NFL head coaches get more credit and blame than in the NBA, NHL, and MLB.
A team that has a really good head coach has a big edge in the NFL.
They not only need to get their players ready to play, but also to come up with a game plan and scheme each week is critical.
There are some really good head coaches in the league up for the Coach of the Year award.
Different sites have a different head coach favored to win the award. Below are the odds for NFL Coach of the Year according to DraftKings and FanDuel.
NFL Coach Of The Year Odds
Currently, there are numerous good head coaches in the NFL as organizations do everything possible to find the right guy to lead their team.
Here are the top 10 favorites to win the NFL Coach of the Year award, according to DraftKings:
- 1. Mike Vrabel (-140)
- 2. Kyle Shanahan (+190)
- 3. Mike Macdonald (+750)
- 4. Liam Coen (+1200)
- 5. Ben Johnson (+2500)
- 6. Sean Payton (+4000)
- 7. Demeco Ryans (+20000)
- 8. Dave Canales (+20000)
- 9. Nick Sirianni (+50000)
- 10. Sean McVay (+50000)
However, FanDuel has a different favorite.
- 1. Kyle Shanahan (+100)
- 2. Mike Vrabel (+110)
- 3. Mike Macdonald (+650)
- 4. Liam Coen (+2200)
- 5. Ben Johnson (+2500)
- 6. Sean Payton (+7500)
- 7. Demeco Ryans (+25000)
- 8. Dave Canales (+30000)
All these coaches are excellent candidates and have done a terrific job. Below, we will discuss each coach and predict who will win the Coach of the Year award.
Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
Mike Vrabel took over the New England Patriots head coaching job this offseason. New England is coming off back-to-back seasons of having a 4-13 record. However, with Vrabel as the head coach, he also brought in Josh McDaniels to be the offensive coordinator and Terrell Wiliams to be the new defensive coordinator.
These decisions became excellent as the Patriots rank fifth in points scored per game and points allowed per game.
With a revamped coaching staff, the Patriots went from 4-13 two straight seasons to 13-3 entering week 18. They have clinched the AFC East.
Vrabel is a very strong candidate for NFL Coach of the Year.
Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Shanahan somehow finds ways to win, despite his team suffering numerous injuries. Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Brandon Aiyuk are all out for the season.
Still, despite numerous injuries to their star players, the 49ers are 12-4 and playing for the number one seed in the NFC in week 18.
Shanahan is one of the best coaches in the NFL, and if the 49ers wind up the number one seed in the NFC, it will be very tough not to give him the NFL Coach of the Year award. No coach has had to overcome as many injuries to star players as Shanahan has.
Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
Mike Macdonald has done a good job in Seattle. This is his second year as the head coach of the Seahawks.
Last year, Seattle went 10-7 with Macdonald. This season, Seattle is 13-3 and fighting to win the NFC West and finish first in the conference.
They have a critical game on Saturday night against the 49ers for the division and conference lead.
If Seattle wins and finishes as the number one seed in the NFC, it will be tough not to give Macdonald the Coach of the Year award.
Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Liam Coen has done a terrific job in his first year as head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has Trevor Lawrence playing at a high level. Lawrence has failed to reach expectations coming out of college, but with Coen as the head coach, he is getting everything out of Lawrence.
The Jaguars are 12-4 and first in the AFC South. If they can manage to fend off the surging Texans (11-5) and win the division, Coen will earn strong consideration for Coach of the Year, as the Jaguars have been a complete mess over the last few years. Jacksonville just has to defeat the Titans in week 18 to win the AFC South.
Jacksonville finally got the right man to lead the team.
Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
Ben Johnson is another head coach who has completely changed the landscape of an organization. The Bears have struggled to find their franchise QB and a head coach. Well, it feels like they finally found both.
Chicago is 11-5, first in the NFC North and second in the NFC.
Ben Johnson has helped Caleb Williams improve tremendously. He has also revamped Chicago’s rushing attack to become one of the best in the league. This has further helped Williams.
With Chicago already clinching the NFC North, and will likely finish second in the NFC and no worse than third in the NFC, Ben Johnson is a top candidate for Coach of the Year.
Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton has helped lead the Denver Broncos to a 13-3 record and first in the AFC. They have lost one game since week 3.
The Broncos need to beat the Chargers in week 18 to finish as the number one seed in the AFC. It is expected that the Chargers will rest key players, as they can no longer win the division.
Payton is one of the best head coaches in the NFL and has Denver playing at an elite level.
Demeco Ryans, Houston Texans
The Houston Texans looked dead in the water to start the season. They began the year 0-3, and after week 9, they were 3-5.
It appeared the Texans had no chance of winning the division or making the playoffs.
Well, after week 9, the Texans have won eight straight games and are now 11-5. Not only are they in a wild-card position, but they can still win the division. However, it will be tough to win the division. They need to defeat the Colts, but also hope the Jags lose at home to the Titans.
While it is unlikely Houston wins the division, it is wildly impressive that they are 11-5 after starting the season 0-3.
Demeco Ryans should have better odds to win the Coach of the Year award.
Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
Dave Canales has entered the conversation for NFL Coach of the Year. He has the Panthers fighting to win the NFC South in week 18.
The winner of the Bucs vs Panthers matchup will win the NFC South. However, even if Carolina loses, they can still win the division if the Falcons defeat the Saints in week 18.
Canales has done a good job as the head coach for the Panthers.
Who Will Win Coach Of The Year Award?
With one week remaining in the NFL season, this feels like a two-man race for NFL Coach of the Year, between Mike Vrabel and Kyle Shanahan.
Vrabel and the Pats have already clinched the AFC East, and are looking like they will be the number two seed in the AFC.
Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers are fighting to finish first in the NFC. If San Francisco wins on Saturday Night in week 18, the 49ers will win the NFC West and finish first in the NFC.
With the number of injuries to star players that the 49ers have had to deal with, if they wind up the number one seed in the NFC, Shanahan should win the NFL Coach of the Year award.
With a 49ers win in week 18, Kyle Shanahan should win the award. However, if the Seahawks defeat the 49ers, then Mike Vrabel should win the award.
