NFL Coach of the Year Odds: Mike McDaniel Surges Early

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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton looks on as players stretch during an NFL football training camp at the team's headquarters Monday, July 31, 2023, in Centennial, Colo.
(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Chase Kiddy @chaseakiddy Sep 20, 2023, 3:35 PM
  • NFL Coach of the Year Odds currently price Mike McDaniel (+750) as the favorite.
  • Four of the last six COY winners have been in their first year with a team.

NFL Coach of the Year is one of the most fascinating betting markets to track every year because of how much human psychology is at the center of the market.

When an NFL team is successful, how does the public credit get apportioned? Is it because of the quarterback? The head coach? The defense? The front office and contracts? The brilliant young offensive coordinator?

Figuring out which teams are primed for a breakout is the first step to betting NFL Coach of the Year odds, but you also need to find a target where the head coach is the most likely beneficiary of their success.ย 

NFL Coach of the Year Odds

CoachCurrent OddsPreseason Odds
Mike McDaniel+750+2000
Dan Campbell+900+800
Arthur Smith+900+1400
Doug Pederson+1000+2000
John Harbaugh+1400+2500
Matt Lafleur+1500+1600
Dennis Allen+1600+2000
Kevin Stefanski+1600+3000
Robert Saleh+2000+1600
Mike Tomlin+2000+2000
Shane Steichen+2000+2200
Kyle Shanahan+2000+3000
Sean McVay+2000+3000
Todd Bowles+2000+3000
Pete Carroll+3000+2000
DeMeco Ryans+3000+2500
Frank Reich+3000+2500
Nick Sirianni+3500+2200
Sean Payton+4000+1100
Brandon Staley+4000+2500
Zac Taylor+6600+2500
Matt Eberflus+10000+1400

NFL Coach of the Year: Dan Campbell Remains Near Top of the Board

Lions betting hype has been one of the defining flavors of this NFL offseason, so itโ€™s unsurprising to see third-year head coach Dan Campbell near the top of the NFL Coach of the Year table.ย 

The Lions have a powerful, go-for-it offense and play in a division thatโ€™s absolutely up for grabs, now that Aaron Rodgers has departed. If the Lions are a 10-win NFC North champion, Campbell will be seen as the primary architect of that outcome and will be given credit in Coach of the Year conversations.


The downside of the Lions hype is expectations. The aspect that most NFL Coaches of the Year have in common is that they exceeded modest expectations en route to a likely playoff berth. With the Lions already expected to be great, itโ€™s hard to deliver a result that makes voters feel that sense of accomplishment that marks most successful COY candidates.

On the other hand, this is the Detroit Lions weโ€™re talking about. Perhaps high-level modern success for the Lions is uniquely potent for Campbell.

First-Year NFL Coaches Are En Vogue

The modern media machine has increased the churn of NFL head coaching positions to a nauseating pace, with at least half the league turning over every three or four years.ย 

That means one of the most reliable pathways to winning NFL Coach of the Year is to come in as a first-year head coach and find immediate success.

Most recently, this was the case for Giants head coach Brian Daboll in 2022. Four of the last six NFL Coaches of the Year have been in their freshman campaigns.

The market knows this, which is why first-year Broncos coach Sean Payton was initially right behind Campbell in the table at +1100.

NFL Coach of the Year History

Year AP NFL Coach of the YearRegular Season RecordYear With Team
2022Brian Daboll9-7-11st
2021Mike Vrabel12-54th
2020Kevin Stefanski11-51st
2019John Harbaugh14-212th
2018Matt Nagy12-41st
2017Sean McVay11-51st
2016Jason Garrett13-37th
2015Ron Rivera (2)15-15th
2014Bruce Arians (2)11-52nd
2013Ron Rivera12-43rd
2012Bruce Arians9-3Interim
2011Jim Harbaugh13-31st
2010Bill Belichick (3)14-211th
2009Marvin Lewis10-67th
2008Mike Smith11-51st
2007Bill Belichick (2)16-08th
2006Sean Payton10-61st
2005Lovie Smith11-52nd
2004Marty Schottenheimer12-43rd
2003Bill Belichick14-24th
2002Andy Reid12-44th
2001Dick Jauron13-33rd
2000Jim Haslett10-61st
1999Dick Vermeil13-33rd
1998Dan Reeves (2)14-22nd
1997Jim Fassel10-5-11st
1996Dom Capers12-42nd
1995Ray Rhodes10-61st
1994Bill Parcells (2)10-62nd
1993Dan Reeves11-51st
1992Bill Cowher11-51st
1991Wayne Fontes12-44th
1990Jimmy Johnson7-92nd
1989Lindy Infante10-62nd
1988Mike Ditka (2)12-47th
1987Jim Mora12-32nd
1986Bill Parcells14-24th
1985Mike Ditka15-14th

Updated NFL Odds for Futures

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About the Author

Chase Kiddy

Read More @chaseakiddy

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.

Chase Kiddy is a writer for BetMGM and co-host of The Lion's Edge, an NFL and college football podcast available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere else. He has also written for a number of print and online outlets, including the Richmond Times-Dispatch, Washington Post, Daily News-Record, and HERO Sports. His first novel, Cave Paintings, is in development.