NFC coaches command offenses, crafting schemes from the top down. Discover how Shanahan and others pioneer this hands-on approach, defining the conference's offensive identity.
Across the NFC, a stunning number of head coaches double as their team’s offensive playcaller, creating an environment where scheme, identity, and weekly game-planning are shaped directly by the man in charge.
Eight NFC teams are currently led by head coaches who run their own offense, a staggering concentration compared to the AFC. And while each brings a unique style, creativity, and philosophy, no one exemplifies the role better than San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Kyle Shanahan, 49ers — The Gold Standard of Modern Offensive Playcalling
When it comes to head coaches who call plays, Kyle Shanahan is still the blueprint.
Shanahan’s offense has become the league’s most imitated system, with its motion-heavy structure, wide-zone foundation, and relentless ability to generate easy throws and explosive plays. The 49ers’ scheme has spun off countless coaching careers, shaped quarterback development around the league, and continues to evolve year after year.
Every detail of the 49ers offense, from formation to footwork to pre-snap timing, funnels through Shanahan. Few coaches wear more hats on gameday, and fewer still do it with this level of consistency and success.
In a conference crowded with head coaches who are also playcallers, Shanahan remains the one everyone else is chasing.
Brian Schottenheimer, Cowboys — Structured Aggression
Dallas’ offense now runs through head coach Brian Schottenheimer, who is calling plays for the first time since 2020 when he was with the Seattle Seahawks. He was responsible for Russell Wilson’s two highest touchdown pass seasons which is interesting because he tends to lean more heavily on the run. So far through the Cowboys season, there has been a noticeable difference in the offensive playcalling for the better, and Schottenheimer has relied more heavily on motion than he has in years past.
Ben Johnson, Bears — The Rising Star With Full Control
Chicago handed the keys of the franchise to Ben Johnson, one of the NFL’s hottest offensive architects. Johnson’s playcalling emphasizes spacing, motion, and quarterback-friendly reads, giving the Bears their most modern offensive identity in years. He’s young, aggressive, and unafraid to build his scheme around emerging talent.
Matt LaFleur, Packers — The Quiet Surgeon of the NFC North
LaFleur remains one of the most efficient, precise playcallers in the league. His variation of the Shanahan tree prioritizes timing, misdirection, and keeping defenses in conflict. His fingerprints are everywhere: pre-snap movement, under-center run action, and the continual manufacturing of open throws.
He’s proof that the NFC might be overloaded with playcalling talent but many of them are seriously good at it.
Kevin O’Connell, Vikings — The QB Whisperer
O’Connell’s playcalling has been built around adaptability. Injuries, roster turnover, and shifting personnel haven’t stopped Minnesota from fielding a competitive, well-designed offense. His background in Sean McVay’s system shows in his stress-on-the-middle-of-the-field approach and his heavy reliance on formation variation.
O’Connell became head coach of the Viking in 2022, only the Dolphins (30.7%) have used play-action on more of their dropbacks than the Vikings (29.9%).
Dave Canales, Panthers — The Builder
Carolina’s Dave Canales is one of the newer members of the NFC head-coach/playcaller club, and his reputation is built on quarterback development and simplifying reads for young passers. He learned the game under Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll. His short-game rhythm concepts and play-action structure give Carolina its clearest offensive identity in years. Canales runs a very traditional west coast offensive scheme.
He’s still early in his tenure, but he fits right in with the NFC trend: head coaches who want the call sheet in their own hands.
Kellen Moore, Saints — Creativity Meets Control
The Saints hired Moore to bring fresh life into an offense that had grown stale, and he’s embraced the role fully as head coach and playcaller. This is Moore's first year as a head coach. He previously called plays as offensive coordinator for the Cowboys, Chargers, and Eagles. His designs push defenses horizontally, create mismatches for his slot receivers and backs, and lean heavily on pre-snap information-gathering. He is a shotgun formation heavy guy and an aggressive play caller, and now as head coach he gets full control.
Sean McVay, Rams — The Original Architect of the Modern NFC
Before Shanahan became the center of the playcalling universe, Sean McVay was the innovator who pushed the NFC toward the current trend of head coaches controlling their own offense.
McVay has been calling plays since he was hired as a head coach of the Rams in 2017. In those eight seasons, McVay has led the Rams to six playoff appearances and two Super Bowls, including a victory in Super Bowl LVI. His success is part of the reason the NFC is absolutely loaded with playcaller head coaches today.
The Big Picture: The NFC Is Built Differently
Eight head coaches. Eight playcallers. One conference overloaded with offensive architects.
From Shanahan’s surgical precision, to McVay’s adaptability, to rising young guys like Johnson and Moore, the NFC is a collection of some of the most offensive scheme minds in football.
And with so many of them directly shaping their offenses every single Sunday, the conference looks will always be the more creative and competitive one in the league for years to come, at least on the offensive side of the ball.