NFL Coach of the Year Odds 2025-26: Ben Johnson Leads Pack of Recent Hires
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson leads the NFL Coach of the Year odds ahead of fellow recent hires Mike Vrabel and Liam Coen entering Week 1.
Several first-year head coaches have won the award recently, including Brian Daboll in 2022, Kevin Stefanski in 2020, Matt Nagy in 2018, and Sean McVay in 2017. That label applies to both Johnson and Coen, as well as Aaron Glenn (fourth-lowest odds at +1100).
Further down the oddsboard are more veteran bench bosses, including Sean Payton, Kyle Shanahan, and Jim Harbaugh (all lined at +2000). I'm picking from that group of mid-tier Super Bowl odds contenders for my NFL Coach of the Year best bet as the regular season begins.
📊 NFL Coach of the Year odds 2025
NFL Coach of the Year odds via FanDuel, one of our best NFL betting apps.
| Coach | Odds (FanDuel) | Implied probability | Profit ($10 bet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Johnson | +650 | 13.33% | $65 |
| Mike Vrabel | +750 | 11.76% | $75 |
| Liam Coen | +1000 | 9.09% | $100 |
| Aaron Glenn | +1100 | 9.09% | $100 |
| Mike Macdonald | +1400 | 7.14% | $130 |
| Pete Carroll | +1400 | 6.67% | $140 |
| Dave Canales | +1400 | 6.67% | $140 |
| Jonathan Gannon | +1400 | 6.67% | $140 |
| Sean Payton | +2000 | 4.76% | $200 |
| Kyle Shanahan | +2000 | 4.76% | $200 |
🏆 NFL Coach of the Year odds favorite
See our NFL player prop odds tool for the best Offensive Player of the Year futures odds on any player.
🐻 Ben Johnson (+650)
Ben Johnson is looking to add another trophy to his collection after winning NFL Assistant Coach of the Year last season in his final campaign as the Lions' offensive coordinator.
Detroit finished top four in total offense each of the last three seasons with Johnson calling plays. I don't think anyone is expecting the Bears to be that productive in Year 1, but Chicago certainly has some talent for Johnson to work with this season.
At the top of the list is QB Caleb Williams, last year's No. 1 overall pick who had an uneven rookie campaign amid horrendous coaching from the previous staff. He has a strong pass-catcher group headlined by D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and rookie tight end Colston Loveland. Perhaps most importantly, however, is the rebuilt offensive line led by four-time Super Bowl champion Joe Thuney.
Everything on paper points to a successful turnaround in Chicago led by one of the sport's most innovative offensive coaches in Johnson.
A $10 bet on Johnson would net a $65 profit with an implied probability of 13.3%, according our odds calculator.
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👀 NFL Coach of the Year best bet
My best NFL Coach of the Year bet is part of our NFL picks for the 2025-26 season.
🐎 Sean Payton (+2000)
Sean Payton has been of the league's best coaches for nearly two decades (previously winning this award in 2006 with the Saints), and I expect his Denver Broncos to take a significant step forward this season after last year's surprise playoff trip.
Quarterback Bo Nix found his footing in the second half of his rookie season with Payton calling offensive plays, and their relationship should only grow in their second year together. Not to mention, Denver invested significant draft capital and free-agent spending into a defense that was already among the NFL's best and features the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Patrick Surtain II.
If Denver can finally end the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-year reign atop the AFC West - a tall task, admittedly, but perhaps more realistic now than ever - Payton surely wins Coach of the Year.
Payton's +2000 odds translate to an implied probability of 4.76%, while a $10 bet would win a $200 profit.
🔢 NFL Coach of the Year opening odds
Odds via DraftKings:
- Ben Johnson, Bears: +550
- Mike Vrabel, Patriots: +650
- Sean Payton, Broncos: +1400
- Jim Harbaugh, Chargers: +1500
- Pete Carroll, Raiders: +1500
- Dave Canales, Panthers: +1600
- Liam Coen, Jaguars: +1800
- Dan Campbell, Lions: +1800
- Shane Steichen, Colts: +2000
💰 NFL Coach of the Year betting history
| Year | Coach | Team | Preseason odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Kevin O'Connell | Vikings | +2000 |
| 2023 | Kevin Stefanski | Browns | +3000 |
| 2022 | Brian Daboll | Giants | +1400 |
| 2021 | Mike Vrabel | Titans | +2500 |
| 2020 | Kevin Stefanski | Browns | +2000 |
| 2019 | John Harbaugh | Ravens | +2800 |
| 2018 | Matt Nagy | Bears | +875 |
| 2017 | Sean McVay | Rams | +5000 |
| 2016 | Jason Garrett | Cowboys | +2800 |
| 2015 | Ron Rivera | Panthers | +4000 |
| 2014 | Bruce Arians | Cardinals | OFF |
❓NFL Coach of the Year FAQs
Who is favored to win NFL Coach of the Year?
New Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is the favorite with odds of +650. Those odds carry an implied probability of 13.33%.
Who was the NFL Coach of the Year last year?
Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell was named the NFL's Coach of the Year after entering the season with odds of +2000.
Who votes for the NFL Coach of the Year?
The NFL Coach of the Year is voted on by the Associated Press and is awarded to the coach who is judged to "have had the most outstanding season."
Who won the NFL's first Coach of the Year Award?
Detroit Lions head coach George Wilson won the first Coach of the Year Award, handed out in 1957.
Who won the most Coach of the Year Awards?
Don Shula won Coach of the Year four times, three with the Baltimore Colts (1964, 1967, 1968) and one with the Miami Dolphins (1972).
How many coaches won Coach of the Year more than once?
Thirteen coaches won the award at least twice, with Shula (4), Bill Belichick (3), and Chuck Knox (3) the only bench bosses to win three or more.
🏟️ NFL betting odds pages
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