Which Two First-Year Coaches Can Challenge Mike Vrabel For Coach Of Year?

With two weeks left in the NFL regular season, many teams are gearing up for the postseason. Before the playoffs kick off, voting for the NFL awards will take place, and Patriots’ head coach, Mike Vrabel, could be in line for the Coach of the Year title.

Vrabel has done an impressive job guiding the Patriots to a 12-3 record, putting them in a strong position to win the AFC East in his first season with New England.

The Patriots have made a quick turnaround after winning only four games last season. But there are a few other coaches who could rival Vrabel for the award.

Liam Coen

Liam Coen has led the Jaguars to the top of the AFC South with an impressive 11-4 record. Much like the Patriots, who faced a rough patch in 2024, the Jaguars have bounced back and transformed into one of the premier teams in the NFL.

Coen is in his inaugural season as an NFL head coach, which may give him an advantage in the voting for the Coach of the Year award over Vrabel.

Vrabel enjoyed significant success as the Titans’ head coach for six seasons. Under his leadership, Tennessee made the playoffs three times, and he was awarded Coach of the Year in 2021.

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Voters may consider Vrabel’s previous success as a head coach when deciding Coach of the Year, potentially giving Cohen an advantage in the race.

Ben Johnson

Another coach in the running is Bears’ head coach Ben Johnson.

The Bears find themselves in a similar situation to the Jaguars and Patriots, who had rough seasons last year and are now playoff teams.

Chicago is following the Patriots’ blueprint more than the Jaguars, as both New England and the Bears are working with second-year quarterbacks, while the Jaguars have a five-year veteran in Trevor Lawrence.

The Bears selected quarterback Caleb Williams as the No. 1 pick in the 2024 draft, while the Patriots followed suit, drafting quarterback Drake Maye at the No. 3 spot.

Johnson has the Bears flying high with an impressive 11-4 record, putting them atop the NFC North, one of the NFL’s toughest divisions.

Given that Johnson is a first-year head coach working alongside a second-year quarterback, he has a good chance of being in the running for Coach of the Year if he can figure out how to secure the NFC North.