Kyle Shanahan Should be the Coach of the Year

The Coach of the Year Award makes no sense.

The MVP Award almost always goes to the quarterback who has the best numbers, and the Offensive Player of the Year Award usually goes to the most prolific wide receiver or running back. Fair enough.

But the Coach of the Year Award almost never goes to the best coach in the NFL that year. Almost never goes to the coach of the best team. Instead, it almost always goes to a first- or second-year coach who turned a team around and exceeded expectations. Did the most with the least, unlike the MVP Award, which takes zero context into consideration.

And that's why Kyle Shanahan probably won't win the Coach of the Year Award this season, even though he should.

Here's the current leaderboard to win the award according to BetMGM:

1. Dan Campbell (10-4): +275

2. DeMeco Ryans (8-6): +300

3. Shane Steichen (8-6): +300

4. Mike McDaniel (10-4): +600

5. Kyle Shanahan (11-3): +850

6. Kevin Stefanski (9-5): +1000

7. John Harbaugh (11-3): +1600

Ryans and Steichen shouldn't even be in the running -- they're first-year coaches whose teams are barely over .500. The fact that they have better odds to be Coach of the Year than two head coaches who are 11-3 shows just how strange this award is.

Campbell is a worthy candidate, but no one thinks he's a better coach than Shanahan, and no one thinks the Lions are better than the 49ers.

McDaniel also is a worthy candidate, considering his offense is extremely prolific -- Miami has 52 offensive touchdowns and just 43 punts this season. That's incredible.

But Shanahan is coaching the best team in football. Plus he has developed Brock Purdy into an MVP-caliber quarterback. Shanahan deserves credit for that.

If the Ravens beat the 49ers next week, John Harbaugh should become the favorite to win the Coach of the Year. Otherwise, give the award to Shanahan.