Kevin Stefanski is the NFL Coach of the Year.

The 2020 NFL season is still months away, but it isn’t too early to look ahead to who might be the next NFL Coach of the Year. BetMGM has futures odds for the award. Below, we break down the candidates and pinpoint the best bets. 2020 Coach of the Year odds. Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. NFL News: The 2020 NFL AP Coach of the Year race is expected to be wide open. FanDuel Sportsbook has established the Patriots' Bill Belichick and Cowboys' Mike McCarthy as the betting co-favorites, but other options yield better value. The Bills' Sean McDermott is one early choice to win the award, which was won by the Ravens' John Harbaugh in 2019. Provided by VegasInsider.com, along with. There has been no word yet from Ohio State or Washington, but the search zeroing in on the Columbus native has come as a bit of a surprise. He has served as the Buckeyes’ linebackers coach the last couple of seasons after defecting from behind enemy lines on Jim Harbaugh’s staff at Michigan. NFL Coach of the Year 2020/21 Predictions and Betting Odds Mike Lukas - May 27, 2020 New NFL head coaches typically get a five-year contract, but most are canned before their deals expire, so it is always interesting to speculate on the fate of these underappreciated (and often overpaid) team leaders. That’s how Cleveland Browns fans feel about their head coach right now. But, oddsmakers currently have Stefanski at the 3rd best odds for the award behind Mike Tomlin and Brian Flores. #Browns Kevin Stefanski's Coach of the Year odds have improved. Moved from 6/1 to 4/1. 3rd best behind Tomlin and Flores.

That’s how Cleveland Browns fans feel about their head coach right now.

But, oddsmakers currently have Stefanski at the 3rd best odds for the award behind Mike Tomlin and Brian Flores.

#Browns Kevin Stefanski's Coach of the Year odds have improved.

Moved from 6/1 to 4/1

3rd best behind Tomlin and Flores.

— Matt Fontana (@MattFontana83) December 9, 2020

Browns coach tours

Some anticipated Stefanski being part of that conversation if the Browns were halfway decent this season.

However, having Cleveland at 9-3 has turned the “Stefanski for Coach of the Year” campaign to a legitimate one.

He certainly has plenty of folks in northeast Ohio that would gladly be his campaign manager.

It’s exciting that Stefanski is part of that conversation, and it helps further solidify the fact that the Browns are back on the national stage.

I can’t think of a Coach who deserves Coach of the Year more than #Browns Head Coach Kevin Stefanski. He’s changed the culture of the Cleveland and turned them into a real threat in the AFC for years to come. Losing OBJ and Chubb for multiple games and now winning 10-11 games. pic.twitter.com/oBGAsSPfnM

— Thomas Gorski (@ThomasGorski33) December 8, 2020


His Competition

It’s no guarantee that Stefanski brings the award home at the end of the season.

While what he’s done has been tremendous, it’s not the only impressive coaching job of 2020.

Of course, divisional foe Mike Tomlin is in the conversation.

His Steelers were previously unbeaten before falling to Washington this past Monday.

Still, taking a .500 team to this level, even with the return of Ben Roethlisberger, has been eye-opening.

He remains the front-runner with even 1-1 odds per SportsBetting.com.

Behind him is Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores.

Boy has he done a heck of a job down there in southern Florida.

Not only are the Dolphins much-improved, but they’re competing for a divisional title.

Granted, the New England Patriots are not the dominant force atop the AFC East they once were as the Bills now lead the way.

Still, competing for that division crown is not a conversation the ‘Phins are in every year.

Rookie Tua Tagovailoa has been impressive since taking over for Ryan Fitzpatrick and is expected to run the offense for years to come.

Flores has Miami set up nicely for the future, something that seemed a distant dream for the Dolphins faithful for a long time.

Stefanski comes in at third, with 6-1 odds.

Behind him is New Orleans head coach Sean Payton, but I don’t anticipate him making a serious run at the award.

Browns

This likely boils down to a three-way race between Tomlin, Flores, and Stefanski.

Kevin Stefanski and Mike Tomlin should be in a 2 man race for coach of the year.

Honorable Mention: Sean Payton.

— Emmanuel Acho (@EmmanuelAcho) December 6, 2020


Can He Win It?

The Steelers losing to Washington guarantees competition for Tomlin.

A 16-0 head coach is pretty much a lock to win, so a loss to the Football Team has opened the door.

Kevin is in a decent position to steal this award late in the season.

Obviously, the regular season finale against Pittsburgh will play into the result.

That game gets extra meaning if the Browns win out heading into that one.

Even if Pittsburgh wins out but loses to Cleveland in the finale, I think Stefanski gets the nod over Tomlin for Coach of the Year.

That leaves the Dolphins, who have a tough slate to close the season.

Freddie Kitchens

Every opponent they face is over .500, including the Chiefs and AFC East-leading Bills.

That’s a tougher final stretch than either Pittsburgh or Cleveland.

As good as Miami has been, I see them tripping up a bit here in the final month.

Week 17’s contest with the Steelers will have a lot riding on it.

Browns Head Coach Odds

Playoff seeding implications will likely be present, and if nothing else, another chapter in the rivalry is written.

Coach of the Year honors may very well be on the line as well.

Buffalo Bills offensive coordinator Brian Daboll interviewed for the Cleveland Browns coaching vacancy on Monday.

Browns Coaching Search Odds

He is being given a moderate chance of being named the next coach of the franchise, according to SportsBetting.ag. However, there are a few favorites ahead of him.

Here’s the full breakdown:

Josh McDaniels (Patriots): 2/1Robert Saleh (49ers): 3/1Kevin Stefanski (Vikings): 7/1Lincoln Riley (U of Oklahoma): 7/1Eric Birnemy (Chiefs): 13/2Greg Roman (Ravens): 9/1Urban Meyer (Free agent/ college): 10/1Brian Daboll (Bills): 12-1Marvin Lewis (Free agent/ NFL): 12/1Mike LaFleur (49ers): 12/1Dan Campbell (Saints): 14/1Jim Schwartz (Eagles): 16/1

Buffalo’s offense has improved modestly during Daboll’s tenure in western New York, as the team’s scoring offense has bumped up to 23rd this past season. The Bills were ranked 27th in the category in 2017, the year leading up to Daboll’s arrival. The offense has improved its total yards per game figure as well, improving to 24th from 29th during this time. Daboll’s work with second-year quarterback Josh Allen has also piqued the interest of teams around the league, as his play-calling has focused on the strengths of his young quarterback while attempting to help Allen to limit mistakes on the field.

Browns

The list also contains two familiar names to Bills fans. Greg Roman was the Bills offensive coordinator under Rex Ryan during the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Jim Schwartz was Buffalo’s defensive coordinator in 2014, with the unit finishing fourth in both points allowed per game and yards allowed per game. The Bills led the NFL with 54 sacks under Schwartz.