Because the 2023 NFL common season attracts to a detailed, the Coach of the 12 months race has seen a number of robust candidates make a late push for the award. With Week 16 within the books, listed here are the main candidates for the NFL Coach of the 12 months Award:
5. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Having a loaded roster might preclude a candidate from successful Coach of the 12 months, although Harbaugh and his Ravens (12-3) have not had a simple street to the highest of the AFC standings. Regardless of considerations surrounding QB Lamar Jackson’s potential to win a championship, in addition to key accidents to RB J.Okay. Dobbins and TE Mark Andrews, Baltimore managed to emerge as one of many league’s high offenses.
The Ravens rank fourth in factors (27.8) and fifth in yards per recreation (372.1) whereas main the NFL in speeding (159.7 ypg).
Defensively, the Ravens have arguably essentially the most dominant unit of any crew, as they permit the fewest factors and sixth-fewest yards per recreation (297.3).
Nonetheless, that should not be a lot of a shock since they’ve skills like LB Roquan Smith and security Kyle Hamilton and can consequently hinder Harbaugh’s COTY bid. Nonetheless, Harbaugh would certainly choose a second Tremendous Bowl ring over one other Coach of the 12 months Award.
4. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
Steichen’s candidacy has taken a success with the Colts (8-7) dropping two of their final three video games, however his case deserves to be highlighted even when he possible will not win the award.
Indianapolis has been one of many greatest surprises within the NFL this season, contemplating that oddsmakers did not count on a lot from the crew, setting its win whole at 6.5 video games, which it surpassed in Week 13.
Now, with two video games remaining, the Colts maintain the ultimate AFC wild-card spot and stay in play for the division title as they’re locked in a three-way tie for first place. It is a powerful feat to be on this place at this level of the season, particularly for a first-year head coach and much more so for one which has the ninth-best scoring offense (23.6 ppg) with a backup quarterback.
So long as fourth general choose Anthony Richardson pans out, Steichen needs to be a perennial contender for Coach of the 12 months for the foreseeable future.
3. Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins
The AFC East-leading Dolphins (11-4) and McDaniel lastly silenced some critics after incomes their first win of the season towards a crew with a successful report final week. Nonetheless, the victory and a division title in all probability nonetheless will not be sufficient for McDaniel to take dwelling the COTY Award, even when he has solidified himself as one of many brightest offensive minds within the NFL.
McDaniel has guided Miami to the No. 1 offense by way of scoring (30.9) and whole yards per (411.5) this season whereas boasting the fifth-best speeding assault (136.4 ypg).
Moreover, McDaniel’s offensive scheme has produced a 4,000-yard passer in Tua Tagovailoa, two 1,000-yard receivers in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, in addition to a 1,000-yard rusher in Raheem Mostert. The historic efficiency of the offense has overshadowed the dominance of McDaniel’s protection, which has allowed the fewest factors (15.9) and yards (253.8) per recreation since CB Jalen Ramsey’s Dolphins debut in Week 8.
Even so, teaching such a star-studded roster might be detrimental to McDaniel’s COTY marketing campaign, however he’s worthy of being a finalist.
2. Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
Though Cleveland entered 2023 with maybe its most proficient roster in franchise historical past, it has overcome loads of adversity to achieve its 10-5 report, largely resulting from Stefanski’s steerage.
The Browns have the top-ranked protection within the NFL by way of yards allowed, however it’s the surprising success the offense has loved that makes Stefanski’s COTY case so compelling.
The Browns handled accidents and inconsistent performances from QB Deshaun Watson earlier than he was shut down for the season, and so they have not missed a lot of a beat since.
They’ve gained video games with former XFL standout P.J. Walker, fifth-round rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson and 38-year-old Joe Flacco, turning into the seventh crew since 1950 to achieve 10 wins with 4 completely different quarterbacks, per ESPN’s Jake Trotter.
Oh, and so they’ve additionally been doing all of it with out star RB Nick Chubb, who suffered a season-ending knee damage in Week 2.
1. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
A lot has modified since we ranked our Coach of the 12 months candidates in Week 8, aside from the front-runner. Campbell has been the odds-on favourite for the award since Detroit’s convincing season-opening win over the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and might be tough to unseat after main the Lions to their first division title in 30 years.
Whereas the Lions (11-4) have clearly been the highest crew within the NFC North all through the season, they’ve proven obvious weaknesses since their Week 9 bye.
Over the past seven video games, Detroit has allowed the fourth-most factors (190) and Tenth-most yards (2,507) within the NFL but compiled a 5-2 report. Nice teaching can masks loads of a crew’s deficiencies, and Campbell’s workers has finished precisely that in this present stretch.
If the Lions can safe a win in Dallas this week, Campbell needs to be all however assured Coach of the 12 months honors.
