No NFL team will be able to sustain success without competency at the head coach spot. There is typically around five head coach openings per cycle, so the turnover is quite frequent. This year, both Brian Daboll and Brian Callahan were in-season firings, and there could be more after the regular season is over.
We have seen NFL teams constantly whiff on the head coach, like the Las Vegas Raiders, but other teams have been able to find the right guy for the job, and top head coaches truly come in all different forms.
Now that the regular season is winding down, we can take a look at the top Coach of the Year candidates. Let's power rank them approaching a crucial Week 16.
Ranking the top Coach of the Year candidates approaching Week 16 action
5. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Kyle Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers have kind of gone under the radar a bit, as the 11-3 Seahawks and Rams have gotten most of the attention in the NFC West. However, Shanahan is again dealing with a ton of key player injuries and didn't have his starting QB for much of the season.
Despite all the injury chaos they have dealt with, San Fran is still 10-4 and very much alive in the NFC West race. It would probably have to take a division title for Shanahan to win this award, but the Niners are really maxed out with their roster, and it's thanks to the top-tier coaching job from Shanahan.
4. Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
Liam Coen has his Jacksonville Jaguars' team in first-place in the AFC South with a strong 10-4 record. The Jags are alive for that no. 1 seed in the playoffs as well, and we're beginning to see QB Trevor Lawrence heat up. This has been an outstanding job by Coen in year one, and it's clear that he is going to be a very good head coach in this league for a long time. He is a top candidate for the COTY award in 2025.
3. Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears have 10 wins and are currently in a good position to win the NFC North this year. It's crazy to think how much better the Bears have gotten, but it really boils down to the head coach here.
Chicago's offense is night-and-day from 2024, and while Caleb Williams is largely struggling to complete passes consistently, he's taken a lot fewer sacks and is a huge reason why Chicago is 10-4. The Bears would likely have to win the NFC North for Johnson to win the Coach of the Year award, but, like Coen, it's clear that this first-year head coach simply gets it.
2. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Sean Payton has been a head coach in this league for 2006 and has his Broncos' team atop the NFL world at 12-2 with a chance to clinch both the AFC West and AFC's no. 1 seed in Week 16. Denver has won 11 games in a row and have not lost at home in over a calendar year.
Bo Nix is beginning to heat up, and Payton's Broncos have proved so many people wrong along the way. Denver has a realistic chance to win-out and finish 15-2. At that point, it'd be nearly impossible to not give the COTY award to Payton. The Denver Broncos can do a little bit of everything and simply overwhelm opponents on defense.
1. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
There hasn't really been a more improved team this year than the New England Patriots. Mike Vrabel has his hands all over this operation and is probably the favorite for the Coach of the Year, ranking no. 1 in our power rankings.
Vrabel had a successful tenure with the Tennessee Titans and has already reached 11 wins with the Patriots in his first year on the job. Vrabel's Pats can still lock-up the first seed in the playoffs and the AFC East title.
Second-year QB Drake Maye is an MVP candidate, and the defense is excellent. The Patriots made the right move to bring in Vrabel, as he's done exceptional work and is the favorite for the award.