Top 5 - The Main Contenders for the 2023 NFL Head Coach of the Year Award

Currently, teams are in training camps and are preparing for preseason, where they will be looking to try and execute their game plans as best as they can. Rookies will be trying to learn what the NFL brings after making the move from the college game. Experienced players will be trying to gel and learn new playbooks as they are on new teams, while there will be head coaches that will be hoping they can see the changes they have made be effective as quickly as possible.

Spotlight on Head Coaches

Unsurprisingly, there is a spotlight on the head coaches this season, as many of them will be judged based on their teams' performances on the field. It is part of the job description and those individuals in these hot seats know all too well that they are in a results business. If things are going right, they will receive praise for their tactics. If things are not going quite right, then they will come under fire, and pressure will start to build on their status as the head coach.

Each coach in the NFL will have their own aspirations and expectations. However, each of them will want to see improvement from the year before from their teams. Some are in new roles, while others have been established for a while but might not have had the best of seasons last year.

Who are the top candidates for Head Coach of the Year?

Some may focus on the head coaches across the league for an entirely different reason. Some may look to try and analyze what they are achieving on the sidelines because they are interested in a particular betting market. The Head Coach of the Year market has always been a popular futures option for bettors, and with the latest NFL odds in Canada already released, some have started to take a closer look at those who are considered to be in contention.

Dan Campbell

Per the odds released, Dan Campbell is the favorite to be named the Head Coach of the Year for the upcoming season. The Detroit Lions have slowly improved under his guidance, and he had his best campaign with the organization last term. He led them to a 9-8 winning record that saw them just miss out on a playoff spot. If he can continue to fire his team up and meet expectations, there is every chance he will be the man to win this honor.

Sean Payton

After a year out of the game and in a TV studio with FOX, Sean Payton returns to the NFL as the head coach of the Denver Broncos. He has already been incredibly critical of the team’s previous campaign, and many believe he will have his hands full. He will need to get Russell Wilson back to his very best, and if he does, he is a favored candidate.

Matt Eberflus

Matt Eberflus found out how tough a head coaching gig in the NFL is during his debut season with the Chicago Bears last season. His team slumbered to a 3-14 campaign in his first year. He will need to make serious improvements to his team, but if he does, there is no reason not to consider him a potential Head Coach of the Year contender.

Arthur Smith

The Atlanta Falcons head coach has led his organization to back-to-back 7-10 records, but there is a desire in Georgia for the team to do better. Many believe this could be the year his team breaks out, but with limited quality on the roster and no real plan, it might be difficult to see the results many want to see.

Matt LaFleur

Arguably one of the Head Coaches with the biggest challenges this season, Matt LaFleur might have to produce a Head Coach of the Year season to keep his job at the Green Bay Packers. The team experienced their worst year under his guidance last season when they went 8-9 and ultimately missed the playoffs. This year is going to be even harder, as they are without Aaron Rodgers, with the QB having moved on to the New York Jets.