The 2026 NFL season is just around the corner, meaning it’s time to start diving into one of the most fun betting markets in the sport – awards futures. The Coach of the Year award may not get the same shine that the MVP trophy does, but it’s arguably just as exciting to predict as any other.
There’s significant strategy involved in betting this award, but that’s coming soon in a future article. For now, let’s tale a look at the odds for the 2026 NFL Coach of the Year award on DraftKings Sportsbook.
2026 NFL Coach of the Year opening odds
Last season, we saw one of the most exciting Coach of the Year races in the award’s history. Mike Vrabel ended up taking home the honor, but Liam Coen and Ben Johnson were both very worthy finalists as well during their first years with their respective franchises. All three led their squads to the playoffs, but will we see as competitive a race again this year?
As things currently stand in late July, here’s the leaderboard for Coach of the Year on DraftKings Sportsbook:
It’s no shocker that almost the entire top of the order are newcomers to their respective jobs. The favorite has the strongest reputation of the bunch – longtime head coach John Harbaugh sits at the top with +600 odds, significantly shorter than any other option. The Ravens sent waves across the NFL when they parted ways with the longtime coach, but the Giants were certainly wise to scoop him up as they look to reset the organization’s culture with an experienced name at the helm.
Rounding out the top three are Jesse Minter and Robert Saleh, each listed at identical +1000 value. Minter, who was previously the defensive coordinator for the Chargers, took over Harbaugh’s old gig and inherits a multi-time MVP in quarterback Lamar Jackson and a playoff-caliber roster laden with talent. Saleh, who was previously a head coach with the Jets before working as the 49ers’ defensive coordinator last season, has a much tougher task ahead as he works to turn around a rebuilding Titans team.
Three more names slot in within the next bracket in terms of betting value. Kellen Moore (+1200) impressed in his first season in charge of the Saints last year as he kept the group competitive. With new pieces like Travis Etienne and Jordyn Tyson joining an offense with Chris Olave and quarterback Tyler Shough, the latter of whom impressed down the stretch as a rookie, Moore has the weapons to make this a thrilling offense. Todd Monken (+1400) is the new hire as the Browns’ leader after working as the offensive coordinator on Harbaugh’s Ravens staff. With little standout talent to work with and no franchise quarterback though, the assignment of making Cleveland competitive appears as difficult as any. Finally, Joe Brady (+1500) was an internal replacement as the Bills’ head coach after spending multiple years in charge of the team’s offense. With Josh Allen and a contending roster, the world is at his fingertips – however, winning Coach of the Year with a team that won 12 games last year is improbable based on historic precedent.
From there, the leaderboard brings a mix of mostly established coaches. Ben Johnson (+1600) was one of the three finalists last year and flipped the script on what the Bears could be. He coaches in a gauntlet of a division and won double-digit games last season, so the case to take home Coach of the Year would require an even more impressive campaign. Mike McCarthy (+1600) is a longtime veteran in the coaching world and now takes over his hometown franchise in what’ll be the last dance for Aaron Rodgers as they work for another Steelers playoff berth. Klint Kubiak (+1700) just won a Super Bowl as the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator and is looking to lead the Raiders back to relevance with No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza, Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers.
Brian Schottenheimer’s (+1800) Cowboys team underachieved last year, but his high-flying offense put on a spectacle for fans just about every week and the upside for an improved record is certainly palpable. Finally, Kevin Stefanski (+1900) is one of just a handful of coaches to ever win this award multiple times – following an exit from his longtime post with the Browns, he now inherits a Falcons roster headlined by Bijan Robinson with a pathway to contention in a weak NFC South.
Who wins this award in the end is anyone’s guess, especially with such a large group of viable candidates.
