2025 NFL Coach of the Year Odds: Value Picks for the New Season

With the 2025 NFL season on the horizon, scrutiny will follow each team. At the helm of each team is a head coach with a unique background. As we look to the season ahead, determining the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year is something that sports bettors eagerly anticipate.

While nailing down who will win the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year award is tough, any sports betting expert can narrow down the odds to find the biggest contender. Whether it's a first-time head coach or an experienced one, coach odds swing wildly. For that reason, we will look at the three coaches most likely to take down the award as well as the various potential dark horses with the best odds to win Coach of the Year.

Past Winners

Before we get into the betting favorites for the Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year award, it helps to look back on past winners. Kevin O’Connell of the Minnesota Vikings is the most recent winner of the NFL Coach of the Year. His work with quarterback Sam Darnold helped elevate the Minnesota Vikings to a 14-win season in 2024.

Other prestigious names to win the NFL coach of the year award include Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns (twice), Mike Vrabel of the Tennessee Titans, John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens, Jason Garrett of the Dallas Cowboys, Bruce Arians of the Arizona Cardinals, Ron Rivera of the Carolina Hurricanes (twice), and Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs. Legends like Jimmy Johnson, Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins, and Bill Belichick (with the New England Patriots) have also earned Coach of the Year honors.

Dark Horse Candidates to Win NFL Coach of the Year

If it were as easy as picking the best current odds for NFL Coach of the Year, pieces like this wouldn’t exist. Since the coach of the year could come from anywhere, it is crucial to analyze the NFL Coach of the Year opening odds to see who could sneak up on bettors.

Liam Cohen – Jacksonville Jaguars (+1400)

On the NFL Coach of the Year odds board, Cohen doesn’t seem like that bad of a bet. Of the first-year head coaches, Cohen may have the biggest challenge this season. His team has a quarterback in Trevor Lawrence who could be a potential superstar, but can Cohen unlock his full potential?

Historically, it has been tough to win in Jacksonville, making the new head coach more of a value play than anything else. If he can get the Jags ahead of the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans, it might be enough to put his name in contention and improve his odds.

Dave Canales – Carolina Panthers (+1600)

A year ago, Dave Canales would have been a better bet to be fired. With momentum to end the year, the Carolina Panthers look like a team with promise. And that makes Canales a candidate to win the Coach of the Year award, even if he isn’t the favorite.

With a talented young quarterback in Bryce Young and a lot of pieces looking to prove themselves, Canales could have a team that surprises after a decent free agency this offseason. While that might not put him in the same league as Bill Belichick, it could be enough to keep the Panthers moving forward and eventually contend for a playoff spot.

Pete Carroll – Las Vegas Raiders (+1200)

Caroll is an old head in terms of NFL coach standards, this being his third run as a head coach in the league. That said, he’s a proven winner despite never having won the NFL Coach of the Year award. The hope is that he and new quarterback, Geno Smith, can bring the Raiders back to the playoffs once again.

His odds to win coach of the year put him near some of the top contenders. His pedigree puts him on a level closer to Bill Belichick than any of the new coaches around the league. Whether that improves his odds for NFL Coach of the Year remains to be seen.

Jim Harbaugh – Los Angeles Chargers (+1200)

Jim Harbaugh is always a dark horse candidate when it comes to NFL Coach of the Year odds. He has a pedigree of winning, leading the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl before ultimately taking the Michigan Wolverines to a national championship.

Harbaugh has an uphill climb with his best player – tackle Rashawn Slater – out for the season. But if any head coach is going to get the most out of his team, it is Harbaugh. He can never be truly counted out when it comes to NFL Coach of the Year odds, so keep your eye on him.

The 3 Best Bets for 2025 NFL Coach of the Year Odds

Going into the season, the sports betting community has a couple of names in mind when it comes to 2025 NFL Coach of the Year odds. Though names like Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh, Pete Carroll, and Kevin Stefanski have the pedigree to win the award, the opening odds on these three coaches make them the best options when it comes to NFL Coach of the Year odds.

Ben Johnson – Chicago Bears (+700)

The early favorite is head coach Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears. The former offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, Johnson, was the hottest coaching candidate in the offseason. By managing to land him, the Bears feel like they finally have the guy needed to guide potential franchise quarterback Caleb Williams.

As the favorite, Ben Johnson has the best current odds to win the award and is the universal best bet across betting sites. If he can get the most out of Williams this season and lead the Bears to the playoffs, he could join the list of NFL Coach of the Year winners before long.

Ben Johnson will have his work cut out for him with the Chicago Bears, however. They are the only team in NFL history not to have a 4,000-yard passer, though the hope is that Williams can break that streak. Every win the Bears earn will no doubt improve Johnson’s NFL Coach of the Year odds.

Mike Vrabel – New England Patriots (+850)

Mike Vrabel is a proven coach in the NFL. If there is anyone who will challenge Ben Johnson for NFL Coach of the Year, it is him. Vrabel comes from the vaunted Bill Belichick coaching tree, having spent time with the New England Patriots, and has already proven himself with the Tennessee Titans.

Though things eventually fell apart in Tennessee, it can be argued that Vrabel could not have done much more with the limited team given to him. Last season was his first away from a regular coaching gig, though it clearly didn’t last long.

The Patriots have been getting generous odds this season. They will have to win to justify the hype, but Mike Vrabel certainly seems like the kind of guy who can get them over the hump and back into the playoffs again as soon as this season.

Aaron Glenn – New York Jets (+1800)

Glenn will come with substantially less hype than the last few Jets seasons, but that is a good thing. After a tumultuous couple of seasons with the legendary Aaron Rodgers as quarterback, it feels like the reset button has been hit when it comes to the Jets.

Glenn steps in to take over the head job and certainly has the tenacity and reputation to do the job. His most recent stop, defensive coordinator for the Detroit Lions, saw him elevate one of the lower units in the league to become one of the better until injuries left them decimated by season’s end.

With Glenn, the Jets hope that this marks the beginning of a serious culture shift. The Jets have been considered the laughingstocks of the league for years. Could Glenn be the one to take them to new heights and win the NFL Coach of the Year award in the process?

Who Will Win NFL Coach of the Year?

Nailing down Coach of the Year winners is never easy. Upstarts can come from nowhere, as shown by winners like Kevin Stefanski, Jason Garrett, Kevin O’Connell, and Ron Rivera. While Mike Vrabel, Aaron Glenn, and Ben Johnson all appear to be the best bet, there’s no telling who will walk away with the award.

Teams like the Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Detroit Lions, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, and Denver Broncos could all make enough noise to propel their coach into NFL Coach of the Year odds. Every game matters in the NFL, and each coach quickly shows their worth to their respective teams.

Keep an eye on the Coach of the Year odds as the season progresses. There will be risers, fallers, and the coaches that become clear favorites by the final quarter of the season. Who walks away with the award could come down to the very final week of the season.