NFL Coach of the Year Odds 2026-27


Written By

Last Updated

NFL Coach of the Year odds for the new season are out. John Harbaugh is the early favorite to win the award at BetMGM, although prices may vary at other NFL betting sites. Futures wagers on the NFL Coach of the Year winner are available to place at any time and a complete list of odds is below.  

Latest NFL Coach of the Year odds for 2026

All odds below are according to BetMGM Sportsbook:

2026-27 NFL Coach of the Year favorites

John Harbaugh (+500 at BetMGM)

John Harbaugh is considered a leading coaching candidate in the offseason with strong early betting support, particularly as the favorite on some 2026 Coach of the Year futures boards. Current odds list him as one of the top candidates for the honor after spending 18 seasons as a head coach and earning a Super Bowl title in 2012. Harbaugh most recently served as head coach of the Baltimore Ravens before moving on to the New York Giants in 2026, and his long track record of regular-season success keeps him in the conversation despite a disappointing 2025 campaign in which the Ravens finished 8-9 and missed the playoffs.

Jesse Minter (+600 at BetMGM)

Jesse Minter has quickly entered the Coach of the Year conversation as one of the league’s rising head coaches. After building a reputation as a top defensive mind and earning his opportunity on the NFL sideline, expectations are high that he can elevate his team into playoff contention.

Robert Saleh (+1000 at BetMGM)

Robert Saleh has emerged as an early candidate for Coach of the Year after taking over as head coach of the Tennessee Titans. Known for his defensive expertise, Saleh has quickly made an impact on the team’s culture and performance. If the Titans exceed expectations under his leadership and show consistent improvement on both sides of the ball, Saleh could firmly establish himself as a COY contender.

First-year coaches — is there a connection?

Since 2016, a first-year head coach has won the award four times. Seven teams hired new head coaches this offseason with no previous NFL head coaching experience:

The NFL Coach of the Year betting market is shaping up as one of the more intriguing preseason storylines, with offensive-minded hires like Ben Johnson in Chicago and veteran leaders such as Mike Vrabel in New England emerging as early favorites thanks to both roster upgrades and the narrative of potential quick turnarounds.

Jonathan Gannon in Arizona and Brian Daboll in New York remain in the mix as respected names capable of exceeding expectations, while others like Kellen Moore with the Saints or Aaron Glenn with the Jets profile as intriguing longshots who could surprise if their young rosters develop quickly.

Historically, voters often reward coaches who engineer dramatic one-year improvements, which means bettors are keeping a close eye not just on the established contenders but also on first-time head coaches in situations where a jump from mediocrity to playoff contention feels plausible.

More NFL betting options

We have other options when it comes to betting on NFL futures. Check out some of our other pages below.

Breaking down previous NFL Coach of the Year winners

The table below lists the past decade of NFL Coach of the Year award winners. 

SeasonCoachTeamRecordPrevious Year
2024Kevin O’Connell Minnesota Vikings14-37-10
2023Kevin StefanskiCleveland Browns11-67-10
2022Brian DabollNew York Giants9-7-14-13
2021Mike VrabelTennessee Titans12-511-5
2020Kevin StefanskiCleveland Browns11-56-10 
2019John HarbaughBaltimore Ravens14-210-6
2018Matt NagyChicago Bears12-45-11
2017Sean McVayLos Angeles Rams11-54-12
2016Jason GarrettDallas Cowboys13-34-12
2015Ron RiveraCarolina Panthers15-17-8-1

Nine of the last 10 winners improved their team’s record by four or more wins from the previous season, highlighted by a massive seven-win increase from 2023 to 2024 for Kevin O’Connell’s Minnesota Vikings.  

Four of the winners won the award in their first season with their new team, with Daboll the last to pull it off in 2022. Kevin Stefanski, the 2023 winner, has won twice during his tenure, including his first season in Cleveland in 2020. 

NFL Coach of the Year FAQ

How is the NFL Coach of the Year award determined? 

The NFL Coach of the Year award is voted on by a panel of 50 sports journalists from across the US. Voters make three selections, with the choices receiving points on a sliding scale of 5-3-1. The nominee with the highest tally of total points wins the award. 

Who has won the most NFL Coach of the Year awards? 

Don Shula holds the record with four Coach of the Year awards. Bill Belichick and Chuck Knox are next with three each. 

Has there ever been a back-to-back winner of the NFL Coach of the Year award?  

Yes, this has happened three times. Joe Gibbs was the last to win it two years in a row in 1982-83. Allie Sherman (1961-62) and Don Shula (co-winner with George Halas in 1967, lone winner in 1968) are the other two members of the club.