NFL Coach of the Year Odds 2026: John Harbaugh the Betting Favorite
A new NFL season is upon us, which means the early NFL Coach of the Year odds are also available. And the preseason frontrunner is John Harbaugh, who’s in his first season with the New York Giants after spending 18 years with the Baltimore Ravens.
Read on for NFL Coach of the Year odds for 2026. We also break down what bookies like FanDuel and DraftKings are telling us about early expectations. We even offer you an analysis of what the broader NFL odds market suggests about early expectations.
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The NFL Coach of the Year odds favor John Harbaugh over several other frontrunners entering their first or second season with a new team. These are the coaches whom FanDuel Sportsbook is indicating as preseason contenders:
| Player | NFL Coach of the Year Odds (via FanDuel) |
|---|---|
| John Harbaugh | +650 |
| Jesse Minter | +850 |
| Kevin Stefanski | +1400 |
| Brian Schottenheimer | +1400 |
| Kellen Moore | +1400 |
*Odds as of Sept. 1, 2026.
NFL Coach of the Year Betting Favorites
We’d like to make a case for (or against) these coaches and analyze their odds of claiming the NFL Coach of the Year award. A few interesting names stand out, as each coach is in a unique position to lead their team to a potentially successful season.
John Harbaugh, +650
The current NFL Coach of the Year odds favor John Harbaugh at +650. He takes over an abysmal Giants team this season that finished with just four wins in 2025-26.
Harbaugh has proven himself in the NFL, amassing a 180-113 head coaching record. He also led Baltimore to a Super Bowl victory during the 2012-13 season (a game in which his brother, Jim Harbaugh, was the opposing head coach).
The Giants have been a dumpster fire for over a decade. Hiring Harbaugh as head coach makes them better, but this team will struggle to win games.
Jesse Minter, +850
Jesse Minter takes over a Ravens team that just canned Mr. Harbaugh himself. Minter spent three years as the defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Chargers before accepting the head coaching gig in Baltimore.
Minter will likely succeed early in his tenure. The Ravens have a dynamic roster led by two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson at quarterback. Even the preseason Super Bowl odds are showing a lot of confidence in this team.
Kevin Stefanski, +1400
The 2026 NFL Coach of the Year odds also peg Kevin Stefanski as a frontrunner. He takes over Atlanta this season, a team with two good QBs but no clear solution at that position for the future.
Stefanski spent six years as the head coach in Cleveland. During that time, he squandered a talented roster, producing only a single postseason victory to show for it.
Brian Schottenheimer, +1400
Brian Schottenheimer is another one of the top NFL Coach of the Year picks among bookies. He now enters his second season in Dallas, with a goal of retooling the defense and reclaiming the NFC East.
The preseason NFL MVP odds also indicate that QB Dak Prescott is a legitimate contender for the award. If Prescott and Schottenheimer can continue to build chemistry together, this team could far exceed expectations.
Kellen Moore, +1400
Don’t forget to consider Kellen Moore when determining your 2026 NFL Coach of the Year predictions. He’s now in his second season with New Orleans, having taken over a team that hasn't been relevant since QB Drew Brees retired after the 2020-21 season.
But under Moore’s leadership, New Orleans could turn things around this season. The team has a legitimate starting QB in Tyler Shough, and Moore is arguably one of the best NFL playcallers.
NFL Coach of the Year Sleeper Picks
The preseason Coach of the Year NFL odds also caught our attention with multiple potential sleeper picks. A few names jump out at us, and we’d like to tell you more about the coaches who could fly under the radar.
Robert Saleh, +1500
Most NFL betting sites peg Robert Saleh as an underdog to claim this award. But think about his situation: he takes over a team that has a solid run game and a potential franchise QB in Cam Ward. Saleh is also an incredible motivator who’s known for maximizing his players.
Jim Harbaugh, +1900
The other Harbaugh brother also has the potential here to light the NFL on fire. Since taking over in Los Angeles in 2024, Harbaugh has a 22-12 head coaching record.
Harbaugh already has this team on the right track. But with a breakout season from starting QB Justin Herbert, Harbaugh could contend for his second Coach of the Year award.
Mike McCarthy, +2700
McCarthy took over the head coaching gig in Pittsburgh, reuniting with starting QB Aaron Rodgers. Bookies and pundits don’t expect much from this team in 2026. But if the Steelers can secure at least 11 wins (which is very possible) and claim the AFC North, McCarthy will contend for the award
NFL Coach of the Year Prediction
Our NFL Coach of the Year prediction is for Jesse Minter. The Ravens are a dangerous team, with incredible playmakers on offense (Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry) and defense (Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey).
All Minter has to do is elevate the team’s performance just a notch or two from last season. This roster is very much capable of winning 13 or even 14 games this season and making a run at the Super Bowl.
NFL Coach of the Year Winners History
Previous winners of this award can also help inform your 2026 prediction. The past 25 NFL Coach of the Year winners include many familiar names, such as Bill Belichick and Sean McVay.
- 2025: Mike Vrabel, New England (+2000)
- 2024: Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota (+1800)
- 2023: Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland (+1400)
- 2022: Brian Daboll (+1400)
- 2021: Mike Vrabel, Tennessee (+2500)
- 2020: Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland (+2000)
- 2019: John Harbaugh, Baltimore (+2800)
- 2018: Matt Nagy, Chicago (+875)
- 2017: Sean McVay, Los Angeles (+5000)
- 2016: Jason Garrett, Dallas (+2800)
- 2015: Ron Rivera, Carolina
- 2014: Bruce Arians, Arizona
- 2013: Ron Rivera, Carolina
- 2012: Bruce Arians, Indianapolis
- 2011: Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco
- 2010: Bill Belichick, New England
- 2009: Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati
- 2008: Mike Smith, Atlanta
- 2007: Bill Belichick, New England
- 2006: Sean Payton, New Orleans
- 2005: Lovie Smith, Chicago
- 2004: Marty Schottenheimer, San Diego
- 2003: Bill Belichick, New England
- 2002: Andy Reid, Philadelphia
- 2001: Dick Jauron, Chicago
How to Bet on NFL Coach of the Year Odds in 2026
You can bet on the NFL Coach of the Year odds via sportsbooks like FanDuel or DraftKings. But there’s an entire process that requires you to create an account, make a payment, and wager on your prediction.
The good news is we can help here by guiding you through everything:
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Choose a Sportsbook. You’ll first click the link we provide to a sportsbook that we recommend. This will redirect you to the operator's website and start the sign-up process.
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Create an Account. The operator will request certain identifying information from you — your name, address, date of birth, etc. — as you go through the account creation process. This is necessary to prove that you’re able to bet on sports legally.
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Claim a Bonus. You’ll then claim your bonus, which comes with certain eligibility requirements. For example, FanDuel has a minimum deposit threshold and requires a minimum qualifying wager.
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Deposit Funds. Next, you’ll add funds to your account by visiting the online cashier. You’ll select a deposit method, provide your payment info, enter an amount, and confirm your request.
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Explore NFL Futures. Once you have money in your account, you’ll navigate the sportsbook and visit the ‘NFL Futures’ section. This is where you’ll discover odds for NFL Coach of the Year.
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Select Your Prediction. You’ll click the odds associated with the coach you believe will win the award. This will populate the online bet slip, which should appear on your screen right then.
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Place a Wager. You’ll confirm that your wager is correct before you enter the amount of money you wish to wager. Then, you’ll submit your bet, and the rest is history!
How to Read Odds to Win NFL Coach of the Year
The NFL Coach of the Year betting odds follow the American format. It uses the plus symbol (+) to indicate underdogs and the minus symbol (-) to indicate frontrunners/favorites. These odds also imply probabilities.
Let’s say you wager $100 on Jesse Minter winning the 2026 NFL Head Coach of the Year. He’s among the betting favorites, but with long odds at +850, you could potentially make plenty of money by picking him.
A $100 wager would earn you an $850 payout, which is a massive profit. But that’s because Minter’s preseason probability of winning the award is just 10.5%.
Please also note that all odds are subject to change, depending on many factors that affect their prices.
Where to Bet on Coach of the Year Odds
Legal sportsbooks like FanDuel and BetMGM cover the odds to win the NFL Coach of the Year. Plus, they allow you to bet on markets involving moneylines, point totals, and over/unders throughout the season. In other words, there’s always plenty of action to go around.
The best NFL betting apps all offer competitive odds on several head coaches who’re vying for the award. And the preseason profitability here is really good, which is why you should take advantage of it while you can.
Plus, you can use NFL betting promos to increase your winnings. Odds boosts help improve your profitability, and bonus bets give you a bigger bankroll for wagering on the NFL.
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NFL Coach of the Year Odds FAQ
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