In last year's look at best bets in the Coach of the Year race, we highlighted Kevin O'Connell as a potential option to consider, saying, "I think the talent is there on the roster if O'Connell can make it work at quarterback, which he's shown the ability to do in the past." He did that and more with Sam Darnold en route to taking home the award. However, he wasn't among our best bets, as we focused more on the first-time head coaches, none of whom earned a single vote when all was said and done. That doesn't mean new hires were completely shut out, with Dan Quinn and Jim Harbaugh both finishing top six in voting, but none of the coaches getting their first shot in the lead role were considered.

That will likely change this year with Ben Johnson in the race. Johnson has been the premier head coach in waiting in the NFL for a few years, and now that he's jumped to Chicago to run a team with a ton of talent on offense, it's understandable that he's the favorite in the Coach of the Year race. But is he the best bet to win the award, or should we be looking at another first-time hire or even veteran coaches in new places this year, like Mike Vrabel and Pete Carroll? Who else could pull an O'Connell and take home the award despite not being new to his current role?

Let's look at our 10 best betting options for Coach of the Year.

So who gets the top spot as the best Coach of the Year bet this season? And which longshots are worth considering? ... Join SportsLine here to see R.J. White's NFL Coach of the Year best bet rankings for 2025!