The NFC North is in a position to be one of the most competitive divisions in football.
Each roster seemed to make improvements over the offseason leading into the 2024 campaign. All teams will be gunning for the Detroit Lions, who are the reigning division champions after earning their first crown in 30 years.
Still, both the Lions and Green Bay Packers won playoff games last year. With intriguing talent all over the division, there will be no easy games within the schedule when these teams meet up twice a year.
Here’s a ranking of the four head coaches heading into the 2024 season.
4.) Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears
The Bears are the only team to not make the playoffs under their current head coach, but that could change soon with the added talent from this year’s offseason. For starters, Caleb Williams is as highly touted a prospect as there’s recently been and could be the catalyst for success.
Chicago was able to carve out a strong finish to last season with Justin Fields, but elected to move on in favor of the top-rated prospect this year. Eberflus is a defensive mind, but his future with Chicago will likely be tied with the success he has with Williams.
The Bears have the pieces in place to have a good team this season, as Williams has weapons to distribute the ball to throughout the offense. They parted ways with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, so it could be a different look for the offense.
Chicago is in a good position with Williams on a rookie deal for the next several years, but the pressure is on Eberflus to win soon with the young core.
3.) Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota is in a unique position. On one hand, they have the league’s best receiver in Justin Jefferson. However, who will throw the ball to him remains a mystery early in offseason workouts. The Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy 10th overall, and he will compete to be the starter with Sam Darnold.
The Vikings elected to let Kirk Cousins go in the offseason, so Darnold or McCarthy will pilot the offense. O’Connell is an excellent offensive mind and could still find ways to keep the offense afloat.
Defensively, the Vikings added pieces to their pass-rush and could be in a position to hold their own. O’Connell is facing a rebuilding year, but has shown the capability to elevate offensive production. The Vikings’ trajectory will be interesting to follow.
2.) Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
LaFleur has had plenty of good moments throughout his five years at the helm of the Packers. Most recently, the Packers took the 49ers to the brink in the Divisional Round.
Green Bay has the infrastructure to have sustained success. With plenty of young talent at the wide receiver position, Jordan Love will be in a position to make the Packers contenders. Green Bay, and LaFleur’s future, will be tied to Love.
The Packers appear to be the biggest challenger for the divisional crown, so there could be some intense battles within the division in the 2024 campaign.
1.) Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
Campbell has a good roll going with the Lions, as he has taken the team from the bottom of the division to the top. However, the 2024 season will be a critical one for the fourth-year head coach.
The Lions’ leader will be tasked with proving that last season’s success was no fluke. Detroit’s run to the NFC Championship feels like the start of something sustainable, but the Lions have something to prove in the 2024 campaign.
He edges out LaFleur because of his ability to secure his coaching staff, as all of Detroit’s coordinators are among the longest tenured at their respective positions. The Lions are building what appears to be something special, but the Lions have to prove their success is sustainable in 2024.
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