Will the 2017 COY winner get another shot at receiving the honor?
Despite the Los Angeles Rams returning to the postseason after a 1-4 start, Sean McVay wasn’t a finalist for COY honors. The award ultimately went to the Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell, whose team was manhandled by McVay’s Rams twice. With L.A. seen as a Super Bowl contender across the league, does McVay have a better shot to win in 2025?
Well … um, no.
According to FanDuel Sportsbook, McVay has the 17th-best odds, sandwiched between rookie head coaches Brian Schottenheimer and Kellen Moore. Currently, his odds sit at +2700, tied with Brian Callahan, Shane Steichen and Schottenheimer.
Unsurprisingly, the Bears’ Ben Johnson is the favorite at +650, followed by Mike Vrabel (+750), Aaron Glenn and Liam Coen (both +1000).
As we’ve come to learn over the years, COY typically goes to a coach who has surpassed expectations. Meaning, great coaches like McVay usually go unnoticed and unappreciated,
Case in point: Andy Reid won his lone award in 2002 with the Eagles. Bill Belichick won it three times, but none during the second decade of the Patriots’ dynasty. Mike Tomlin has never won it, and likely never will, amid his one-and-done streak.
Ron Rivera is a two-time winner, for crying out loud, and in no way was he ever on par with McVay or those other legends. Even with the Rams massively surpassing expectations in 2023, McVay wasn’t a finalist that year either. Instead, his buddy Kyle Shanahan was, with his 49ers going 12-5 and appearing in the 2024 Super Bowl.
If Chicago can actually translate winning the offseason to on-field success, Johnson will win COY easily. That’s the key to earning the award, since AP voters snubbing McVay seems to be an annual tradition at this point.