Brady-Belichick And The 15 Best Coach-Player Duos in Sports History

By Brian Kalchik

Brady, Belichick and the 15 Best Coach-Player Duos in Sports History

Tom Brady Bill Belichick — In sports, the two most important people are the head coach and the star player. If both of these people are elite, then you are set up for years and years of success. Today, Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are the cream of the crop, but where do they rank among the greatest player-coach combos of all-time? Find out here.

15. Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols

Tony LaRussa Albert Pujols Cardinals

15. Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols

Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols Cardinals — The St. Louis Cardinals became a mini-dynasty in the 2000s because of Tony LaRussa and Albert Pujols. Together, the duo helped St. Louis reach three World Series Championships, winning two in 2006 and 2011.

14. Jerry Sloan and John Stockton

John Stockton Jerry Sloan Jazz

14. Jerry Sloan and John Stockton

Golden State Warriors v Utah Jazz — Although the tandem of John Stockton and Jerry Sloan weren't able to give a championship to the Utah Jazz, this duo helped revive basketball in Utah. Sloan became one of the winningest coaches in NBA history, and Stockton became one of the leaders in all-time assists. Unfortunately, someone named Michael Jordan defeated the Jazz in consecutive NBA Finals series.

13. Paul Brown and Otto Graham

Cleveland Browns Helmet

13. Paul Brown and Otto Graham

Cleveland Browns Helmet — The Cleveland Browns of the 1950s became the NFL's first dynasty and they were led by coach Paul Brown and quarterback Otto Graham. In 10 consecutive seasons, the Browns made the championship game, winning four in the AFC and three in the NFL.

12. Tom Landry and Roger Staubach

Tom Landry Cowboys

12. Tom Landry and Roger Staubach

Tom Landry Cowboys — The Dallas Cowboys became America's Team because of Tom Landry and Roger Staubach. During the 1970s, the Cowboys won four NFC Crowns, two Super Bowls, and had only one losing season together.

11. Joe Torre and Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter Joe Torre Yankees

11. Joe Torre and Derek Jeter

Derek Jeter Joe Torre Yankees — After years of substandard play, the Yankees' fortunes turned around with the arrivals of Joe Torre and Derek Jeter. In a five-year span, the Yankees won four World Series Championships and appeared in two other World Series Finals later. When both were together, the Yankees were the class of MLB.

10. Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw

Terry Bradshaw Steelers

10. Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw

Terry Bradshaw Steelers — Chuck Noll and Terry Bradshaw didn't have the best relationship, but they won an awful lot of games together. The Steelers became the team of the 1970s because of Noll and Bradshaw. The Steelers won four Super Bowls in six seasons with Noll guiding the defense and Bradshaw guiding the offense.

9. Don Shula and Dan Marino

Dan Marino Don Shula Dolphins

9. Don Shula and Dan Marino

Dan Marino Don Shula Dolphins — After Don Shula drafted Dan Marino in 1983, he changed his ground-first offensive philosophy into a pass-first philosophy, resulting in huge success for Miami. In his first season as a starter, Marino guided Shula's Dolphins to Super Bowl XIX. When together, Marino became the most prolific passer and Shula became the winningest coach in NFL history.

8. Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Phil Jackson Lakers

8. Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant

Phil Jackson Kobe Bryant Lakers — After a messy divorce following a three-peat, Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson reunited a second time to earn two more titles during the late 2000s. Before the messy divorce, Kobe, Phil and Shaquille O'Neal were one of the greatest teams in NBA history. After Shaq's departure, both proved that they didn't need him to win titles.

7. Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr

Vince Lombardi

7. Vince Lombardi and Bart Starr

Vince Lombardi — Before Vince Lombardi arrived in Green Bay, the Packers were a wasteland. When Lombardi named Bart Starr his starting quarterback, a dynasty was born. During the 1960s, Lombardi and Starr appeared in eight NFL and Super Bowl Championship games, winning seven, including the first two Super Bowls.

6. Pat Riley and Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson Pat Riley Lakers

6. Pat Riley and Magic Johnson

Magic Johnson Pat Riley Lakers — The Los Angeles Lakers became "Showtime" with Magic Johnson's extraordinary passes and Pat Riley's up-tempo offense. Along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Riley and Johnson turned the Lakers back into a dynasty, reaching seven NBA Finals series and winning four NBA Championships in nine seasons together.

5. Bill Walsh and Joe Montana

Joe Montana Bill Walsh 49ers

5. Bill Walsh and Joe Montana

Joe Montana Bill Walsh 49ers — The San Francisco 49ers were the team of the '80s in large part because of Bill Walsh's genius and Joe Montana's accurate passes. In their third season together, the 49ers won their first of three Super Bowls with Montana and Walsh. In their final game together, Montana guided the 49ers to a comeback victory in Super Bowl XXIII.

4. Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan Gregg Popovich Spurs

4. Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan Gregg Popovich Spurs — Without Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich, the San Antonio Spurs would not be even a one-time NBA Champion. Since uniting in 1997, the Spurs have won five NBA Championships in six tries, all with both Duncan and Popovich. These two are the greatest player-coach combination in the game today.

3. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady

Tom Brady Bill Belichick Patriots

3. Bill Belichick and Tom Brady

Tom Brady Bill Belichick Patriots — Bill Belichick and Tom Brady are amongst the most despised players in the NFL today, but they have won consistently the last 15 years. From 2001 to 2004, the Patriots won three Super Bowls and appeared in two more, one with a perfect 16-0 record in 2007. This Sunday's AFC Championship Game will be their fourth straight trip since 2011.

2. Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan Phil Jackson Bulls

2. Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan Phil Jackson Bulls — Under Phil Jackson, Michael Jordan became the greatest player in NBA history as the Chicago Bulls dominated the 1990s. In eight seasons together, Jordan and Jackson reached six NBA Finals series, winning all six. In between, the Bulls won a still NBA-record 72 games during the 1995-96 season.

1. Red Auerbach and Bill Russell

Bill Russell Red Auerbach Celtics

1. Red Auerbach and Bill Russell

Bill Russell Red Auerbach Celtics — The greatest coach-player combo ever resides in Boston with the Celtics tandem of Red Auerbach and Bill Russell. Perhaps the greatest dynasty of all time, Auerbach and Russell reached 10 NBA Finals series, winning nine. It was Auerbach who also allowed Russell to become the first African-American coach in sports history.

Brian Kalchik is a Houston Texans writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google+.

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