When the Cleveland Browns pummeled the New York Jets in Week 17 and ultimately clinched their playoff berth, it was as if Kevin Stefanski’s odds to win NFL Coach of the Year were shortening in real time.
He started the season at +2300. At the beginning of December, he was sixth on the board at +1100. Before Week 17 kicked off, his odds moved to +150. After the Browns beat the Jets, those odds shortened to -300.
However, Houston’s DeMeco Ryans is hot on Stefanski’s heels to win the award after his Texans defeated the Colts in Week 18 and punched their ticket to the postseason.
DeMeco Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud are the fifth rookie head coach-QB duo to make the playoffs in their first year together since the merger and the first since Andrew Luck and Chuck Pagano in 2012.
After the Texans 23-19 win over the Colts, Ryans’ odds to win Coach of the Year shortened to +110 after being +900 after Week 17.
While his odds got shorter, Stefanski’s odds got longer. Now, the Browns’ head coach is sitting at -150 after being -950 last week.
Let’s look at the closing board from BetMGM.
NFL COACH OF THE YEAR ODDS: *
Kevin Stefanski, Browns: -150 (bet $10 to win $16.67 total)
DeMeco Ryans, Texans: +110 (bet $10 to win $21 total)
Dan Campbell, Lions: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Sean McVay, Rams: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
Kyle Shanahan, 49ers: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total)
John Harbaugh, Ravens: +8000 (bet $10 to win $810 total)
Shane Steichen, Colts: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Mike McDaniel, Dolphins: +10000 (bet $10 to win $1,010 total)
Mike Tomlin, Steelers: +15000 (bet $10 to win $1,510 total)
*odds as of 1/8/2024
CJ Stroud, Texans CLINCH playoff berth vs. Gardner Minshew, Colts
On Monday’s NFL on FOX Podcast, AFC reporter Ben Arthur praised the Ryans-Stroud tandem.
“The poise, the savvy he has — he plays well beyond his years,” Arthur noted on the episode. “He’s the main reason why the Texans are where they are. DeMeco Ryans has done a great job.
“But the Texans aren’t in this position without a quarterback of C.J. Stroud’s caliber.”
Joe Flacco, Browns crush Trevor Siemian, Jets — Dave Helman reacts
Behind Stefanski on the board is Houston coach DeMeco Ryans. His odds to win the award were +1400 last week, but after the Texans defeated the Titans 26-3 on New Year’s Eve, his odds shortened to +900.
Rounding out the top three is Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen, whose odds also shortened after Week 17.
The Colts earned a close 23-20 victory over the Raiders last week, and Steichen’s Coach of the Year odds shortened from +1200 to +1000.
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