Nfl Coach Of The Year Odds
By Tony Mejia
VegasInsider.com
Sign up to receive daily news from VegasInsider
- Coach
The 2020 NFL Coach of the Year award has been handed out annually since 1957 by the Associated Press, which is one reason why it's the most widely recognized outlet handing out the honors.
Sportsbooks have started increasing their betting markets on the upcoming season and one of the most potentially profitable wagers focuses on projecting the winner of this. Last season's winner, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, won for the first time in his 12th season at the helm and had odds of +2800. Cleveland's Freddie Kitchens entered the season as the betting favorite and ended up being fired after a 7-9 finish.
Co-Favorites Lead Wide Open COY Field
There's a clear pecking order on most NFL futures. The Chiefs and Ravens are your Super Bowl favorites. Quarterbacks Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson are joined by Seahawks star Russell Wilson as the top MVP candidates.
Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores (+250) isn't far behind, and Ron Rivera (+600). While there is no runaway favorite in the NFL Coach of the Year betting odds, it appears that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has a slight edge on the field per the BetMGM oddsmakers, but.
The No. 1 and No. 2 draft picks, Cincinnati's Joe Burrow and Washington's Chase Young, are frontrunners for Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Brian Flores, Miami Dolphins (5/4 odds) After going 0-7 to begin his tenure in 2019, Flores rallied. NFL Coach of the Year odds: Shanahan favored over Harbaugh, Tomlin. C Jackson Cowart. John McCoy / Getty Images Sport / Getty. Find line reports, best bets, and subscribe to push. That’s why winning the NFL Coach of the Year Award as the league’s best coach is a significant honor. Sizing up the odds on which bench boss will garner the hardware in the 2020 season, some familiar faces are at the top of the list.
However, when it comes to the guys manning the sideline, there is no clear favorite. New England's Bill Belichick, looking to prove he can win despite losing Tom Brady, is a +1200 (Bet $100 to win $1200) co-favorite according FanDuel Sportsbook. He's won three Coach of the Year awards but needed to finish 14-2 or better every time to get the nod.
Without his quarterback for the past two decades sharing in the credit for all the spoils, Belichick may only need to rack up another AFC East title with Jarrett Stidham or Brian Hoyer at the controls to stake claim to a fourth honor. Expectations for the Patriots are lower than they have been since 2001, when Belichick was coming off a 5-11 first season and Brady was slated to serve as Drew Bledsoe's primary backup.
Belichick would join the late Don Shula as the lone four-time winners of the award.
Mike McCarthy, beginning his first season as head coach of the Cowboys, has been cast as a +1200 (Bet $100 to win $200) co-favorite due to the belief that he might provide a significant enough upgrade over former head coach Jason Garrett that Dallas immediately competes for an NFC title.
After underachieving and stumbling to an 8-8 finish in 2019, Dallas is hoping an offense that has the potential to be one of the NFL's best will be able to flourish. The expectation that Dak Prescott will get a new contract before racking up stats with receivers Amari Cooper, Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb has helped the Cowboys nose ahead of the Eagles as the NFC East favorite.
After splitting with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, McCarthy has an opportunity to restore his reputation. He crashed with an 11-16-1 run after reaching the playoffs in nine of 10 seasons, winning a Super Bowl. After a year out of the spotlight, he's landed the highest-profile head coaching gig in the NFL and will likely have a longer leash out of the gate than he'll ever have under owner/GM Jerry Jones.
NFL 2020 AP Coach of the Year Odds
Bill Belichick, Patriots +1200Mike McCarthy, Cowboys +1200
Bruce Arians, Bucs +1400
Nfl Coach Of The Year Odds College Football
Frank Reich, Colts +1400
Kliff Kingsbury, Cardinals +1800
Sean McDermott, Bills +1800
Kevin Stefanski, Browns +2000
Kyle Shanahan, 49ers +2000
Mike Vrabel, Titans +2000
Andy Reid, Chiefs +2200
John Harbaugh, Ravens +2200
Sean Payton, Saints +2200
Brian Flores, Dolphins +2400
Vic Fangio, Broncos +2400
Doug Pederson, Eagles +2600
Mike Tomlin, Steelers +2600
Mike Zimmer, Vikings +2600
Pete Carroll, Seahawks +2600
Sean McVay, Rams +2600
Anthony Lynn, Chargers +3000
Dan Quinn, Falcons +3000
Matt LaFleur, Packers +3000
Matt Nagy, Bears +3000
Matt Patricia, Lions +3000
Matt Rhule, Panthers +3000
Zak Taylor, Bengals +3000
Joe Judge, Giants +3400
Jon Gruden, Raiders +3400
Ron Rivera, Redskins +3400
Adam Gase, Jets +4400
Bill O'Brien, Texans +4400
Doug Marrone, Jaguars +5000
McDermott Worth a Shot with AFC East in Play
Brady's new boss, Bruce Arians, could become the second head coach in NFL history to win Coach of the Year with three different teams, joining the late Chuck Knox, who won with the Rams, Bills and Seahawks. Arians is expected to let it fly with Brady in a wide-open offense and could benefit if the soon-to-be 43-year-old flourishes.
Arians (+1400) went 7-9 in his first season with the Bucs but was victimized by Jameis Winston throwing 30 interceptions which really proved costly since Tampa dropped six games by seven points or less.
Colts head coach Frank Reich (+1400) is also in a strong position to lay claim to this award since he's got a great shot to lead Indianapolis to a playoff berth following a 7-9 run after Andrew Luck abruptly retired in the preseason. Indy fell in seven of the final nine games, running out of gas after being besieged by injuries.
The Cardinals are also expected to improve in the second season under Kliff Kingsbury and former No. 1 pick Kyler Murray, but at +1800, there's a better option than riding with the team expected to bring up the rear in the NFC West regardless of their expected improvement. Bills head coach Sean McDermott has built up some credibility by leading his team to a pair of Wild Card Game appearances in three years and now presides over the AFC East favorite.
Nfl Coach Of The Year Odds Week
Buffalo is hoping to see more consistency from a young group led by third-year quarterback Josh Allen and one of the league's top defensive units but is capable of keeping the Patriots' run of consecutive division titles from reaching a dozen. New England has won the AFC East in 16 of the last 17 years.
The Bills haven't celebrated a division title since 1995, so if they're able to hold serve as the preseason favorite (+130, Bet $100 to win $130), we could see McDermott become the first winner from Buffalo since Knox won in '80. Bills coaching legend Marv Levy never won the AP Coach of the Year award, though he was honored by the Sporting News in 1988.
Other potential best bets include three tremendous options at +2200 or better in Andy Reid, Harbaugh and Pete Carroll since they all have the top MVP candidates to lean on. Reid and Harbaugh (both +2200) have the best shot at finishing 16-0 after combining to go 26-6 in '19.
Carroll(+2600) has a Seahawks team a lot of people are sleeping on that could emerge as the class of the loaded NFC West. If he can take control of the division back from the reigning NFC champion 49ers, he'll get consideration
The best of longshots at +3000 or higher include Matt LaFleur (+3000), who guided the Packers to the NFC Championship in his first season. Jon Gruden, looking to lead the Raiders to just their second winning season since 2002, would garner serious consideration if he can bring Las Vegas a winner immediately. At +3400, you could do worse as far as lottery tickets are concerned.
Coach of the Year Winners
(Last 20 Years)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, Kansas City Chiefs
2001 - Dick Jauron, Chicago Bears
2000 - Jim Haslett, New Orleans Saints
It’s typically rather obvious who will win major pro football awards this late in the season, but the 2020 campaign has been far from normal due to COVID-19, and more candidates than usual have legitimate cases to be NFL Coach of the Year.
Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores is the odds-on favorite to take home the hardware. According to SportsBetting.com, B-Flo as he’s affectionately known is listed at 5/4, just ahead of Buffalo Bills boss Sean McDermott.
Continue reading for the remaining odds, along with a breakdown as to why each candidate is a worthy contender.
NFL Coach of the Year 2020 odds before Week 17
- Brian Flores, Miami Dolphins 5/4odds
- Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills 3/2odds
- Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers 8/1odds
- Ron Rivera, Washington Football Team 10/1odds
- Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns 10/1odds
NFL Coach of the Year 2020: Breaking down each candidate
Brian Flores, Miami Dolphins (5/4 odds)
After going 0-7 to begin his tenure in 2019, Flores rallied Miami to a 5-5 record despite fielding a depleted roster that was in an obvious rebuild. Even this year was thought to be a bridge into something greater in 2021 and beyond.
But Flores had other ideas. Thanks to some savvy free-agent moves and a solid draft class, the Dolphins are well ahead of schedule, with a 10-5 record heading into Week 17 and the chance to win and make the playoffs.
Beyond transforming the defense from yesteryear’s laughingstock to one of the NFL’s elite, there’s almost no precedent for how deftly Flores has handled Miami’s quarterback situation. Rookie Tua Tagovailoa has been benched multiple times during games in favor of Ryan Fitzpatrick, including in Week 16 with postseason hopes on the line. It wound up resulting in victory against Las Vegas.
Between those calculated risks at the most important position on the field, the reshaped defense and an overall changed culture, there’s no denying Flores is a viable contender for this award.
Flores’ Coach of the Year candidacy may boil down to whether or not the Dolphins ultimately earn an AFC Wild Card berth.
Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills (3/2 odds)
Sometimes part of the job involves hiring a strong staff, which McDermott has succeeded at in spades with the Bills. His offensive coordinator Brian Daboll is a legitimate head coaching candidate for 2021, and that’s a positive reflection on McDermott’s tutelage and eye for talent.
Nfl Coach Of The Year Odds This Week
When Buffalo’s defense struggled at times early in the year, much of the credit for the Bills’ success went to Daboll and how well he developed third-year quarterback Josh Allen from scattershot gunslinger to legitimate superstar. However, McDermott’s defensive acumen has shined through, and Buffalo is peaking when it matters most late in the season.
McDermott managed to wrest the AFC East crown away from the mighty New England Patriots and arguably the GOAT of all coaches, Bill Belichick.
Yes, New England lost Tom Brady in the offseason and had multiple players opt out in 2020. No matter — McDermott’s achievement is a mighty one considering the Pats had lost the division only twice since 2001.
The only thing really hurting McDermott here for Coach of the Year is the fact that Flores is doing more with less in Miami, and the Dolphins are also in the AFC East.
If you like McDermott or Flores, it might be worth betting on either of them before their teams square off for the regular-season finale. That head-to-head duel may well determine who wins Coach of the Year, and the Week 17 victor will emerge as the prohibitive favorite.
Related: NFL world reacts to Buffalo Bills winning AFC East
Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers (8/1 odds)
Is there a more underappreciated coach in the NFL than Matt LaFleur?
Think about all that he’s dealt with during his tenure in Green Bay since taking over for the 2019 campaign. Instant credibility questions surrounded him since he was viewed as a poor man’s version of Sean McVay. Then, of course, LaFleur maybe didn’t have enough authority as a young hire to mesh well with superstar quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
All LaFleur did was go 13-3 in his first year, guiding the Packers to the NFC Championship Game. How did the front office reward him? Slamming him with a quarterback controversy by trading up to draft Jordan Love in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Instead of letting that potentially infect the team, LaFleur has helped Rodgers unlock a new level to his game, making the signal-caller the leader in the NFL MVP race. Oh, and if Green Bay wins in Week 17, that’ll make the Packers the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed and cap a second straight 13-3 record for the coach.
Little of this will be discussed due to some of the more compelling narratives around other coaches. Nevertheless, LaFleur absolutely deserves to be mentioned among the NFL’s best, and in another year, may have been honored as the league’s top coach.
Ron Rivera, Washington Football Team (10/1 odds)
Give it up for Ron Rivera. Seriously. Continuing to coach through chemotherapy treatments with the dangers of the COVID-19 pandemic constantly a factor? Talk about a heroic effort.
Rivera has capitalized on all the talent Washington has on the defensive side of the ball as well, transforming the Football Team into a physical, pass-rushing force that handed the 11-0 Pittsburgh Steelers their first loss of 2020 and leads the NFC East entering the final week of the regular season.
Coach Of The Year Nfl 2019 Odds
All this despite an inept offense that just released quarterback Dwayne Haskins, a 2019 first-round pick who completely flopped. Alex Smith’s amazing comeback helped Washington turn its season around once he got thrust into starting duty, yet he’s been out lately with a nagging calf injury.
Say what you will about the Football Team having a losing record. What Rivera has overcome in trying to turn around a historically troubled organization is exceptional, and purely for the human achievement he’s accomplished, he’s a legitimate threat to win Coach of the Year.
Among the longer-shot candidates, Rivera at 10/1 is probably the best bet.
Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns (10/1 odds)
The above photo is fitting for the Browns‘ latest leader. As if to say, “What do I have to do to win Coach of the Year?”
As has been outlined in the previous subsections, it’s pretty obvious Stefanski is on the outside looking in. That doesn’t take away from what he’s accomplished, though.
Nfl Coach Of The Year Odds After Week 17
Think about where Cleveland was entering the 2020 offseason. Freddie Kitchens was fired after one season as coach and a horrid 6-10 record. The Browns didn’t have an identity on either side of the ball. Baker Mayfield looked like a bust at quarterback. Everything was in complete chaos.
Nfl Coach Of The Year Odds
Enter the even-keeled Stefanski. He calmly persevered through adverse circumstances that were unimaginable before taking on the job as a first-time NFL head coach. Stefanski installed a system that catered to Mayfield’s strengths, forged a run-first identity through the Browns’ mauling rushing attack, and made a great hire with Joe Woods at defensive coordinator.
Any chance Stefanski has to win the award hinges on Cleveland’s ability to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 17. Multiple players missed last Sunday’s upset loss to the New York Jets, and the Browns will be without several starters versus Pittsburgh. At least the Steelers are cutting Cleveland a break by resting several players prior to the postseason.
Stefanski should be celebrated more for the job he’s done. Alas, he’ll inevitably get overlooked, and he ultimately isn’t as worthy of a 10/1 wager as Rivera, whose Football Team could still win the NFC East by beating the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday.
Related:Baker Mayfield future forecast: QB’s outlook brightening amid Cleveland Browns renaissance