Top 10 NFL rookie head coaching seasons

4. 2009: Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts (12-4 to 14-2)

Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy retired in 2009 and Caldwell took over that year. With Peyton Manning leading the offense, the Colts went 12-4 during Dungy’s last season. In his first year as head coach, Caldwell tied George Seifert for the best regular season record by a rookie head coach in NFL history. The Indianapolis Colts went 14-2 and many believe the team would have gone undefeated if Caldwell had not opted to bench his starters for the last two games of the regular season. Indianapolis made it all the way to Super Bowl XLIV before losing to the New Orleans Saints.