NFC East coaching tiers: It's sink or swim for Mike McCarthy

While much of the country spent the summer debating whether "Oppenheimer" or "Barbie" was the blockbuster of the year, Yardbarker NFL writers reviewed the work of the league's 32 head coaches and assigned each of these leading men to a tier. 

In sticking with the spirit of cinema, we named the tiers after either a movie title, genre or actor to help rationalize if each coach is producing an Academy Award- or a Razzie-level performance. Here's how the NFC East stacked up:

2: 'THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION' TIER | Almost an Oscar

NICK SIRIANNI | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (Regular season: 23-11/Playoffs 2-2) — After Sirianni stammered through his introductory news conference like George McFly in "Back to the Future," Eagles fans hoped he’d make like a tree and get out of here. Then suddenly he’s punching out Biff (the rest of the NFC) and kissing Lorraine at the “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance (Super Bowl LVII). 

After going 3-6 to begin his head-coaching career, Sirianni has rebounded to win 22 of his next 29 games and an NFC title. "Great Scott," the future looks bright for Sirianni.

4: WESTERNS TIER | A little sizzle but no steak ... yet

RON RIVERA | WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (Regular season: 98-90-2/Playoffs: 3-5) — With a team that used three different starting quarterbacks, Rivera showed "True Grit" in getting the Commanders to eight wins last season, but he hasn’t had a winning season since 2017. With a record eight games over .500, Rivera has seen "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" in 12 years as a head coach, but if young gunslinger Sam Howell doesn’t work out in 2023, new ownership will bring in a new sheriff.

5: NETFLIX ORIGINALS TIER | Too new for critical review

BRIAN DABOLL | New York Giants (Regular season: 9-7-1/Playoffs: 1-1) — After their team went 4-13 in 2021, New York Giants fans had "Knives Out" for head coach Joe Judge. Daboll has been much sharper since taking over in 2022. Not only did he bring the team its first winning season since 2016, but he got the Giants their first playoff win since 2011 and the NFL Coach of the Year Award for himself. Time will tell if 2022 was a "House of Cards," but thanks to Daboll, Giants fans can finally chill. 

6: 'WATERWORLD' TIER | Sinking into ... oblivion?

MIKE McCARTHY | DALLAS COWBOYS (Regular season: 155-97-2/Playoffs: 11-10) — With 125 wins in 13 years as Packers head coach, Lambeau proved to be a "Field of Dreams" for McCarthy, but not even Super Bowl-winning coaches are untouchable, as McCarthy found out in 2018, when he was fired after two straight losing seasons. His 30-20 regular-season record with Dallas is great, but Cowboys fans were expecting more from this coaching hire. Without a deep playoff run in 2023 with a loaded roster, McCarthy’s Dallas tenure will be seen as an epic flop.