The Case for Who Is the NFL Coach of the Year

In a season full of surprises, the NFL Coach of the Year award is wide open. Here’s a look at the case for each of the top contenders.

Introduction

In the National Football League (NFL), the Coach of the Year Award is given to the head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working with the talent he has been given.

The award was first given out in 1957 and is voted on by a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters from across the country. This year, there are several coaches who have made strong cases for themselves and it promises to be a close race.

Here are three coaches who could conceivably take home the award this year.

The Case for Bill Belichick

In a season where there have been so many good coaching performances, it’s hard to single out just one as the best. However, Bill Belichick’s performance this year deserves special recognition. Belichick has coached the Patriots to an 11-5 record, despite having one of the worst offenses in the league.

Belichick’s Record

In his 20 years as head coach of the New England Patriots, Bill Belichick has compiled a regular-season record of 250–132, for a .654 winning percentage. His teams have won 17 division titles, 12 conference championships, and six Super Bowls. He is the only head coach in NFL history to win three Super Bowls in four years (2014, 2016, and 2018), and he is the only head coach to win six Super Bowls. He is also the first head coach to win back-to-back Super Bowls twice (2003 and 2004 seasons; 2014 and 2015 seasons).

Belichick’s Strategy

In 2000, the Patriots finished last in their division with a 5-11 record. The following year, they drafted quarterback Tom Brady in the sixth round. Brady took over as the starter in 2001, andbelieved in him so much that he benched longtime veteran Drew Bledsoe, even after Bledsoe had led the team to a Super Bowl win just three years earlier.

In 2002, the Patriots won the Super Bowl. They repeated as champions in 2003 and 2004. Since then, they’ve been to six more Super Bowls, winning three of them. They are currently vying for their seventh championship in nine years.

So what is Belichick’s secret?

For starters, he’s an incredible strategist. He’s known for making bold moves that often defy conventional wisdom, but almost always end up paying off. For example, he was one of the first coaches to fully embrace using statistical analysis to help make decisions on game day. He also isn’t afraid to take risks on players that other teams have given up on, like Randy Moss or Corey Dillon.

Another big part of Belichick’s success is his ability to adapt his game plan to whatever personnel he has available. The Patriots have famously been able to plug in different players at different positions and still find success. This is a testament to Belichick’s coaching ability, as well as his staff’s ability to develop players and prepare them for game situations.

Finally, Belichick is a master at getting the most out of his players. He knows how to motivation them and get them to buy into his system. He also isn’t afraid to make tough decisions, like benching popular players or cutting ties with talented but troublesome ones.

All of these factors have contributed to Belichick’s unparalleled success as a head coach. He’s without question one of the greatest coaches of all time, and there’s a strong case to be made that he is currently the best coach in the NFL

The Case for Sean McVay

The Rams have been one of the best teams in the NFL this season and their head coach Sean McVay deserves a lot of the credit. He has done an amazing job with this team and has them playing at a high level. I think he should be the Coach of the Year.

McVay’s Record

In his first season as an NFL head coach, Sean McVay led the Los Angeles Rams to a 11-5 record, their first winning campaign since 2003, and their first playoff berth since 2004. The Rams offense under McVay was the best in the league, ranking first in points scored, yards gained, and yards per play. The defense was also much improved, ranking ninth in points allowed and 11th in yards allowed.

Under McVay, the Rams won seven of their last eight games, including a come-from-behind victory over the division rival Seattle Seahawks in the wild-card round of the playoffs. In the divisional round, the Rams took a commanding lead against the eventual NFC champion Atlanta Falcons, but ultimately lost 26-13.

Despite his team’s early exit from the playoffs, Sean McVay is widely considered to be one of the best young coaches in the NFL. He is a leading candidate for Coach of the Year honors, and he has already been mentioned as a potential future head coach of the Washington Redskins – the team that he worked for as an offensive assistant from 2010 to 2013.

McVay’s Offensive Strategy

In just his second season as head coach, Los Angeles Rams’ Sean McVay has taken the NFL by storm. He has transformed the Rams from one of the worst teams in the league to one of the best, and has done so by embracing an offensive strategy that is built around speed and playmakers.

McVay’s offense is predicated on getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers in space, and letting them do what they do best. This means that he employs a lot of quick passes and screen passes, which allows his receivers and running backs to pick up yards after the catch.

While some may argue that this style of offense is not conducive to sustained success, the results speak for themselves. The Rams have scored 30 or more points in eight of their 12 games this season, and are on pace to break the NFL record for most points scored in a single season.

What’s more, McVay’s offense is fun to watch. It’s exciting, creative, and most importantly, it produces results. For these reasons, Sean McVay is our pick for NFL Coach of the Year.

The Case for Doug Pederson

Doug Pederson has been the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles since 2016. In that time, he has led the team to a Super Bowl victory and has proven himself to be a great leader. He is a great motivator and has the respect of his players. He is also a great offensive mind, and his teams have always been among the best in the NFL.

Pederson’s Record

At 10-1, the Eagles have the best record in the NFL. They’re also the only team in the league to have beaten every opponent they’ve faced this season. That’s thanks in large part to Doug Pederson, who has proven to be an excellent head coach in his second season with the team.

In his first year as head coach, Pederson led the Eagles to a 7-9 record. That may not seem like much, but it was a significant improvement over the previous year’s 5-11 record. And it was even more impressive considering that the Eagles were without their starting quarterback, Carson Wentz, for most of the season.

This year, with Wentz healthy and playing at an MVP level, Pederson has taken the Eagles to new heights. He’s made some bold decisions, including going for it on fourth down more than any other team in the NFL, and they’ve paid off. The Eagles are scoring more points than any other team in the league, and they’re doing it with style.

So why isn’t Pederson getting more credit for his team’s success? Part of it may be because he’s not a flashy coach. He doesn’t make grandiose statements or promise Super Bowl wins. But that’s not what fans should want from their head coach. They should want someone who is focused on winning games and putting his players in position to succeed. And that’s exactly what Pederson is doing.

Pederson’s Offensive Strategy

Doug Pederson has been the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles since 2016. In that time, he has led the team to a Super Bowl victory and two NFC East divisional titles. He is widely considered to be one of the best offensive minds in the NFL, and his innovative use of playcalling and personnel has made him one of the league’s most respected coaches.

Pederson’s offensive strategy is built around creating mismatches and exploiting weaknesses in the defense. He often uses formation shifts and motion to create confusion for the defense, and his playcalling is predicated on taking advantage of whatever the defense gives him. This approach has led to some explosive offenses in Philadelphia, and it has made Pederson one of the most successful coaches in recent memory.

Conclusion

The answer to this question is largely dependent on personal opinion. Some people may feel that Andy Reid deserves the title because he led the Kansas City Chiefs to an astounding 13-3 record, while others may believe that Bill Belichick is more deserving because he led the New England Patriots to an impressive 12-4 record. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide who they think is more deserving of the title.