The NFL Coach of the Year award doesn’t necessarily go to the league’s best coach.
Instead, NFL Coach of the Year voting is often swayed by overall team improvement, with recent recipients typically leading their squads to at least five more wins than the previous season.
Last year, New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel orchestrated a 10-win improvement, taking New England from 4-13 to 14-3 en route to winning the award for the second time in his career.
As we get set for the 2026 season, I’ll analyze the latest NFL Coach of the Year odds, assess the contenders, and predict who will take home the award.
NFL Coach of the Year Award Odds 2026
All football odds used for these NFL Coach of the Year predictions are current as of Wednesday, Aug. 12, and are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
- John Harbaugh (+650)
- Jesse Minter (+850)
- Kevin Stefanski (+1400)
- Kellen Moore (+1400)
- Joe Brady (+1500)
- Ben Johnson (+1500)
- Brian Schottenheimer (+1600)
- Robert Saleh (+1600)
- Klint Kubiak (+1700)
- Jim Harbaugh (+1900)
- Dan Campbell (+2200)
- Liam Coen (+2200)
- Kyle Shanahan (+2200)
All other coaches have odds of +2500 or higher to win the award.
Who Will Win NFL Coach of the Year?
Jesse Minter (+850)
Jesse Minter was one of the top names of this year’s coaching cycle, so it’s no surprise that the former Los Angeles Chargers defensive coordinator is among the front-runners for NFL Coach of the Year.
The first-time head coach takes over a Baltimore Ravens team that disappointed last season, finishing with an 8-9 record and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
However, Minter’s prowess as a defensive play-caller should help a Baltimore unit that struggled to get after opposing quarterbacks last season, ranking 30th in sacks (30) and hurry percentage (5.6%). The return of Nnamdi Madubuike and the offseason addition of Trey Hendrickson should also help in that regard.
As long as quarterback Lamar Jackson stays healthy and the defense improves, Baltimore should win 12-plus games and reclaim the AFC North crown. That’ll make Minter a strong candidate for NFL Coach of the Year, so I’m backing him at +850 odds with my NFL pick of the day.
NFL Coach of the Year Contenders
John Harbaugh (+650)
After 18 years with the Baltimore Ravens, John Harbaugh is the betting favorite to win NFL Coach of the Year in his first season with the New York Giants.
The 2019 recipient was hired to bring a winning culture to a Giants franchise that has endured 11 losing seasons and made just two playoff appearances since Eli Manning won his second Super Bowl ring in February 2012.
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Harbaugh’s situation in New York is very similar to Vrabel’s in New England last season, as he inherits a team that finished 4-13 last season and a second-year quarterback in Jaxson Dart, who showed flashes in his rookie campaign.
The ingredients are there for Harbaugh to produce a similar turnaround, but the Giants have a way more difficult schedule than the Patriots did last season, and New York’s playmakers on offense have to prove they can stay healthy.
Kellen Moore (+1400)
Second-year Saints coach Kellen Moore is an intriguing option in the NFL Coach of the Year market.
New Orleans finished 6-11 last season, but it won five of its final nine games after Moore made rookie Tyler Shough the team’s starting quarterback.
Shough should continue to develop under Moore’s tutelage, which could pay dividends for a Saints team that is a legitimate candidate to go from worst to first.
Still, I’m not sure an NFC South title would be enough for Moore to take home this award if New Orleans only improves by three or four wins and tops a perennially poor division.
NFL Coach of the Year Sleeper Pick
Dan Campbell (+2200)
Campbell owns a 48-36-1 record as head coach of the Detroit Lions, which is pretty impressive considering the team posted a 3-13-1 mark in his first season (2021).
However, Detroit fell short of expectations last year, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2022 and finishing last in the NFC North despite a 9-8 record.
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The Lions should benefit from that fourth-place finish this season, as they play one of the easiest schedules in the NFL.
If Detroit can cruise to an NFC North title and take one of the top seeds in the conference, perhaps replicating its 15-2 season from 2024 with a six-win improvement, Campbell could finally get the recognition his coaching job has deserved over the last half-decade.
Previous AP NFL Coach of the Year Winners
2025: Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
2024: Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
2023: Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
2022: Brian Daboll, New York Giants
2021: Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans
2020: Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
2019: John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
2018: Matt Nagy, Chicago Bears
2017: Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
2016: Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
2015: Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
2014: Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
2013: Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
2012: Bruce Arians, Indianapolis Colts
2011: Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers
2010: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
2009: Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
2008: Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons
2007: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
2006: Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
2005: Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears
2004: Marty Schottenheimer, San Diego Chargers
2003: Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
2002: Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles
2001: Dick Jauron, Chicago Bears
2000: Jim Haslett, New Orleans Saints
1999: Dick Vermeil, St. Louis Rams
1998: Dan Reeves, Atlanta Falcons
1997: Jim Fassel, New York Giants
1996: Dom Capers, Carolina Panthers
1995: Ray Rhodes, Philadelphia Eagles
1994: Bill Parcells, New England Patriots
1993: Dan Reeves, New York Giants
1992: Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers
1991: Wayne Fontes, Detroit Lions
1990: Jimmy Johnson, Dallas Cowboys
1989: Lindy Infante, Green Bay Packers
1988: Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears
1987: Jim Mora, New Orleans Saints
1986: Bill Parcells, New York Giants
1985: Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears
1984: Chuck Knox, Seattle Seahawks
1983: Joe Gibbs, Washington Redskins
1982: Joe Gibbs, Washington Redskins
1981: Bill Walsh, San Francisco 49ers
1980: Chuck Knox, Buffalo Bills
1979: Jack Pardee, Washington Redskins
1978: Jack Patera, Seattle Seahawks
1977: Red Miller, Denver Broncos
1976: Forrest Gregg, Cleveland Browns
1975: Ted Marchibroda, Baltimore Colts
1974: Don Coryell, St. Louis Cardinals
1973: Chuck Knox, Los Angeles Rams
1972: Don Shula, Miami Dolphins
1971: George Allen, Washington Redskins
1970: Paul Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
1969: Bud Grant, Minnesota Vikings
1968: Don Shula, Baltimore Colts
1967: George Allen, Los Angeles Rams & Don Shula, Baltimore Colts
1966: Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboys
1965: George Halas, Chicago Bears
1964: Don Shula, Baltimore Colts
1963: George Halas, Chicago Bears
1962: Allie Sherman, New York Giants
1961: Allie Sherman, New York Giants
1960: Buck Shaw, Philadelphia Eagles
1959: Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers
1958: Weeb Ewbank, Baltimore Colts
1957: George Wilson, Detroit Lions
