Coaching methodology
NFL coaching tree methodology
Coach lineage is based on verified NFL staff service and time order, not on reputation, scheme similarity, or media shorthand.
What counts as a coaching relationship
RosterVerdict records when a coach served in a qualifying NFL coaching role on a staff led by a permanent NFL head coach. That factual staff history is the foundation for the public coaching tree.
A direct branch exists when the future head coach served on that staff before receiving his first permanent NFL head-coaching appointment. A coach may have more than one verified direct branch.
What the tree does not claim
- It does not claim mentorship, personal influence, scheme inheritance, or responsibility for a later hiring.
- Interim head-coaching service, player relationships, front-office reporting lines, and non-NFL coaching history do not create a main-tree edge.
- When dates or staff roles are unclear, the relationship remains unresolved rather than being guessed.
Public display
Coach pages show factual staff lineage, direct branches, generations, and shared NFL seasons. The source policy and full operating rules remain in the coaching methodology documentation.