2023 NFL Coach of the Year odds: Can DeMeco Ryans catch Kevin Stefanski?

National Football League

Updated Jan. 8, 2024 2:32 p.m. ET

When the Cleveland Browns pummeled the New York Jets in Week 17 and ultimately clinched a playoff berth, it was as if Kevin Stefanski’s odds to win NFL Coach of the Year were shortening in real time.

He started the season at +2300. At the beginning of December, he was sixth on the board at +1100. Before Week 17 kicked off, his odds moved to +150. After the Browns beat the Jets, those odds shortened to -300.

However, Houston’s DeMeco Ryans is hot on Stefanski’s heels to win the award after his Texans defeated the Colts in Week 18 and punched their ticket to the postseason.

Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud are the fifth rookie head coach-QB duo to make the playoffs in their first year together since the merger and the first since Andrew Luck and Chuck Pagano in Indy in 2012.

After the Texans’ 23-19 win over the Colts, Ryans’ odds to win Coach of the Year shortened to +110 after being +900 at the beginning of the month.

While his odds got shorter, Stefanski’s odds got longer. The Browns’ head coach is now sitting at -150 after being -950 last week.

Let’s look at the closing board from BetMGM.

NFL COACH OF THE YEAR ODDS: *

Kevin Stefanski, Browns: -150 (bet $10 to win $16.67 total)

DeMeco Ryans, Texans: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)

Dan Campbell, Lions: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

Sean McVay, Rams: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

Kyle Shanahan, 49ers: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)

John Harbaugh, Ravens: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)

Shane Steichen, Colts: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)

Mike McDaniel, Dolphins: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)

Mike Tomlin, Steelers: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)

*odds as of 1/8/2024

CJ Stroud, Texans clinch playoff berth in win over Gardner Minshew, Colts

On Monday’s NFL on FOX Podcast, AFC South reporter Ben Arthur praised the Ryans-Stroud tandem.

“The poise, the savvy [Stroud] has — he plays well beyond his years,” Arthur noted in the episode. “He’s the main reason why the Texans are where they are. And DeMeco Ryans has done a great job.

“But the Texans aren’t in this position without a quarterback of C.J. Stroud’s caliber.”

Rounding out the top three is Detroit head coach Dan Campbell, whose odds lengthened after Week 18.

Heading into the final game of the regular season, Campbell’s odds to win the award were +1900. The Lions defeated Minnesota 30-20, but his odds moved to +5000 after his squad closed out the regular season with a 12-5 record.

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