NFL Coach of the Year finalists revealed
Here’s everything you need to know about the NFL Coach of the Year award.
The National Football League has unveiled the shortlist of candidates in contention for the 2025 Associated Press Coach of the Year award, shining a spotlight on the coaches who engineered some of the most dramatic turnarounds and standout performances during the regular season.
The announcement comes ahead of the annual NFL Honors ceremony, scheduled for February 5 in San Francisco, where this and other major awards will be presented.
Coach of the Year nominees:
- Bears coach: Ben Johnson
- Jaguars coach: Liam Coen
- Seahawks coach: Mike Macdonald
- 49ers coach: Kyle Shanahan
- Patriots coach: Mike Vrabel
This year’s Coach of the Year race is unusually competitive, with five coaches from across the league recognised for guiding their teams to significant achievements. Leading the group is Mike Vrabel of the New England Patriots. In his first season with the franchise, Vrabel oversaw a remarkable revival, transforming a struggling roster into a 14-3 division winner and AFC powerhouse, a stark contrast to the Patriots’ recent seasons.
Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears is another standout name. After inheriting a team that had finished 5-12 the year before, Johnson steered Chicago to an 11-5 record and its first NFC North title in seven years. The Bears’ resurgence under Johnson’s leadership has injected fresh energy into a once dormant fan base.
The Seattle Seahawks’ head coach, Mike Macdonald, also makes the list following a breakout season in the Pacific Northwest. Macdonald masterminded a 14-3 campaign that earned the Seahawks the top seed in the NFC, a dramatic improvement from the previous year and a testament to his strategic acumen.
Rounding out the nominees are Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers. Coen’s impact in Jacksonville has been historic. Guided by his leadership, the Jaguars leapt from a 4-13 record in 2024 to an impressive 13-4, claiming the AFC South title and marking one of the largest single-season turnarounds in league history.
The finalists for AP Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year! #NFLHonors pic.twitter.com/LHoxHUddFm
— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2026
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