As the 2025 NFL regular season concludes, the Associated Press Coach of the Year award or in simple words AP COTY award, stands out as one of the most compelling and wide-open races in recent memory. Unlike many seasons dominated by a single frontrunner, 2025-26 features several coaches who orchestrated remarkable turnarounds that few prognosticators foresaw.
Candidates like New England’s Mike Vrabel, who transformed a Patriots squad into a playoff contender, exemplify this trend. Similar unexpected surges from coaches in Seattle, Denver, Chicago, and elsewhere have created a crowded field of deserving recipients.
What makes this award particularly intriguing is the sheer number of viable stories. And voters face a difficult choice among multiple coaches who exceeded sky-high expectations. In the end, only one will claim the prestigious honor, leaving several equally worth campaigns without the ultimate recognition.
Here are the latest NFL Coach of the Year odds for the 2025-26 NFL season at the end of the regular season, sourced via FanDuel and BetMGM.
| Coach | Fanduel Odds | BetMGM Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Mike Vrabel | -370 | -285 |
| Mike MacDonald | +410 | +300 |
| Liam Coen | +700 | +1800 |
| Ben Johnson | +8000 | +1800 |
| Sean Payton | +20000 | +1600 |
| Kyle Shanahan | +30000 | +4000 |
Let us take a look at the top 3 favorites to land the NFL Coach of the Year award this season.
Mike Vrabel leads NFL Coach of the Year odds at -370 on Fanduel due to engineering the most dramatic turnaround in recent history. In his first season with New England, he transformed a Patriot team coming off back-to-back 4-13 finishes into a 14-3 AFC East champion, tying the biggest win improvement ever. Central to this resurgence is second-year QB Drake Maye’s breakout under Vrabel’s guidance and OC Josh McDaniels, Maye posted elite stats like a 72% completion rate and 113.5 passer rating, emerging as an MVP contender. Vrabel’s tough, fundamentals-focused style restored defensive identity and offensive explosiveness, making him the clear frontrunner.
Mike MacDonald ranks as a top contender for NFL Coach of the Years odds behind only Mike Vrabel. In his second season with Seattle, he guided the Seahawks from a 10-7-non-playoff finish in 2024 to a franchise-best 14-3 recrd, clinching the NFC West and the No.1 seed with a bye. MacDonald rebuilt an elite defense (top-ranked in points allowed and run stoppage) while hiring OC Klint Kubiak to revive the offense around a resurgent Sam Darnold, turning preseason underdogs into Super Bowl favorites through innovative schemes and culture reset.
Liam Coen ranks as a strong contender for NFL Coach of the Year odds trailing favorites like Mike Vrabel. In his debut season as Jacksonville Jaguars head coach, he flipped a 4-win 2024 team into a 13-4 AFC South champion and , marking one of history’s biggest turnarounds, matching rare feats like the 1999 Colts. Coen’s innovative offense unlocked Trevor Lawrence’s elite play, boosting scoring dramatically while fostering resilience through an eight-game win streak. His rapid success as a first-year HC elevates him prominently.
The above odds are sourced from FanDuel. Use FanDuel to ace your betting game in all sports!
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mma I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.
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