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
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
The favorite to win the NFL Coach of the Year award is Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns. Cleveland has been through some incredible adversity this season, with injuries to Deshaun Watson and Nick Chubb making it tough for their offense to operate at a high level. But Stefanski led his team to a trip to the postseason anyway, which is an incredible job on the part of their head coach.
DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
One of the most pleasant surprises in the NFL this season has been the play of the Houston Texans. Led by Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite CJ Stroud, Ryans’ Texans team not only made the playoffs, but won the AFC South as well. Ryans is new to being a head coach and has done a great job of taking a team with low expectations to the playoffs.
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 among the favorites to win Coach of the Year in the 2023 season, as the Lions are playing incredibly well and look like they will reach the postseason in 2023.
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. This team has a tenacity on both sides of the ball that comes directly from their head coach, which has made him worth taking in this NFL futures betting market.
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. Shane Steichen of the Colts had his team in playoff contention until the final week of the season despite adversity at the quarterback position. Kyle Shanahan is leading the best team in the NFL in the San Francisco 49ers. And John Harbaugh also led a top-seeded team in the Baltimore Ravens to his credit.
2023 NFL Coach of the Year Prediction
It looks likely that Stefanski will win this year’s NFL Coach of the Year award. While Dan Campbell put together a better overall season, Stefanski did a great job in the face of a lot more problems arising from his team. That should be the difference maker, though you cannot go wrong with either of those two coaches for what they did this year.