Resolution criteria

The winner will be determined by voting conducted by the Associated Press, with the award announced at the NFL Honors on February 5, 2026. The award is presented to the head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working with the talent he has at his disposal. The market resolves to whichever candidate receives the award.

Background

The five finalists are Mike Vrabel (Patriots), Ben Johnson (Bears), Liam Coen (Jaguars), Mike Macdonald (Seahawks), and Kyle Shanahan (49ers). Vrabel took over a Patriots team that went 4-13 each of the last two seasons and led them to a league-best 14-3 record. Coen led the Jaguars to an 11-4 mark and a playoff spot in his first season. Shanahan pulled an injury-ravaged 49ers roster to the playoffs at 11-4. Macdonald's Seahawks have the NFC's best record at 12-3 and the NFL's second-ranked scoring defense in his second season. Johnson flipped the Bears from 5-12 to NFC North champs in his first season.