This has been a very bizarre NFL season. If you happen to went again to June and instructed somebody that the Commanders could be main the NFC East, the AFC East wouldn’t be shut in any respect, and the 49ers could be locked at .500 with two different groups within the NFC West, no one would imagine you.
If 2024 has taught us something it’s shifting tendencies in soccer have made it very tough to foretell futures within the league. Additionally, the perfect coaches present their chops by with the ability to adapt to altering circumstances contained in the season and discover methods for his or her groups to win regardless.
So, who’re the entrance runners for Coach of the 12 months in a season as unpredictable as this one?
Dan Campbell — Detroit Lions
Loads about COY comes right down to previous recognition. Voters love to present this award to first-time winners, and whenever you couple that with Campbell’s resume this season it’s a fairly protected guess.
The Lions are cruising at 6-1 proper now, and in the event you have a look at their remaining schedule it’s not exterior the realm of chance they end the common season at 13-4 (on the very worst). In the event that they win the NFC North and go on a run to the NFC Championship recreation or higher, there’s little question Campbell could be a favourite for the award.
It is a physique of labor scenario, the place it’s not simply what Campbell has achieved this season, however in totality as he’s turned the Lions from a two-decade laughing inventory of the NFL into probably the most terrifying compete groups in soccer.
Dan Quinn — Washington Commanders
There’s an analogous case to be made for Quinn as Campbell, although barely much less pronounced. What give him the slight rub is the mammoth bounce Washington has taken from 2023 to now.
A yr in the past this was a 4-13 group choosing No. 2 within the NFL Draft. Now they’ve already surpassed their win complete from a season in the past, and have extra hope coming into the second half of the yr than at any level in years.
Couple this with a gentle schedule within the back-stretch with 4 easy-to-win video games and a handful off toss ups, and we now have a really actual scenario the place Washington might be a 12+ win group. That mammoth year-over-year enchancment is what has received coaches the award previously, and the defensive bounce this group has taken in addition to their ability with a rookie quarterback has made them a juggernaut.
Andy Reid — Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
There are two methods you possibly can view the Chiefs in 2024: One is a group that has taken a step again and appears a lot shakier than both of their final two Tremendous Bowl seasons. The opposite is a 7-0 group, nonetheless surging, whereas coping with mammoth accidents on offense and an unpredictable season from Travis Kelce.
Certain, you would deal with slim wins over the Raiders, Bengals and Falcons — utilizing that as an indication the group actually isn’t all that, however the reality is that the 2024 Chiefs function on ruthless effectivity over flashy performs and whenever you have a look at roster high quality top-to-bottom it’s tough to place them on par with a few of the different finest groups within the league.
If Reid has the Chiefs cruising to their third Tremendous Bowl look in a row, and if rumors begin effervescent up that that is his remaining season then we may very effectively see the 2024 COY as a lifetime achievement award of kinds.
Mike Tomlin — Pittsburgh Steelers
Nothing Mike Tomlin does as a coach is flashy, however the biggest testomony to his capability is that he by no means, ever is able the place the Steelers aren’t aggressive. The person has an unnatural capability to get his employees on the identical web page, roll with the punches of the season, and regularly discover methods to maintain the group aggressive and a playoff risk.
The Steelers of 2024 don’t have a real No. 1 receiver. They’ve began two quarterbacks to equal success. Najee Harris has been up-and-down as a rusher. Nonetheless they’re 6-2 and in charge of the AFC North, the league’s most-competitive division. A few of that has been aided by abject catastrophe in Cleveland a defensive struggles on the Bengals — nevertheless it’s nonetheless rattling spectacular that he has this group rolling despite all of it.
Tomlin is an out of doors shot for this award if we’re being completely trustworthy, and his job in 2024 requires extra nuance — which is one thing the award hasn’t rewarded previously. Nonetheless, exterior of profitable the Tremendous Bowl you’d be arduous pressed to discover a extra spectacular season from any coach this yr.
Different potential coaches to look at
Jonathan Gannon — Arizona Cardinals
If the Cardinals win the NFC West with their roster then Gannon will deserve some consideration.
Matt LeFleur — Inexperienced Bay Packers
Bouncing again since buying and selling away Aaron Rodgers and being probably the greatest groups within the NFC is an unbelievable feat.
Kevin O’Connell — Minnesota Vikings
The rock-bottom expectations for the Vikings this season have been completely trounced by their stellar efficiency on the sector.
