Today’s Best Bets
Sam Choudhury
The NFL season may be over, but it’s never too early to start prepping for the upcoming year, getting a head start on futures. In this article I’ll be looking at the Coach of the Year market, highlighting a few candidates that stand out at the moment.
2024 NFL Coach of the Year Odds and Best Bets
Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
(+800, DraftKings Sportsbook)
If there was any speculation that Matt LaFleur’s early success was simply a product of Aaron Rodgers, he removed all doubt this past season. LaFleur couldn’t have asked for a much better start in the post-Rodger era, making the playoffs year one and dismantling the Cowboys in AT&T Stadium. Entering the Wild Card, Dallas was nearly unstoppable at home, winning 16 consecutive games, before getting upset 48-32 by the Packers. It’s too early to anoint Jordan Love as a franchise quarterback, but he fared well in his first full season as a starter, leading the youngest roster into the postseason since 1970. LaFluer and the Packers have the opportunity to add even more youth and talent to the roster, currently possessing 11 picks in the upcoming draft.
Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
(+1400, DraftKings Sportsbook)
Shane Steichen was remarkable in his first season as a head coach, falling one game short of winning the AFC South and making the playoffs. That said, the Colts had no business in staying competitive and winning nine games, losing their franchise quarterback in the first five weeks of the season. Even with Gardner Minshew under center, Indianapolis was a dropped fourth-down conversion away from possibly clinching the division, winning six of their last nine games. There are still a lot of question marks about Anthony Richardson, but he was the fourth overall pick last season, flashing immense upside in a limited sample. There isn’t a better coach than Steichen to help Richardson develop at the next level, similar to the way he helped transform Jalen Hurts into an MVP-caliber quarterback. The Eagles finished 14-3, nearly winning the Super Bowl in Steichen’s last season as the offensive coordinator, looking like a shell of themselves in 2023.
DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
(+1400, DraftKings Sportsbook)
DeMeco Ryans fell a hair short of winning Coach of the Year last season, tying for first with Kevin Stefanski in total votes (165). Both coaches were worthy candidates for the award, but it’s hard to overlook what Ryans accomplished, taking the Texans to the playoffs and winning the AFC South for the first time since 2019. With an upset win against the Browns in the playoffs, Ryans and 2023 Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud became just the third first-year head coach/quarterback tandem to win a playoff game since 1950, joining John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco in 2008 and Rex Ryan/Mark Sanchez in 2009. With 11 total wins on the season, including the playoffs, Ryans led the franchise to the same number of victories as the 2019, 2020, and 2021 seasons combined. The arrow is pointing up in Hoston, who have eight picks in the upcoming draft along with the sixth-most cap space entering free agency.
