NFL Coach of the Year: Top contenders emerging ahead of season’s final stretch
With the NFL season hitting its midpoint, the race for the league’s Coach of the Year award is heating up. At the front of the pack stands Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen, whose team’s unexpected success has propelled him into the national spotlight. But he’s far from alone in the chase. A duo of challengers — Mike Vrabel in New England, and Kyle Shanahan in San Francisco — are pushing hard, each building a compelling narrative in one of the tightest Coach of the Year races in recent memory.
With the above coaches in mind – read on as we dissect their success to date this season and why they are the favourites in the NFL BET odds with most bookmakers.
Shane Steichen — Indianapolis Colts
Shane Steichen has taken what many analysts considered a transitional Colts roster and transformed it into a team with real playoff ambitions. Entering the season, expectations were modest for Indianapolis — especially given the uncertainty at quarterback and the lingering questions around the team’s defence. But Steichen’s composed leadership, innovative offensive schemes, and ability to maximize his roster’s strengths have fuelled a surprising start. The Colts have looked prepared and disciplined in nearly every outing, a reflection of their head coach’s meticulous style.
Steichen’s case for Coach of the Year is built not just on wins, but on the narrative of overachievement. Voters tend to reward coaches who outperform preseason projections, and the Colts’ resurgence under his guidance fits that bill perfectly. If Indianapolis continues its upward trajectory and makes a strong playoff push, Steichen may be tough to beat when ballots are cast.
Mike Vrabel — New England Patriots
After a high-profile move back to New England, where he once starred as a player, Mike Vrabel is doing what many thought was impossible: injecting life into a Patriots team that had stagnated in recent seasons. Known for his toughness and no-nonsense approach, Vrabel has brought structure and belief back to Foxborough. The Patriots, despite lacking elite talent at several key positions, are competing week in and week out, and Vrabel’s fingerprints are all over their gritty, disciplined style of play.
What bolsters Vrabel’s candidacy is his ability to do more with less. New England’s roster still appears to be in a rebuild, yet they’ve taken down several more talented teams already this season. A previous Coach of the Year winner with the Titans in 2021, Vrabel’s reputation as a program builder gives him added credibility with voters. If the Patriots sneak into the playoff conversation, Vrabel’s case will be difficult to ignore.
Kyle Shanahan — San Francisco 49ers
Though often overlooked in Coach of the Year discussions due to consistently high expectations, Kyle Shanahan is quietly building a compelling case in 2025. The 49ers are once again among the NFL’s elite, but what separates Shanahan’s candidacy this season is how he’s navigated adversity without missing a step.
From key injuries on both sides of the ball to continued questions about quarterback Brock Purdy’s ceiling, Shanahan has kept San Francisco not just afloat, but dominant. His offensive scheme remains one of the most respected in football — simultaneously creative and brutally efficient — and his ability to adjust week to week has kept the 49ers ahead of defensive trends.
If San Francisco locks up the NFC’s top seed or finishes with one of the league’s best records despite their midseason challenges, Shanahan could finally earn recognition for what many consider a long-overdue Coach of the Year honour.
