NFL Coach of the Year Odds: John Harbaugh, Ben Johnson Clear Favorites Ahead of the Pack After Strong Starts
John Harbaugh has surged to +145 in the NFL Coach of the Year race as the injury-ravaged Giants continue winning, while Ben Johnson remains the strongest challenger with Chicago sitting at 7-2. Kyle Shanahan and Todd Monken remain in the chase after exceeding expectations in San Francisco and Cleveland. Check out the latest NFL Coach of the Year odds entering Week 10.
Peter Alexis - November 10, 2026, 2:04 PM EST
4 Minute ReadNFL Coach of the Year Odds: John Harbaugh Clear Favorite as Giants Keep Winning
Harbaugh has increasingly separated himself because New York's success has come despite circumstances that could have completely derailed the season. The Giants are 5-2-1 and lead the NFC East after winning 19-11 in Philadelphia, their first victory there since 2013, despite losing starting quarterback Jaxson Dart and several major defensive contributors while cycling through additional injuries across the offense.
Johnson remains an extremely credible alternative with Chicago at 7-2, but the Bears entered the season with a considerably stronger collection of established offensive talent and have largely played like the contender many expected them to become. That leaves Harbaugh with the more dramatic coaching story entering the second half.
2026 NFL Coach of the Year Odds
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John Harbaugh +145 Check out these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Harbaugh strengthened his grip on the award with perhaps the Giants' most impressive victory of the season, going into Philadelphia and beating the Eagles 19-11 despite another wave of injuries. New York's defense recorded seven sacks, rookie Arvell Reese broke out with three of them and the Giants won despite producing almost nothing on the ground without Cam Skattebo and Tyrone Tracy Jr.
The broader context is what makes Harbaugh's résumé stand out. Dart suffered a season-ending knee injury early in the year, Brian Burns is on injured reserve, Tremaine Edmunds and Tracy are also sidelined, and J.J. McCarthy briefly left Sunday's game with a hip injury before returning. Harbaugh has still kept New York atop the division while winning with multiple quarterbacks and constantly changing personnel.
Washington visits on Thursday night, giving the Giants an opportunity to reach six wins and further strengthen their NFC East position. If New York remains a playoff team despite this level of roster instability, Harbaugh will be extremely difficult to knock from the top of the market.
Ben Johnson +300 Check out these best odds at FanDuel Sportsbook
Johnson continues to apply pressure after Chicago survived Tampa Bay 27-24 to improve to 7-2. The Bears have now won four consecutive games and have not trailed at any point during that streak, an impressive stretch that includes victories over Atlanta, New England, Seattle and Tampa Bay.
Chicago's improvement extends beyond Johnson's reputation as an offensive designer. The defense has become one of the NFL's most efficient units on third down, the Bears have consistently started games quickly and they found a way to beat Tampa Bay despite committing five turnovers. Chicago's ability to win when Caleb Williams has struggled has strengthened Johnson's overall coaching case.
The Bears enter their bye with a better record than the Giants, but Harbaugh currently has the stronger narrative because New York has overcome more significant personnel losses with a less proven roster. Johnson can close that gap if Chicago remains near the top of the NFC North and pushes toward 11 or 12 wins.
Kyle Shanahan +550 Check out these best odds at BetMGM Sportsbook
Shanahan remains firmly in the race after San Francisco rebounded from its first loss with a dominant 38-17 win over Las Vegas. The 49ers are now 7-1 and remain positioned among the NFC's leading contenders despite dealing with injuries throughout the season.
San Francisco has already beaten the Rams, Broncos and Seahawks, while Brock Purdy has played at an MVP level when healthy. Shanahan deserves credit for keeping the offense productive through changing personnel and navigating injuries on defense, with defensive lineman Gracen Halton now the latest player lost for the season.
The difficulty for Shanahan is expectations. San Francisco entered the year as one of the league's most talented teams and a Super Bowl favorite, meaning a 7-1 start is impressive without being completely unexpected. The 49ers visit Dallas next, and finishing with the NFC's No. 1 seed could eventually overcome that narrative disadvantage.
Todd Monken +1000 Check out these best odds at DraftKings Sportsbook
Monken remains one of the better long-shot candidates after taking over a Cleveland team that entered the season with a projected win total around 5.5 and already reaching five victories. The Browns are 5-4 despite playing six of their first nine games on the road and receiving inconsistent offensive production.
The problem is momentum. Cleveland has lost consecutive games after falling 23-22 in overtime at New Orleans, and an offense averaging fewer than 18 points per game has made almost every victory difficult. The defense has carried much of the load while Monken has managed close games with a roster that was widely expected to finish near the bottom of the AFC.
Houston visits Cleveland next, beginning a stretch that could determine whether Monken remains in the race. If the Browns recover and reach nine or 10 wins after such low preseason expectations, +1000 could shorten dramatically. Another few losses would likely turn this into a two-man race between Harbaugh and Johnson.
NFL Coach of the Year Outlook
Harbaugh has the strongest case entering Week 10 because the Giants are accomplishing more with less stability than any of the other leading candidates. New York has lost its original starting quarterback, several important defensive players and multiple offensive contributors yet continues winning close games and currently controls the NFC East.
Johnson is the obvious challenger. A 7-2 record gives Chicago the stronger raw résumé, and another sustained winning streak could push him much closer to Harbaugh. The difference right now is that Chicago looks like a talented roster fulfilling its potential, while New York looks like a team repeatedly surviving situations that normally derail a season.
Shanahan could force his way into the conversation by securing the NFC's No. 1 seed, while Monken remains the best true long shot if Cleveland gets back on track. For now, however, Harbaugh's combination of exceeded expectations, major injuries and continued team success makes the +145 favorite difficult to argue against.
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