Nick Sirianni was the favorite to win NFL Coach of the Year for a long time, as the Philadelphia Eagles got off to a blazing start in 2022.
However, with only one week remaining in the regular season, he has been overtaken by Kyle Shanahan as the coach most likely to win the award at FanDuel Sportsbook.
Shanahan, the 49ers’ coach, has +175 odds to win Coach of the Year, while Sirianni now checks in at +200. FanDuel sees this as a three-coach race, with New York Giants’ first-year man Brian Daboll listed at +250 odds.
There are four other coaches with longshot hopes heading into Week 18:
- Kyle Shanahan +175
- Nick Sirianni +200
- Brian Daboll +250
- Doug Pederson +1200
- Sean McDermott +2500
- Zac Taylor +2500
- Dan Campbell +3000
The Case For Kyle Shanahan
It’s quite easy to understand why Shanahan has surged to the top of the favorites. The 49ers are 12-4 on the season and have won nine straight games despite the loss of two quarterbacks to season-ending injuries. Trey Lance went down early in the year and Jimmy Garoppolo also landed on injured reserve, but the train has rolled on with Brock Purdy under center.
The 49ers have a shot to finish as the No. 1 seed in the NFC and are on the short-list of Super Bowl favorites. There may not be another team in the NFL capable of doing so without its top two quarterbacks, and Shanahan deserves immense credit for the way he has kept the team thriving.
The Case For Nick Sirianni
The Eagles have lost two straight since the injury to quarterback Jalen Hurts, but despite that, they are tied with the Chiefs for the best record in the NFL at 13-3. Philadelphia was expected to be a playoff team heading into the season but quickly surpassed those expectations by becoming the class of the NFC.
Sirianni’s candidacy has lost some luster because of the recent struggles, and if the 49ers leapfrog the Eagles for the top seed in the NFC in Week 18, Shanahan will probably have it in the bag. However, if Philadelphia ends up as the top seed and finishes tied for the NFL’s best record, Sirianni will still have a great case.
The Case For Brian Daboll
The Giants were not expected to be good this year, and yet, they have wrapped up a playoff berth already heading into Week 18. Daboll has proven to be a very good coach in his first year with the team, maximizing his roster while making good in-game decisions to help result in a number of close wins.
New York does not have the same shiny record as the 49ers or Eagles, but a 9-6-1 mark heading into the season finale has surpassed all expectations. Daboll has done more with less, and the voters will surely consider him for the award as well.
The Case For The Longshots
Doug Pederson’s odds are intriguing at +1200. The Jacksonville Jaguars have come roaring back from a slow start and are on the precipice of winning the AFC South. Jacksonville has a point-differential of plus-50 on the year, which is the fourth-best mark in the AFC.
Trevor Lawrence was bad as a rookie but has flourished under Pederson. Jacksonville has exceeded expectations and Pederson has shown how much it has benefitted the team to go from Urban Meyer to a competent coach.
Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor are interesting cases. They have not only led their teams to double-digit wins, but they were the epitome of leaders by handling Damar Hamlin’s horrifying injury with grace. This award is generally focused on results, but the coaches of the Bills and Bengals, respectively, deserve major plaudits for their unwavering dedication to their players in a really scary moment.
The Lions have also exceeded expectations and enter the season finale with an outside shot at the postseason. If Detroit gets in, perhaps Campbell gets some consideration, but it’s hard to see him winning even on the off-chance the Lions make the postseason.
Best Bet For Coach of the Year
While the entire body of work must be examined when voting for Coach of the Year, panelists are naturally going to give more weight to how teams look now. Shanahan has done a masterful job of keeping the 49ers among the title contenders despite a rookie seventh-round pick playing quarterback.
The roster has envious talent, but Shanahan has still been able to make Purdy feel comfortable in a short span of time while keeping his potent running game on track. The 49ers are huge favorites against the Arizona Cardinals in their season finale, and ending the season 13-4 with a ten-game winning streak will be something the voters can’t overlook.
Prediction: Kyle Shanahan wins Coach of the Year (+175 odds at FanDuel)
