List of NFL's Coach of the Year award winners

Last Modified Feb 7, 2025 10:00 GMT
List of National Football League Coach of the Year Award Winners
Kevin O’Connell 2024 Coach of the Year. Source: Getty Images

There are various coaching jobs in the NFL which include offensive and defensive coordinators, quarterbacks coach, receivers coach, tight ends coach, linebackers coach, and many more. However, the head coach has the most important job of coordinating between all of these coaches to win matches. Every year when the NFL hands out the awards for players, there are a couple of special awards for the coaches as well. The NFL Coach of the Year Award goes to one of the thirty-two head coaches in the league.

Few news and sports organizations have been giving out this award but the one recognized by the NFL is given out by the Associated Press (AP). This award has been given out since 1957 and from 2011, the award is handed over with the rest of the NFL awards at the NFL honors ceremony. The most number of Coach of the Year Awards has been received by the legendary coach Don Shula who has won it four times, followed by Chuck Knox and Bill Belichick who have won it three times each.

List of NFL Honors - AP Coach of the Year winners over the years

As of February 2025, the NFL Coach of the Year winners are as follows:

SeasonCoachTeam
1957George WilsonDetroit Lions
1958Weeb EwbankBaltimore Colts
1959Vince LombardiGreen Bay Packers
1960Buck ShawPhiladelphia Eagles
1961Allie ShermanNew York Giants
1962Allie Sherman (2)New York Giants
1963George HalasChicago Bears
1964Don ShulaBaltimore Colts
1965George Halas (2)Chicago Bears
1966Tom LandryDallas Cowboys
1967George Allen Don ShulaLos Angeles Rams Baltimore Colts
1968Don ShulaBaltimore Colts
1969Bud GrantMinnesota Vikings
1970Paul BrownCincinnati Bengals
1971George Allen (2)Washington Redskins
1972Don Shula (4)Miami Dolphins
1973Chuck KnoxLos Angeles Rams
1974Don CoryellSt. Louis Cardinals
1975Ted MarchibrodaBaltimore Colts
1976Forrest GreggCleveland Browns
1977Red MillerDenver Broncos
1978Jack PateraSeattle Seahawks
1979Jack PardeeWashington Redskins
1980Chuck KnoxBuffalo Bills
1981Bill WalshSan Francisco 49ers
1982Joe GibbsWashington Redskins
1983Joe Gibbs (2)Washington Redskins
1984Chuck Knox (3)Seattle Seahawks
1985Mike DitkaChicago Bears
1986Bill ParcellsNew York Giants
1987Jim MoraNew Orleans Saints
1988Mike Ditka (2)Chicago Bears
1989Lindy InfanteGreen Bay Packers
1990Jimmy JohnsonDallas Cowboys
1991Wayne FontesDetroit Lions
1992Bill CowherPittsburgh Steelers
1993Dan ReevesNew York Giants
1994Bill Parcells (2)New England Patriots
1995Ray RhodesPhiladelphia Eagles
1996Dom CapersCarolina Panthers
1997Jim FasselNew York Giants
1998Dan Reeves (2)Atlanta Falcons
1999Dick VermeilSt. Louis Rams
2000Jim HaslettNew Orleans Saints
2001Dick JauronChicago Bears
2002Andy ReidPhiladelphia Eagles
2003Bill BelichickNew England Patriots
2004Marty SchottenheimerSan Diego Chargers
2005Lovie SmithChicago Bears
2006Sean PaytonNew Orleans Saints
2007Bill Belichick (2)New England Patriots
2008Mike SmithAtlanta Falcons
2009Marvin LewisCincinnati Bengals
2010Bill Belichick (3)New England Patriots
2011Jim HarbaughSan Francisco 49ers
2012Bruce AriansIndianapolis Colts
2013Ron RiveraCarolina Panthers
2014Bruce Arians (2)Arizona Cardinals
2015Ron Rivera (2)Carolina Panthers
2016Jason GarrettDallas Cowboys
2017Sean McVayLos Angeles Rams
2018Matt NagyChicago Bears
2019John HarbaughBaltimore Ravens
2020Kevin StefanskiCleveland Browns
2021Mike VrabelTennessee Titans
2022Brian DabollNew York Giants
2023Kevin Stefanski (2)Cleveland Browns
2024Kevin O'ConnellMinnesota Vikings

FAQs on National Football League Coach of the Year Award Winners

A. The NFL Coach of the Year award is given to the coach who has significantly improved a bad team in a short span of time.

A. The Associated Press started giving out an award for NFL Coach of the Year in 1957 by rewarding it to the Detroit Lions’ George Wilson.

A. The winner of the 2023 NFL Coach of the Year award was Kevin Stefanski, the head coach of the Cleveland Browns. 

A. Don Shula, recipient of four NFL Coach of the Year awards stands at the top spot of this list.

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