The NFL Coach of the Year award rewards the coach that gets the most out of his team each season in pro football. Whether that means taking one of the best teams in the league to a great season, or one of the other teams in the league to exceeding expectations, there are many paths that can be taken to win this award. Here, we look at the NFL betting markets for NFL Coach of the Year and make our pick to win it.
NFL Coach of the Year Futures Odds
Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions have become synonymous with losing football games over the years, but they are getting better under head coach Dan Campbell. Campbell is the favorite to win Coach of the Year early in the 2023 season, as the Lions are expected to take another huge step forward in the season to come.
Campbell deserves a ton of credit for the improved culture in Detroit that has made them the favorite to win the NFC North this year. If they can live up to the expectations that have been set for them this season, the head man in Detroit could win this award.
Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton is back as an NFL head coach, as he has joined the Denver Broncos after some time away after his tenure ended in New Orleans. Payton is expected to immediately improve the team in Denver, which was terrible offensively for most of last season. But there are understandable questions about whether Payton can do that after having precisely zero coaching success without Drew Brees as his quarterback. Those questions could have merit after the Broncos struggled offensively at home in Week 1.
Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears
Another relatively new NFC North head coach is an early contender to win the NFL Coach of the Year award. The Chicago Bears are expected to take some positive steps this year, as Justin Fields is expected to have more weapons around him to help him improve as a passer. Eberflus’ Coach of the Year candidacy likely depends on the improvement of Fields, which means the sky is the limit even if there is the potential for that to hurt Eberflus as well.
Robert Saleh, New York Jets
Robert Saleh was in the enviable position of having an all-time great quarterback dropped into his lap heading into this season. Saleh’s New York Jets were set to go from Zach Wilson at quarterback to Aaron Rodgers, but Rodgers was lost for the year in Week 1. While that could hurt the Jets, it could help Saleh’s Coach of the Year case if the Jets continue to play well without Rodgers under center.
Other Notable Coach of the Year Candidates
Along with the favorites listed above, there are a few head coaches who have a perfectly good shot at winning this award themselves. Matt LaFleur has a chance to keep the Packers in contention post-Aaron Rodgers, which would make him a great candidate. Doug Pederson could oversee an elite team in Jacksonville in 2023. And you can’t count out the winner of the NFC East in this race either, as it will take a spectacular coaching job from any of those four teams to come out on top.
2023 NFL Coach of the Year Prediction
Dan Campbell is a great choice to win this season’s Coach of the Year award. Detroit will benefit greatly from steps backward from the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, and Campbell’s cultural impact on his franchise simply cannot be overstated. Look for Campbell to become the first Lions coach to win this honor since Wayne Fontes in 1991.
