This year, there is a lot of talk about the MVP battle, but there seems to be no clear winner yet. When it comes to Coach of the Year, the competition gets even wider.
Depending on the final 15 days of the season, there are a number of potential candidates to receive the award, which, very broadly speaking, goes to the coach of the team that most dramatically exceeded accepted expectations going into the season. .
Below is a list of candidates. That’s the same order that his eight NFL divisions are wired into my brain.
1. Bills coach Sean McDermott: His candidacy stems from the idea that the team hit rock bottom but turned things around in the wake of the firing of offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. At the time, Dorsey felt like a scapegoat. It ended up being the best move for McDermott.
2. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel: Perhaps the most authentic coach in the NFL since Jerry Glanville, McDaniel is who he is and wants his players to be themselves. Under his guidance, they are a team that could be the top seed in the AFC. Most people expected the Dolphins to do well this year. Few expected them to be great.
3. Ravens Coach John Harbaugh: With a brand new offense and not as much star power on defense, the Ravens are making a run for the No. 1 seed. If they beat the 49ers on Monday night, Harbaugh might just get the win.
4. Bengals coach Zac Taylor: His case took a hit last night in Pittsburgh. Backup QB Jake Browning’s magical run turned into a pumpkin like many backup QBs after four or five games. With the playoffs suddenly out of reach, Taylor’s chances of winning Coach of the Year honors are even further away.
5. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski: He is the first Browns coach since Marty Schottenheimer in the 1980s to have two consecutive winning seasons. Stefanski wasn’t a wire-to-wire starter this year, and he did it through non-stop quarterback injuries and disruption. He’s started with four different quarterbacks this season, each winning at least one game. Stefanski also lost running back Nick Chubb in Week 2. Their selection of Jim Schwartz, who wasn’t a high-profile candidate in a cycle with several players, on defense was a stroke of genius.
6. Colts coach Shane Steichen: What’s wrong with the Eagles’ offense this year? They miss Steichen, who had a lot more to do with the unit’s performance last year than Eagles coach Nick Sirianni would admit. Despite being without quarterback Anthony Richardson this year, the Colts continue to make strides and could make the playoffs as the unlikely AFC South champions.
7. Texans coach DeMeco Ryans: Before the season, the Texans were the only team in the AFC that seemed to have no chance of making the playoffs. They currently sit atop the AFC South in a three-way tie with eight wins and six losses. He brought a winning culture and added the right pieces to turn things around. Dramatically.
8. Broncos coach Sean Payton: He gave the Broncos and quarterback Russell Wilson the shock to their system that they both needed. And the Broncos still have an outside shot at making the playoffs. If they get there, Payton should be able to pick up some votes.
9. Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy: Even if they get the No. 5 seed (as expected), it won’t be enough. If they somehow manage to steal a division title, maybe he’ll get some consideration.
10. Lions coach Dan Campbell: He was a betting favorite for most of the year (maybe still is, I haven’t checked). Would winning a division title and a No. 3 seed in the NFC be enough to beat expectations? Yes, if they had earned the top seed. As third fiddle for the 49ers and the NFC East champions, No.
11. Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell: Win the remaining three games and win the division (if the Lions lose next Saturday at Dallas). That makes O’Connell, like Stefan Kusi, a strong candidate who has started with four different quarterbacks and has often kept them all together. The defense is also dramatically improved compared to 2022, thanks to Coach O’Connell’s faith in Brian Flores.
12. Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles: This division doesn’t have the above atmosphere, but Bowles stabilized the Bucs in Tommy’s first year on the job. If the Bucs win the division, ideally going 10-7, he should get at least one or two votes.
13. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan: Shanahan’s annual candidacy is dragged down by Bill Belichick’s dynamics. We expect greatness. Even if he gives us greatness, it does not attract our attention. That should happen this year. The 49ers are his best team in the NFL, largely because Shanahan has finally perfected his formula.
14. Rams coach Sean McVay: This was supposed to be the year they paid for the Super Bowl LVI championship. He may be unlikely to make another Super Bowl appearance. A playoff spot is in McVay’s hands. And a memorable postseason run may follow. It would be a dramatic turn of events considering McVeigh had been considering retiring after 2022.
15. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll: He probably won’t win, but he should at least be mentioned. He turned the post-Las Seahawks into his competition. And his recent win over the Eagles revived Seattle’s playoff chances. He needs to be named on at least a list that makes up almost half of the entire league.