NFL Coach of the Year Odds, Predictions, and Picks 2025: Indy’s 3-0 Start Makes Steichen Frontrunner

• After a surprising 3-0 start with Daniel Jones at quarterback, Shane Steichen has emerged as the leader for Coach of the Year honors

• Jim Harbaugh looks like Steichen’s main competition with the Chargers starting the season 3-0 as well

• The odds for preseason favorite Ben Johnson have dropped considerably despite Chicago’s win over the Cowboys in Week 3

Year after year, Coach of the Year is one of the most overlooked but intriguing awards in the NFL. It typically goes to the coach whose team overachieved the most, although a variety of factors also come into play. It’s normal to see wild swings among the favorites and top candidates for the award throughout the season. That’s why we’ll be keeping close tabs on the NFL Coach of the Year race all season, offering updated odds and our pick for who is the most likely to take home the award.

NFL Coach of the Year Odds

The odds for Coach of the Year are from FanDuel Sportsbook. Click on the odds below to go directly to FanDuel and place your bets. When you sign up with FanDuel for the first time, you'll receive the following welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins.

NFL Coach of the Year Predictions

Between Week 1 and Week 3, the Coach of the Year odds underwent massive changes, which was to be expected. Oddsmakers were still bullish on Indy’s Shane Steichen, who had +1600 odds after the Colts won their season opener. But with Indy adding wins over the Broncos and Titans to get to 3-0, Steichen is now the betting favorite at +380. The Colts have an early lead in the AFC South, and if they win the division and get to the playoffs with Daniel Jones at quarterback, it’s hard to envision any coach having a more impressive resume in 2025 than Steichen.

That being said, Jim Harbaugh has also put himself in the conversation for Coach of the Year after the Chargers also started 3-0. Harbaugh was among the preseason favorites last year, only to have several coaches surpass him. However, since the Chargers were a playoff team last season, Harbaugh has a higher bar to prove himself worthy of Coach of the Year honors.

In that sense, Steichen’s biggest competition could come from within his own division. Jacksonville’s Liam Coen was the favorite after Week 1 and remains a serious candidate. Coen is essentially in the same situation as Steichen. He may actually have a leg up because he’s a first-year head coach. If Coen and the Jaguars can end up winning the AFC South, he could be the better option for Coach of the Year. 

Finally, Kyle Shanahan and Todd Bowles should also be on the radar with their teams off to 3-0 starts. Shanahan is doing so with a lot of roster turnover in San Francisco and Mac Jones at quarterback. That could make him a sleeper for Coach of the Year, albeit inside a division that will be tough to win with every other team starting 2-1.

Bet $5 at FanDuel, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins

NFL Coach of the Year Winner - My Pick

Shane Steichen - Indianapolis Colts (+380) at FanDuel

Steichen was our pick after Week 1 when he had +1600 odds, and we’re going to stick with him at +380. Daniel Jones is off to a shocking start to the season, especially after the way the Giants cast him aside. As long as Steichen keeps winning with Jones as his quarterback, he’s going to remain the favorite to win Coach of the Year.

Get $300 in Bonus Bets at FanDuel With a $5 Winning Wager

How to Bet on NFL Coach of the Year

With 32 potential candidates, betting on the NFL Coach of the Year is a massive challenge. To be clear, this award is rarely given to the best coach. For example, Mike Tomlin, who has had a truly impressive career, has never won Coach of the Year honors. Instead, the award often goes to the coach whose team was the biggest surprise or exceeded expectations the most. More often than not, that’s the top criterion voters use for awarding Coach of the Year.

When betting on the Coach of the Year, find a coach who is surpassing modest preseason expectations. Look for coaches who have overcome an obvious flaw or challenge. Is there a coach winning with a subpar quarterback? Has a coach led his team to a lot of wins despite a lot of injuries? In a way, picking a Coach of the Year winner is about comparing expectations to reality and finding a coach who has succeeded despite having reasons why people would have discounted their team.

How to Read NFL Coach of the Year Odds

Since there are typically several contenders for Coach of the Year, unless there is an obvious favorite, most candidates will have plus (+) betting odds. This means there is the potential to earn a large profit if you bet correctly. For instance, betting $100 on a coach with +800 odds will mean a profit of $800 if that coach ends up winning. However, late in the season, the pool of contenders could shrink, resulting in less lucrative odds for the top candidates. For instance, the leading favorite may have -200 odds, meaning it would take a $200 bet to earn a $100 profit.

Where to Bet on NFL Coach of the Year

Most reputable sportsbooks offer NFL Coach of the Year odds throughout the season, and even during the offseason. This includes FanDuel Sportsbook, which is among the NFL’s official betting partners. FanDuel offers a wide range of betting markets for NFL games, as well as markets for long-term bets, including awards like Coach of the Year.

If you don’t have a FanDuel account already, it’s easy to sign up for one. Plus, new customers are eligible for FanDuel’s welcome offer: Bet $5, Get $300 in Bonus Bets if Your Bet Wins. There is no promo code required for this offer. All you have to do is sign up and make a $5 bet you think will win.

NFL Coach of the Year History

The AP NFL Coach of the Year award has been given out every season since 1957. George Wilson of the Detroit Lions was the inaugural winner that season. To date, 15 coaches who have won the award were later inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Past NFL Coach of the Year Winners