Ben Johnson is the favorite in the opening NFL Coach of the Year odds for 2025

• New Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson is the early betting favorite for NFL Coach of the Year
• The Top 4 spots are held by head coaches starting off with their new teams
• Read below for NFL Coach of the Year odds, and some wagers worth considering

The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t even hit their parade for winning Super Bowl 59, but the page has already started to turn. On Wednesday, DraftKings released its first odds for NFL Coach of the Year for 2025-26, and it’s headlined by Ben Johnson, the offensive whiz of the Detroit Lions now calling shots for the Chicago Bears. With every coach in place for the upcoming season, let’s have a look at all the odds, and share some of our wagers worth considering.

2025 NFL Coach of the Year Odds

Johnson checks in at +700 odds, leading a quartet of coaches taking over the helm of a new team. He’s followed by new Patriots’ head coach Mike Vrabel (+850) with Jacksonville’s Liam Coen and New Orleans’ Kellen Moore both in at +1200 odds. If you’re thinking about going back-to-back with Vikings’ newly minted COY Kevin O’Connell, you might want to reconsider: the last coach to win this award two years in a row was Joe Gibbs in 1982 and 1983.

Odds as of February 12 at DraftKings. Be sure to check out the best DraftKings promo code before placing a futures bet for any NFL Awards.

No Wager Is Too Wild for NFL Coach of the Year

Johnson sounds as good a pick as any, but there are a ton of variables that have yet to be decided, with free agency and the NFL Draft still coming down the pipe.

Last year, the opening Top 3 odds in the COY race were Jim Harbaugh (+1000), Matt Eberflus (+1000) and Raheem Morris (+1200). Harbaugh did get the Bolts to the playoffs, but Eberflus didn’t last the season with Chicago, and Morris’ chances cratered staying way too loyal to Kirk Cousins and not letting Michael Penix Jr spin earlier.

Johnson does have a potential star in quarterback Caleb Williams, and an above average receiving core based around DJ Moore and Rome Odunze, but he won’t have anything close to the offensive line he was blessed with in Detroit.

Williams was sacked an NFL-high 68 times last season, 16 clear of the next closest pivot. That doesn’t mean that he can’t turn it around, but just keep your options open to sprinkle around.

New Coaches to Consider

Vrabel is probably the highest-regarded coach to get a job this cycle, for his hard-nosed, culture-strong program in Tennessee. He did it with Ryan Tannehill at pivot, and now he’s got budding star Drake Maye.

Coen was an architect of the impressive Buccaneers’ offensive scheme that turned Baker Mayfield into what many thought he was going to be as a top pick in the 2018 NFL Draft by the Cleveland Browns. He’ll try to revive what seems to be a dimming light around Trevor Lawrence.

The other new coaches are going to be playing uphill without a franchise pivot in their QB room. Kellen Moore just won a title in the city of New Orleans, but the Saints’ program is a far cry from the offensive machine that was built up in Philly.

It’s almost like Pete Carroll (+1200) is starting over at USC, as the Las Vegas Raiders are barren of talent almost everywhere short of stud tight end Michael Mayer. Meanwhile, the culture shift under Aaron Glenn (+1600) in New York will start with going Aaron Rodgers-free. It’s a good start, but there are no clear answers at quarterback yet.

Brian Schottenheimer (+2800) has the most experienced pivot in Dak Prescott, but the Cowboys need a revamp of their offensive weaponry outside of CeeDee Lamb, and some new blood on defense.

NFL Coach of the Year Best Bet for 2025?

There are a couple of coaches in the middle of the pack that seem most appealing. Sean Payton (+1400) looks to have hit the right bet with Bo Nix at quarterback, and Denver is coming out from under all the Russ Wilson dead cap weight. He’ll be able to better build the offense he wants, with a defense that is already pretty sound.

Still in the AFC West, Jim Harbaugh did a lot of heavy lifting to get the Chargers to be a tough defense and a ball-control offense, but he needs to arm Justin Herbert with playmakers across the field. If he can build on a successful first year, LA can be serious.

Looking for a longer shot? Zac Taylor (+2500) might have the next MVP in the league in Joe Burrow, and if they can just tighten things up around the offense, they should battle the Ravens for top spot in the AFC North.

And don’t forget Andy Reid, way down at the bottom of the board at +8000. The Chiefs were whipped in the Super Bowl, but he led a far less talented team to a 15-2 regular season and to a third straight title game.

KC knows what their weaknesses are, especially on offense. Fix that line and start getting some burners on the outside to take the top off those Cover 2 shells, and watch out for Reid, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs being scary again.

NFL Coach of the Year pick: Taylor (+2500)

As the 2025 NFL season approaches, the excitement and anticipation among fans and analysts is palpable. One of the most intriguing storylines heading into the new season is the race for Coach of the Year honors, with Ben Johnson emerging as the early favorite in the opening odds.

Johnson, who currently serves as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins, has quickly made a name for himself in the league with his innovative coaching style and ability to get the most out of his players. In just a few short years at the helm, Johnson has transformed the Dolphins from a struggling franchise into a legitimate playoff contender.

The odds makers have taken notice of Johnson’s impressive track record and have pegged him as the frontrunner to win Coach of the Year honors in 2025. With a talented roster at his disposal and a proven track record of success, Johnson is poised to lead the Dolphins to new heights in the upcoming season.

Of course, Johnson will face stiff competition from a number of other talented coaches around the league. Names like Sean McVay, Andy Reid, and Bill Belichick are always in the mix for Coach of the Year honors, and each of them will be looking to make their mark in 2025.

Ultimately, the race for Coach of the Year honors is sure to be a closely contested one, with no shortage of deserving candidates vying for the prestigious award. But if the early odds are any indication, Ben Johnson is certainly a coach to keep an eye on as the 2025 NFL season gets underway.