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Ranking the 5 top NFL coach of the year candidates in 2024, including Mike Tomlin

robert zeglinski
·4 min read
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) celebrate a 18-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images
Nov 17, 2024; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and defensive tackle Cameron Heyward (97) celebrate a 18-16 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Barry Reeger-Imagn Images

No one is ever really sure about the precise criteria for NFL Coach of the Year.

Is it about rewarding the coach on the best team with the best record? Is it about rewarding the coach with the best narrative or the most compelling turnaround story? Sometimes, I honestly think that voters play this one almost entirely off vibes, off of what they thought a squad was going to be in the preseason. So, it almost makes it more about expectations.

The below gentlemen have been the NFL's finest coaches so far this year. You have a bona fide legend in Pittsburgh. You have an all-time motivator driving a mainstay contender in Detroit. There's even an upstart making the best of what really should have been a middling situation in Arizona.

Let's dive and rank the NFL's top Coach of the Year candidates in 2024 (so far). All odds via BetMGM.

5. Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals (+650)

Oct 21, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Oct 21, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

It's just Gannon's second year in the desert, and the Cardinals are still rebuilding, but they're already reaping tremendous benefits. As of this moment, Arizona leads the NFC West and is on pace for its first winning season since 2021. Kyler Murray looks like a top-10 quarterback again, and a nameless Cardinals defense still holds up most weeks.

Gannon deserves a lot of credit for this turnaround. Now, he just has to build on it.

4. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers (+500)

Aug 17, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh reacts against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-880853 ORIG FILE ID: 20240817_lbm_al2_790.JPG
Aug 17, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh reacts against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports ORG XMIT: IMAGN-880853 ORIG FILE ID: 20240817_lbm_al2_790.JPG

The Chargers have a top-five defense, one of the best ground games in the league, and are just a game and a half out of first place in a division that features Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid. Oh, and Justin Herbert is playing arguably the most efficient football of his career. Mind you, this happened in what was supposed to be a "gap year" for Los Angeles, where its No. 1 receiver is probably rookie Ladd McConkey.

Unsurprisingly, even after over a decade away from the pros, Harbaugh can still flat-out coach this silly game, man.

3. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions 

Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell leaves the field after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images
Oct 20, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell leaves the field after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

The Lions have the NFL's best point differential by a country mile. They have the No. 1 scoring offense and a top-five scoring defense. They blow out all inferior competition without mercy and can win games against playoff contenders even when they have a gazillion turnovers.

Detroit is the NFL's first truly dominant team in a little while, and it's all because it takes after Campbell, an incredible leader who has built one of pro football's healthiest winning cultures. I don't think Campbell has a realistic chance at this honor, but if the Lions finish with something like 15 wins and the NFC's No. 1 seed, don't be surprised if he gets it anyway.

2. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers (+300)

Oct 13, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts to fans cheering after the Steelers defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 32-13 at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images
Oct 13, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin reacts to fans cheering after the Steelers defeated the Las Vegas Raiders 32-13 at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

After nearly two decades on the job, Tomlin is the NFL's surest bet. It doesn't matter what kind of roster you give him; he will guide the Steelers to a winning season at all costs. He has never finished a season below .500, and barring a drastic collapse from Pittsburgh this season, that streak will continue.

The 2024 campaign might be Tomlin's best work yet. He made a bet that even a half-effective Russell Wilson would be exactly what an otherwise complete Steelers team needed to contend in the AFC. As it stands, the Steelers are in line for their first AFC North title since 2020 and might be in play for a top-two seed in the conference.

Tomlin was right (because of course he was). His instincts might pay off for him with his first-ever Coach of the Year Award.

1. Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings (+650)

Sep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and head coach Kevin O'Connell talk before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Sep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) and head coach Kevin O'Connell talk before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

Take one glance at the Vikings' roster, and you'd think they'd be destined for a top-10 draft pick.

This sentiment applies double when noting that perennial journeyman Sam Darnold is their quarterback while Brian Flores coaches a defense whose best player might be a 35-year-old Harrison Smith. Yet, the Vikings are 8-2 and just one game behind the juggernaut Lions in the NFC North. O'Connell is a purple puppeteer pulling all the right strings. As long as the Vikings don't crater down the stretch, this is his award to lose.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Ranking the 5 top NFL coach of the year candidates in 2024, including Mike Tomlin