Looking at the Top NFL “Coach of the Year” Candidates

Two First-Year Head Coaches Among Favorites for 2022 NFL "Coach of the Year" Award

Chargers Brandon Staley Among Top NFL Coach of the Year candidates

There might not be a tougher award winner to predict than the NFL Coach of the Year race.

Currently, there are three leaders, including two heading into the first season with five other coaches not far behind. Most of the top candidates are going into their first seasons at the helm with no previous head-coaching experience at the NFL level.

The Coach of the Year NFL odds figures to look a little bit different by the time the season kicks off on September 8.

Here is a breakdown of the current NFL Coach of the Year front-runners.

Brian Daboll, New York Giants (+1400 odds to win Coach of the Year)

The former offensive coordinator for the Buffalo Bills doesn’t have Josh Allen to call plays for any longer. If he can get turnover-prone quarterback Daniel Jones to protect the ball, there is a chance that he could indeed win the NFL Coach of the Year award.

Adding defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux and offensive tackle Evan Neal in the draft was a step in the right direction for a franchise that has seen better days.

The Giants are coming off a 4-13 season, however, the expected regular-season win total for the Giants is currently at 7. It is no wonder that Daboll’s name is popping up when it comes to the 2022 best NFL coaches.

Josh McDaniels, Las Vegas Raiders (+1400 odds to win Coach of the Year)

Taking over a NFL team that made the playoffs and added arguably the best receiver in football thanks to a trade with Green Bay for Davante Adams, McDaniels might have a chance for a better and longer run than he had in Denver when he was fired in 2010 during his second season.

The Raiders also added Chandler Jones to help out Maxx Crosby in the pass-rushing department.

Brandon Staley, Los Angeles Chargers (+1400 odds to win Coach of the Year)

The only returning coach among the current leaders in the odds for the Coach of the Year award, the Chargers added Khalil Mack to a defense that already Joey Bosa. Cornerback J.C. Jackson is another new addition.

The offense features quarterback Justin Herbert, running back Austin Ekeler as well as receiver Keenan Allen and Mike Williams, so, Staley has a good chance of leading the Chargers back to the playoffs.

The  Chargers (+1400) have the sixth-best odds to win the Super Bowl.

Nathaniel Hackett, Denver Broncos (+1600 odds to win Coach of the Year)

Another new coach in an outstanding situation as a team with a top-10 defense addressed the quarterback situation with a trade for perennial Pro Bowl passer Russell Wilson.

Defensive end  Randy  Gregory was the big catch on the defensive side of the ball in free agency while second-round pick Nik Bonitto could also help improve the pass rush.

Denver is tied for the seventh-best odds to win the Super Bowl. That’s not bad for a team that finished in last place in the AFC West Division in 2021.

Denver won seven games in 2021 and is projected to finish the regular season with 10 in 2022. The emergence of cornerback Patrick Surtain and running back Javonte Williams, Denver’s top two picks in last year’s draft, could help the Broncos get into double digits in victories.

Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins (+1600 odds to win Coach of the Year)

The decision to move on from former head coach Brian Flores still makes little sense. McDaniel comes in to take over a talented Miami team that could be ready to take off after trading for electrifying receiver Tyreek Hill. Sony Michel and Chase Edmonds were brought in to upgrade the running back position.

The six defensive players taken within the top 100 picks from 2019-2021 should start to pay off for the Dolphins.

Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles (+1600 odds to win Coach of the Year)

Rather than address the quarterback position in the NFL draft, the Eagles decided to give Jalen Hurts a boost by trading for receiver A.J. Brown.

Drafting defensive lineman Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean off the national champion Georgia team and signing sack master Haason Reddick should help a defense that was 10th in yards allowed but only 18th in scoring defense.

Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers (+1600 odds to win Coach of the Year)

The offense is being turned off to quarterback Trey Lance and it is looking like disgruntled receiver Deebo Samuel is staying put. This has the potential to be a top-notch offense and if the defense shows signs of improvement, watch out.

Shanahan is not only a contender for Coach of the Year, but among the top candidates for the award, he also has the best odds (+2000) to be the first NFL coach fired in 2022.

San Francisco is tied for the seventh-best odds to win the Super Bowl.

Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings (+1600 odds to win Coach of the Year)

We have a hunch that Minnesota will finish higher than 11th in passing offense during the upcoming season. An offensive guru (Kevin O’Connell) who comes to the Vikings after helping the Los Angeles Rams win the Super Bowl.

Five of Minnesota’s first six picks in the 2022 draft came on defense and that seems like the right way to go after only the Houston Texans and New York Jets allowed more yards per game in 2021 than Minnesota.

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