2023 NFL Coach of the Year Predictions and Betting Odds

by Mike Allen - 12/13/2023

NFL Coach of the Year predictions Shane Steichen Indianapolis Colts

We are entering Week 15 of the 2023 NFL regular season, and in my opinion, the race for Coach of the Year is wide open.

Maybe you have heard me gripe about this award before. It should be called the best new coach, not the best coach. It’s a bit like the Lebron James MVP thing. There are several years he was the most valuable player in the league, but it would be boring for him to win it year after year.

We have a list of 7 guys today. I think it should be quite longer, but it is what it is. We can work with this. Let’s dive in and make a prediction or two!

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NFL Coach of the Year Betting Odds

Dan Campbell: +250

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was the betting favorite to win the award when the season began, and his name has been at the top of the list ever since. I am surprised he is still the betting favorite, though, as his team is playing some of their worst football with just 4 weeks left in the regular season.

They haven’t really beaten anyone, either. They have 0 wins against teams with a winning record since they edged the Chiefs in Week 1. I dig Campbell’s speeches, his demeanor, and his style, but I don’t think he has been the best coach.

DeMeco Ryans: +300

We will see what DeMeco Ryans is made of in Week 15 if his star quarterback CJ Stroud can't play due to concussion protocol. That's a short-sided take, though. You follow the NFL. So, you know it takes a whole lot more than a quarterback to win in this league.

It is widely believed that Patrick Mahomes is the best QB in the league. The Chiefs have lost 5 of their 13 games so far this season, and he has been healthy the whole time.

I would put DeMeco Ryans at the top of this list as the favorite to win 2023 NFL Coach of the Year.

Mike McDaniel: +300

I love what Mike McDaniel has been able to do in such a short time with the Miami Dolphins. When you break it down, though, and start to split hairs, he is an incredible X's and O's guy on offense, but he also has some of the best arm and leg talent in the game with Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill.

Miami is 9-4 and leading their division, but they have failed and by a decent margin each time, whenever they have played strong teams like the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Kansas City Chiefs.

They still have to play the Ravens, Cowboys, and Bills this year. I guess if they can win two of these three, McDaniel has a case, but I don't see it.

Shane Steichen: +800

Here is the most unfashionable name on the list. Shane Steichen of the Indianapolis Colts has quietly done a great job. He started the year with a rookie quarterback who clearly wasn’t ready for the NFL.

Thankfully, Gardner Minshew has done solid work as the backup. Steichen has also had to deal with a diva of a running back in Jonathan Taylor sitting out or being injured. That is a massive distraction, and the head coach should be commended for keeping his team playing as a unit throughout that mess.

Indy has consistently been a good team this year, playing competitively with almost everyone. It was a terrible look last week, however, when they fell to the Burrow-less Bengals by 20 points!

Kyle Shanahan: +1400

If you want to give the award to the head coach of the best team, I think we can all agree that Kyle Shanahan would be the coach of the year.

"Un" Fortunately for him, though, the Niners are absolutely stacked! What I don't like when making a case for Shanahan is that his team lost three in a row in the middle of the season after some key injuries.

It is hard to win the award twice, but Shanahan has never won it. With the field wide open at this point, throw at least 10 bucks on the Niners head coach to win 140.

Sean Payton: +1600

It's strange. The farther we go down this list, the more deserving the candidate. Sean Payton is a legend in this league, and he had some kind of mess to clean up in Denver.

Beast Mode and many other former teammates of Russell Wilson were coming out against him, and he had by far the worst season of his career in 2022. It was a slow start, admittedly, but ever since they let the Dolphins put up 70 on them, the Broncos have been balling out.

They had a 5-game winning streak in the middle of the season, and now all 5 of those teams they defeated now have winning records. That is saying a lot! I don't think any team in the league can say they've done that.

They host the Lions this week and then have three winnable games to end the year. I am not mad at anyone taking a stab at Payton here.

Matt LaFleur: +2000

Matt LaFleur might be doing the most with the least. I remember the Packers were hapless to start the season. Their offense was almost non-existent, and they struggled to run the ball consistently.

They are 6-7, though, with several questionable losses so far this year.

NFL Coach of the Year Betting Predictions

Demeco Ryans: +300

Ryans took over a 3-13-1 team, and they are currently 7-6. Stroud has gotten so much attention that we haven't heard as much about the head coach. Of the betting favorites, I believe Ryans is the clear choice.

Kyle Shanahan: +1400

I will say throw a sprinkle on Shanahan here. His team is loaded, but they are the best, and he has never won it before.

Sean Payton: +1600

If you have another 10 bucks or so, put a little on Payton. If the Texans struggle down the stretch with Stroud banged up, the Broncos have an easy schedule and could finish the year with 10 wins.

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2023 NFL Coach of the Year Predictions and Betting Odds

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