Nick Sirianni has led the Eagles to an 11-1 record and is the current frontrunner for the NFL Coach of the Year.
Keep in mind, the award doesn’t always go to the boss with the best record. The AP voters often hand the hardware to the coach that does the most with what he has.
Dallas Cowboys head coach Jimmy Johnson won the award in 1990 with a 7-9 record. Only impressive because the Cowboys were 1-15 the year before.
With five weeks left in the season, this thing is far from over. Here’s a look at the current odds from NFL sportsbooks and a breakdown of the favorites.
Top NFL Coach of the Year candidates
Nick Sirianni (-175)
After sneaking into the playoffs last year with a 9-8 record, Philadelphia was promptly obliterated by Tom Brady and the Bucs in the NFC Wild Card Game.
The Birds were left reeling with more questions than answers. Was Jalen Hurts the guy? Can they be competitive with their offensive scheme? And most importantly, can Nick Sirianni actually coach?
The answer to all of those questions has proven to be yes. Hurts has been phenomenal, Sirianni has control of the locker room, and the Eagles have run the ball unapologetically to an 11-1 record.
Adding All-Pro receiver A.J. Brown has taken the team to the next level, but Sirianni deserves a lot of the credit.
If Philly finishes 16-1, it would be hard not to give him the award. But throw in a loss or two to finish the season, and things get murky.
Kevin O’Connell (+350)
Kevin O’Connell has breathed life into a Minnesota Vikings organization that had been handcuffed to defensive-minded head coach Mike Zimmer for nearly a decade.
O’Connell earned his stripes as the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams the last two seasons and has installed a similar system in Minnesota.
Pass-catching phenom Justin Jefferson has been used much the same way that O’Connell used Cooper Kupp last year, and it’s paid dividends for the Vikings.
And while the current 10-2 record is impressive, there are some uneasy house of cards vibes in the air. Until two weeks ago, the Vikes had a negative point differential. Unheard of for an 8-2 team.
This squad has been squeaking by in close games all season, and it feels like regression is inevitable.
Robert Saleh (+1200)
Robert Saleh trusts the process. After getting blown out in Week 1, the second-year head coach said he was keeping receipts of the mockers and haters that ran rampant on social media.
If you didn’t take him seriously then, you should now. The Jets have entirely turned things around and would be a playoff team if the season ended today.
Gang Green has become one of the most feared defenses in the NFL, and despite Zach Wilson’s best efforts to sink the team, the Jets have prevailed.
Mike White has put up two plucky performances since taking over at quarterback. New York now seems capable of scoring points and is a legitimate threat to anyone they play.
The Jets had a combined record of 6-27 over the last two years. If Salah can guide them into the postseason after that, how does he not win the award?
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Sleepers to keep an eye on
Mike McDaniel (+1600)
Hiring Mike McDaniel has been a game-changer for the Miami Dolphins. The quirky coach has endeared himself to the players and has proven to be a quarterback whisperer with Tua Tagovailoa.
McDaniel’s stock took a hit this week after his team got dismantled by the 49ers. But if the Dolphins can prevail in the AFC East, things could get interesting.
Brian Daboll (+2000)
There was no shortage of hype surrounding the hiring of Daboll in New York. The Giants faithful were hoping he could perform the same magic on quarterback Daniel Jones that he did on Josh Allen in Buffalo.
So far, he kind of has.
Jones is having the best season of his four-year career, and the G-men are right in the thick of it in the NFC playoff picture. New York has a brutal schedule down the stretch (including Eagles twice), which will limit Daboll’s chances.
Pete Carroll (+3000)
Pete Carroll’s odds are oozing with value right now. What he’s done in Seattle has been nothing short of miraculous.
The Seahawks were expected to win roughly four games, finish in the bottom three of the league, and take a top-tier QB with the high draft pick they’d receive.
Old man Pete didn’t get the memo.
Not only are the ‘Hawks currently in a wild card spot, but they have a legitimate shot at winning their division. And all of this without Russell Wilson. This man deserves an award, whether it’s Coach of the Year or not.
Previous Coach of the Year winners
Year Winner Team
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
