NFL 2025: Coach of the Year Pick and Odds

• As NFL 2025 approaches, the Coach of the Year award is one of the most difficult awards to predict accurately
• It can be a dubious honor since recent winners have been fired shortly thereafter
• Are the voters looking for: The biggest improvement? A dominating season? A surprise contender?
• Let’s look at the likeliest contenders for NFL 2025’s Coach of the Year

2025 NFL Coach of the Year Odds

Nowhere To Go but Up

Ben Johnson, Bears (+700)

The Bears started the 2024 season at 4-2 and were one play away from being 5-2 when the Commanders’ Jayden Daniels hit on a Hail Mary and sent Chicago into a tailspin that cost head coach Matt Eberflus his job and called into question whether Caleb Williams is worth the hype.

Johnson comes from the Lions, where, as offensive coordinator, he oversaw one of the most innovative and productive offenses in the league. If he coaxes a solid year and maturity from Williams and the Bears finish above .500, he’ll get COY votes.

Mike Vrabel, Patriots (+800)

The Patriots might not have fired Jerod Mayo after one season had Vrabel not been available.

This is a return to the “Patriot Way” with Vrabel a Bill Belichick disciple and having had success on his own coaching the Titans and winning COY in 2021. Already, the vibe in New England is more intense. The new HC put defensive back Kyle Dugger on notice that he needs to perform better or run the risk of losing his starting job or being cut outright.

The media loves Vrabel; it loves “return to glory” stories; and it would get a ton of mileage of a Patriots’ resurgence. Going from 4-13 to 9-8 might do it.

The Spry Septegenarian

Pete Carroll, Raiders (+1400)

Pete Carroll was not planning to walk away from the sidelines, but the Seahawks made the decision for him after the 2023 season. Now, he returns to coach the Raiders and brings along his Seahawks quarterback, Geno Smith.

Carroll is popular with the players and can still relate to them despite turning 74 in September. His positive outlook is infectious, he knows how to build a hard-hitting defense in the Raiders’ tradition, and he’s well-liked by the media.

If he brings the Raiders from 4-13 to 9-8 in the nightmarish AFC West, he might win.

The Big Winners Who Get Passed Over

Andy Reid, Chiefs (+8000)

Very rarely does the coach whose team has the best record in the league win COY. The voters gave it to Bill Belichick a few times, but the Patriots were so dominant that they had little alternative.

And why should Reid be penalized for having a great team that is expected to contend for the Super Bowl? Reid won it once in 2002 with the Eagles. Why does he have the worst odds on the board?

The Chiefs managing to finish at 15-2 in 2024 and make it to the Super Bowl is mind-boggling when factoring in all the injuries, off-field drama, and apparent exhaustion from the years of playing 21 games in a full season plus playoffs. Then with the off-season celebrations, they had barely any time to breathe.

Yet they’re there every year.

Shouldn’t the future Hall of Fame head coach get some credit for that?

NFL 2025: Coach of the Year Pick

Given all the factors that are considered with the NFL Coach of the Year, our 2025 pick is the Patriots’ Mike Vrabel.

So, who do you think will win and why?