NFL Coach of the Year Prediction: Robert Saleh is Best Bet Ahead of 2026 Season

The 2026 NFL regular season is quickly approaching, so if you haven't already, it's time to place some futures bets for the upcoming campaign.

In my NFL season betting preview, 32 Bets for 32 Teams, I broke down my favorite futures bet for every single team this season. Whether it's a bet on a team to win their division, an over on a projected win total, a player prop, or an awards market.

One of my favorite bets that I've placed is my pick to win NFL Coach of the Year. Before I break down why I'm betting on Robert Saleh of the Tennessee Titans, let's take a look at the top names on the odds list.

NFL Coach of the Year Odds

Odds via FanDuel Sportsbook

John Harbaugh +650
Jesse Minter +850
Kevin Stefanski +1400
Brian Schottenheimer +1400
Kellen Moore +1400
Joe Brady +1500
Ben Johnson +1500
Robert Saleh +1600
Klint Kubiak +1700
Jim Harbaugh +1900
Dan Campbell +2200
Liam Coen +2200
Kyle Shanahan +2200
Aaron Glenn +2500
Zac Taylor +2700
Dan Quinn +2700
Mike McCarthy +2700
Kevin O'Connell +2700
DeMeco Ryans +2700
Shane Steichen +2700
Todd Monken +2700

NFL Coach of the Year Best Bet

Pick: Robert Saleh +1600

We know the recipe for Coach of the Year at this point. It's going to be a new coach who has taken over a bad team and then leads them to the playoffs, preferably a division title, in his first year. There are a few other names that fit that bill, like John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski, but I think it's Saleh taking over the Titans who has the best chance of taking a team from worst to first. The Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars are both good, but not great, teams. The division is winnable if the Titans take a significant step forward under Saleh.

Of course, there are some things that will have to go right for Saleh and the Titans. Cam Ward is going to have to take a significant step forward in his development, and their defense is going to have to be better than it was last season. When it comes to the second of the two points, let's remember how good the Jets' defense was under Saleh and how they immediately became one of the worst units in the league after he was fired.

If he can carry that level of coaching to the Titans' defense this season and then they get some help from their young players on offense, the ingredients are there for Tennessee to be one of the surprising teams of the 2026 season.

If they are, Saleh is going to look like a great bet to be named the Coach of the Year at +1600.

Follow Iain on X and Instagram

Claim the FanDuel Sportsbook promo code offer to get $350 in bonus bets if you bet $5 for seven days. Simply sign up, make a deposit and bet $5. If that first bet wins, you get $250 in bonus bets.

Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.

If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

You can check out all of Iain's bets here!

Add us as a preferred source on Google