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We kick off the 103rd season of the National Football League as 32 teams will battle for the right to be crowned Champions. At the helm are their head coaches, who oftentimes, hold the key that can unlock the true potential of an NFL roster. Check out our NFL odds series for our 2023-24 Coach of the Year prediction and pick.
With one game already behind us, it's no surprise to see Detroit Lions Head Coach Dan Campbell listed as the betting favorite to take home the award. Behind him is Broncos' Sean Payton, Bears' Matt Eberflus, Jets' Robert Saleh, and Packers' Matt LaFleur. While any coach can take home this award with the right season, we'll be taking a look at the current betting favorites.
Here are the 2023-24 Coach of the Year NFL odds, courtesy of FanDuel.
NFL Odds: 2023-24 Coach of the Year
Dan Campbell: +750
Sean Payton: +1600
Matt Eberflus: +1600
Robert Saleh: +1600
Matt LaFleur: +1600
Why Dan Campbell Could Win Coach of the Year
Dan Campbell comes in as the favorite to win Coach of the Year for the sheer attention he's brought to this Detroit Lions team. Prior to his arrival, the Lions posted a sorry 3-13-1 record and finished last in the NFC North. Upon his fiery arrival, he brought a season of HBO's Hard Knocks to Lions training camp. In his debut season, he inspired the Lions to a 9-8 record as they finished second in the North and effectively kept Green Bay out of the playoffs. This year, the Lions are favorites to win the NFC North and Campbell's impact is felt by everyone in the facility.
He jumps out as the favorite here after notching the first win of the NFL season over the returning champion Kansas City Chiefs. While the Chiefs were without Travis Kelce and Chris Jones, the Lions still managed to pull out a win in Kansas City despite playing an underwhelming game themselves. It's clear that this team is built from grit and Dan Campbell is the engine that makes them go. If the Lions can manage to win the NFC North in just his second year, he'll be a lock to win Coach of the Year.
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Why Robert Saleh Could Win Coach of the Year
The New York Jets finished last in the AFC East last year with a pedestrian record of 7-10. With a solid defense and a young core of superstars that includes Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson, it was clear that the Jets' issues stemmed from their inconsistency at the quarterback position. Now, they've been given the ultimate gift in Aaron Rodgers as their leading man and it almost seems like it's Super Bowl or bust for the New York Jets. As confident as he is, Head Coach Robert Saleh knows the opportunity they've been given with this team, and it'll be up to him to capitalize on it.
Typically a wizard on the defensive side of the ball, Saleh will have a plethora of options to work with on the offensive end with the additions of Rodgers and newly acquired running back Dalvin Cook. It'll be interesting to see how their chemistry comes together throughout the season and it's certain that Saleh will have to be a catalyst in creating that culture. The Jets immediately became Super Bowl contenders the minute Aaron Rodgers signed and a deep run into the playoffs is expected of them. If Robert Saleh can somehow get this ball to roll in New York, he'll win Coach of the Year.
Why Matt LaFleur Could Win Coach of the Year
The Packers posted an 8-9 record in their final year with Aaron Rodgers as their quarterback and the divorce from Green Bay's biggest star still leaves a bad taste with fans in Wisconsin. The Packers struggled to mesh the greatness of Rodgers with their developing core in his final year and it led to LaFleur's worst record since he took over in Green Bay. He has a phenomenal 47-19 record in regular season games, but he's just 2-3 in playoff games as many of their recent postseason troubles have been blamed on the coaching staff. Now, they have a fresh start in Green Bay with Jordan Love and the Packers will look to rebuild.
The reason why LaFleur could contend for this award is because not many people are expecting much out of the Packers this year. They have an inexperienced roster compared to the other NFC North teams, but their collective youth on the offensive side of the ball could be a recipe for success if they can play well as a unit. LaFleur has a great opportunity to prove himself as a head coach without a star quarterback, so his focus will have to shift to creating a solid culture with his team. If the Packers can find their chemistry and manage to make the playoffs without Aaron Rodgers, he could be a favorite for Coach of the Year.
Final 2023-24 Coach of the Year Prediction & Pick
After seeing what unfolded on Thursday night, it's easy to pick Lions coach Dan Campbell as the favorite to win this award. However, it may be a close race between him, Sean Payton, Robert Saleh, and Matt LaFleur. One thing is certain: whichever coach can bring his team out of the competitive NFC North will have a great chance of winning this award. For the sake of Lions fans everywhere, let's go with Dan Campbell to take home 2023-24 Coach of the Year.
Final 2023-24 Coach of the Year Prediction & Pick: Dan Campbell (+750)
