriots head coach, ironically replacing Carroll.
The rest is history. Under Belichick, Tom Brady and the Patriots went on to win six Super Bowls, creating one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history. Belichick is on the cusp on his 300th win, something only Don Shula and George Halas have accomplished.
3. Andy Reid, Chiefs
- Age: 65
- Experience: 25th season
- Record: 247-138-1
Reid has been in the league so long, his nickname, "Big Red", really can't be used anymore with his red hair turning gray. But his ability to lead a team has only gotten stronger year after year.
The current Chiefs head coach began his coaching career in 1999 when he was hired by the Eagles. He spent 14 seasons in Philadelphia, leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl appearance and nine winning seasons. In 2012, after Reid's worst season to date, the Eagles elected not to renew his contract.
It did not take long for Reid to find another home, as he was hired by the Chiefs to take over as their head coach. The move has worked out incredibly well, as Kansas City has never had a losing record under Reid. His teams have recorded double-digit wins and made the playoffs in eight consecutive years, have appeared in three Super Bowls and have won the championship twice.
4. Frank Reich, Panthers
- Age: 61
- Experience: 6th season
- Record: 40-33-1
It took quite some time before Reich got his first head coaching gig in the NFL, but the 61-year-old has been at the helm of a team the last six seasons.
Reich started his coaching career with the Colts in 2006, and it was Indianapolis who gave him his first head coaching job in 2018. Coming off a Super Bowl win as the offensive coordinator for the Eagles, Reich rejoined the Colts seven years after he left the organization. He spent five years as the head coach, making the postseason twice, but managed just one playoff win.
This offseason, he was fired by Indianapolis, however, he was later hired by Carolina to replace Matt Rhule as the Panthers head coach. Reich is in his first year, with 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young at the helm of the offense.
5. Ron Rivera, Commanders
- Age: 61
- Experience: 13th season
- Record: 98-90-2
"Riverboat Ron" has been a staple among NFL head coaches for over a decade now, but he's been in the coaching sphere this entire century.
Rivera got his start as a head coach in 2011 when he was hired by the Panthers. With Carolina, he helped lead the franchise to a Super Bowl appearance in 2015, ultimately losing to the Broncos. When David Tepper purchased the team in 2018, he elected to relieve Rivera of head coaching duties during the 2019 season, as Tepper wanted a different approach to the franchise.
It didn't take long for Rivera to find a new gig, as Washington hired him as the team's head coach in 2020. However, the seat is getting hot for Rivera, who hasn't brought a winning season to D.C. yet and has logged just one winning season in the last seven years.
6. John Harbaugh, Ravens
- Age: 60
- Experience: 15th season
- Record: 147-95
One of the NFL's longest-tenured coaches, Harbaugh has been the head coach of the Ravens for 16 seasons. Only Belichick has coached a team longer among active coaches.
Harbaugh, the brother of former 49ers head coach and current Michigan boss Jim Harbaugh, has been sensational during his time in Baltimore. The Ravens have only posted two losing records with Harbaugh at the helm.
Harbaugh climbed the top of the NFL mountain during the 2012 season, as the Ravens defeated the 49ers in Super Bowl 47. Baltimore has not been back to the big dance since, although the Ravens have made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons.
7. Mike McCarthy, Cowboys
- Age: 59
- Experience: 17th season
- Record: 155-97-2
McCarthy has coached two of the most historic franchises in NFL history, starting his head coaching career with the Packers and currently acting as the Cowboys' head honcho.
McCarthy took over in Green Bay in 2006, helping build the Packers into perennial Super Bowl contenders with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback. The pair won their lone championship together in 2011, the only time the two made it to a Super Bowl. The Packers elected to part ways with McCarthy during the 2018 season, with Green Bay sitting at 4-7-1 through Week 13.
After sitting on the sidelines in 2019, McCarthy was hired by the Cowboys to take over for the fired Jason Garrett. After a dismal first campaign, McCarthy posted back-to-back seasons with 10-6 records, and secured Dallas' first playoff win since 2018 last season. Although, the expectations are always bigger down in Jerry World, and McCarthy has to find a way to make a deep playoff run in order to keep his job.
8. Todd Bowles, Buccaneers
- Age: 59
- Experience: 7th season
- Record: 34-50
Bowles checks in at No. 8 on this list, but just barely. He was born eight days after McCarthy, but that extra week-plus puts McCarthy ahead of him.
Bowles is in his second stint as an NFL head coach and third if you include his three games as interim head coach for the Dolphins. He got his first full-time gig in 2015 with the Jets, as New York handed the defensive-minded Bowles a four-year contract. After a strong first year, the Jets finished under .500 the next three seasons, resulting in Bowles not being brought back after 2018.
After New York, Bowles joined the Buccaneers as a defensive coordinator under Bruce Arians. When Arians announced his retirement after the 2021 season, Bowlers was named as his replacement. He's currently in his second season as Tampa Bay's head coach.
9. Sean Payton, Broncos
- Age: 59
- Experience: 16th season
- Record: 152-89
After a one-year hiatus, Payton is back in the NFL coaching world. The longtime Saints head coach is now at the helm of the Broncos, as he tries to unlock Russell Wilson's potential in Denver.
Payton spent 15 years down in New Orleans with the Saints, working predominantly with quarterback Drew Brees. Under Payton, the Saints won Super Bowl 44, defeating the Colts in the championship game. New Orleans posted 10 winning seasons with Payton.
The veteran coach announced his retirement after the 2021 season, as Dennis Allen took over his role with the Saints, however, Payton came back this past offseason, taking the open job with the Broncos.
10. Doug Pederson, Jaguars
- Age: 55
- Experience: 7th season
- Record: 51-45-1
There's a fairly big drop-off after Payton, with a four-year gap between the Broncos head coach and Pederson. However, the Jaguars coach finds himself at No. 10 on the list.
Pederson began his NFL head coaching career with the Eagles in 2016, helping the team to three winning seasons and a Super Bowl during that time, defeating Belichick and the Patriots in Super Bowl 52. However, after a 4-11-1 campaign in 2020, the two sides elected to part ways.
After a year off from coaching, Pederson took the Jaguars' opening after the 2022 season, following the disastrous and short-lived Urban Meyer era in Jacksonville. The Jaguars enjoyed a strong turnaround season last year, making the playoffs as Trevor Lawrence greatly improved under Pederson. The hope is that the pair can continue to grow the Jaguars into contenders.
