Brad Biggs at the Chicago Tribune has 10 thoughts after the Bears win over the Packers. HE’s wondering about head coach Ben Johnson’s chances of being voted coach of the year:
Have to see what else happens over the remainder of Week 16, but Johnson has to move up a little in the race for Coach of the Year honors, right?
I checked Saturday morning and the field was pretty tight, and it was clear Seattle coach Mike Macdonald got a bump following his team’s win Thursday night.
Fanatics Sportsbook still had New England’s Mike Vrabel (+175) as the favorite followed by Macdonald (+200), San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan (+400), Jacksonville’s Liam Coen (+750), Johnson (+800) and Denver’s Sean Payton (+1000).
Like I said, Johnson for sure gets a boost for a prime time win over the Packers. Sometimes this award is just about done by now or a two-man race. You’re looking at a ton of possibilities here. That Johnson is even in the running is something is a testament to the work and belief he’s instilled in the building. I bet he’d be fast to want to include assistants, players, support staff and others.
Yes, it’s a testament to the job that Johnson is doing. But I can’t help but point out that Dick Jauron got this award in 2001 while employing a then over his head John Shoop as his offensive coordinator and Matt Nagy got the award in 2019 while carrying an inability to design an effective running game – which, judging by the Chiefs offense, he still has.
So, though its better to win the award than not, I’m not sure how much it means.