The NFL Coach of the Year Award is one of the most prestigious awards of any season and is revealed at the annual NFL Honors ceremony. From Don Shula to Bill Belichick, the head coaches on the list are some of the best we have ever seen.
Some of the names on this list will have fans reflecting in nostalgia as the winners highlight some of the greatest seasons to have happened in the NFL.
Full List of NFL Coach of the Year Winners
Coach of the Year started being awarded by the NFL in 1957, and George Wilson of the Detroit Lions became the first recipient of the award in his first season in charge.
Since then, some of the greatest head coaches in NFL history have won the award and made the list for several reasons.
The award is presented to the coach who has had the greatest impact on their team in a respective season, and there are a variety of reasons a coach may win the award.
While it can be down to the stats, it could also be that a particular coach has had a remarkable season in other senses. It may be a coach who has turned a bottom-dwelling franchise into a playoff contender or a coach who has turned their team’s franchise around.
Some coaches have been recognized multiple times as the best in the NFL, and some names aren’t shocking. Shula won the award a record four times over his outstanding career, while Belichick and Chuck Knox are just behind with three wins.
Allie Sherman, George Halas, George Allen, Joe Gibb, Mike Ditka, Bill Parcells, Dan Reeves, Bruce Arians, Ron Rivera, and Kevin Stefanski have all won the award twice.
It is fair to say that the list contains several current and future Hall of Fame head coaches.
The complete list of the NFL Coach of the Year award winners is:
- 1957 – George Wilson, Detroit Lions
- 1958 – Weeb Ewbank, Baltimore Colts
- 1959 – Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers
- 1960 – Buck Shaw, Philadelphia Eagles
- 1961 – Allie Sherman, New York Giants
- 1962 – Allie Sherman, New York Giants
- 1963 – George Halas, Chicago Bears
- 1964 – Don Shula, Baltimore Colts
- 1965 – George Halas, Chicago Bears
- 1966 – Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboys
- 1967 George Allen, Los Angeles Rams, and Don Shula, Baltimore Colts (co-winners)
- 1968 – Don Shula, Baltimore Colts
- 1969 – Bud Grant, Minnesota Vikings
- 1970 – Paul Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
- 1971 – George Allen, Washington Redskins
- 1972 – Don Shula, Miami Dolphins
- 1973 – Chuck Knox, Los Angeles Rams
- 1974 – Don Coryell, St. Louis Cardinals
- 1975 – Ted Marchibroda, Baltimore Colts
- 1976 – Forrest Gregg, Cleveland Browns
- 1977 – Red Miller, Denver Broncos
- 1978 – Jack Patera, Seattle Seahawks
- 1979 – Jack Pardee, Washington Redskins
- 1980 – Chuck Knox, Buffalo Bills
- 1981 – Bill Walsh, San Francisco 49ers
- 1982 – Joe Gibbs, Washington Redskins
- 1983 – Joe Gibbs, Washington Redskins
- 1984 – Chuck Knox, Seattle Seahawks
- 1985 – Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears
- 1986 – Bill Parcells, New York Giants
- 1987 – Jim Mora, New Orleans Saints
- 1988 – Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears
- 1989 – Lindy Infante, Green Bay Packers
- 1990 – Jimmy Johnson, Dallas Cowboys
- 1991 – Wayne Fontes, Detroit Lions
- 1992 – Bill Cowher, Pittsburgh Steelers
- 1993 – Dan Reeves, New York Giants
- 1994 – Bill Parcells, New England Patriots
- 1995 – Ray Rhodes, Philadelphia Eagles
- 1996 – Dom Capers, Carolina Panthers
- 1997 – Jim Fassel, New York Giants
- 1998 – Dan Reeves, Atlanta Falcons
- 1999 – Dick Vermeil, St. Louis Rams
- 2000 – Jim Haslett, New Orleans Saints
- 2001 – Dick Jauron, Chicago Bears
- 2002 – Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles
- 2003 – Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
- 2004 – Marty Schottenheimer, San Diego Chargers
- 2005 – Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears
- 2006 – Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints
- 2007 – Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
- 2008 – Mike Smith, Atlanta Falcons
- 2009 – Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals
- 2010 – Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
- 2011 – Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers
- 2012 – Bruce Arians, Indianapolis Colts
- 2013 – Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
- 2014 – Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals
- 2015 – Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers
- 2016 – Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys
- 2017 – Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
- 2018 – Matt Nagy, Chicago Bears
- 2019 – John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
- 2020 – Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
- 2021 – Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans
- 2022 – Brian Daboll, New York Giants
- 2023 – Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns
As the 2023 NFL season comes to a close, the 2024 NFL Draft is on the horizon. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!