Professionals Weigh in Via Korn Ferry Survey in Advance of Sunday’s Big Game

-- Patriots’ Belichick Would Make Better CEO, But Most Would Prefer Rams’ McVay as a Boss --
-- Vast Majority Say Patriots’ QB Would Be Better CEO than Rams’ QB --

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 29, 2019 — As sports fans across the globe gear up for this weekend’s massive matchup of the New England Patriots against the Los Angeles Rams, a Korn Ferry (NYSE: KFY) survey of professionals pits football against corporate life.

When asked whose job is harder, an NFL head coach or a Fortune 50 CEO, nearly two thirds (64 percent) said Fortune 50 CEO. Even though they believe it’s more difficult, 71 percent of the professionals said they’d rather be a Fortune 50 CEO than an NFL head coach.

The survey also dug into the leadership of the two teams headed into this weekend’s game. When asked who would be a better CEO of a Fortune 50 company, 58 percent said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick. However, when asked who they would prefer as a boss, 56 percent said Rams Head Coach Sean McVay. The majority of respondents (52 percent) also said McVay is a better motivator than Belichick, and 70 percent said McVay is more optimistic.

When asked which quarterback would make the best CEO of a Fortune 50 company, 84 percent chose the Patriots’ Tom Brady over the Rams’ Jared Goff. The majority (81 percent) also said Brady is the better team player, and 56 predict he will be the highest performer of the game.

About the Survey – The Korn Ferry survey of professionals was conducted in January 2019 and garnered 1,125 responses. Note, due to rounding percentages may not equal 100.

Survey Responses

Which team will win this weekend’s matchup?

New England Patriots - 66 percent
Los Angeles Rams - 34 percent

Which quarterback would make the best CEO?

Tom Brady - 84 percent
Jared Goff - 16 percent

Which coach would make the best CEO?

Bill Belichick - 58 percent
Sean McVay - 42 percent

Which coach is the best motivator?

Sean McVay - 52 percent
Bill Belichick - 48 percent

Which quarterback is the best team player?

Tom Brady - 81 percent
Jared Goff - 19 percent

What player will be the best high performer in the game?

Tom Brady - 56 percent
Jared Goff - 9 percent
Aaron Donald - 8 percent
Todd Gurley - 10 percent
Sony Michel - 5 percent
Rob Gronkowski - 12 percent

Of the two coaches, who would you want to be your boss?

Bill Belichick - 44 percent
Sean McVay - 56 percent

Whose job is more difficult, an NFL head coach or the CEO of a Fortune 50 company?

NFL head coach - 36 percent
CEO of Fortune 50 company - 64 percent

Which would you rather be?

An NFL head coach - 29 percent
CEO of a Fortune 50 company - 71 percent

Good leadership requires optimism. Which coach is more optimistic?

Sean McVay - 70 percent
Bill Belichick - 30 percent

About Korn Ferry

Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm. We help clients synchronize strategy and talent to drive superior performance. We work with organizations to design their structures, roles, and responsibilities. We help them hire the right people to bring their strategy to life. And we advise them on how to reward, develop, and motivate their people.