Does Kyle Shanahan Deserve To Win Coach of the Year? Comparing 49ers HC’s Impact to Mike Vrabel, Ben Johnson, and Others
Standout middle linebacker Fred Warner went down in week 6 after suffering a dislocated right ankle, and top edge rusher Nick Bosa sustained his second career ACL tear earlier in week 3. Although integral pillars of the team have been absent, Shanahan has pulled the team up by its bootstraps along the way to his fifth double-digit win season.
While Shanahan has done an excellent job this year, he’s certainly no lock for nabbing the 2025 NFL Coach of the Year Award. Other coaches have similarly outperformed expectations.
It would be impossible not to mention New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel in this conversation. After an ugly exit as the Tennessee Titans’ head coach in 2023, he joined the Patriots this year, following their dismal 4-13 season.
His hard-nosed defensive philosophy has shone through, with PFSN’s Defensive Impact Rankings classifying them as the league’s 13th-best defense, while not having top-tier talent in most positions.
For the Chicago Bears, head coaching prodigy Ben Johnson has proved to be worth the wait. The most crucial issue Chicago has had over the past decades has been developing a quarterback, and Caleb Williams is on his way to elite territory under Johnson.
They’re currently averaging 26.6 points, a significant increase from the 18.2 points per game they averaged in 2024. The creativity, versatility, and high level of sequenced playcalling have been notable factors in the team’s improvement. Few would have thought the Bears would be leading the NFC North heading into Week 18 if asked in the preseason.
Jacksonville Jaguars’ Liam Coen can’t be overlooked here either. The team has vastly outperformed expectations, beating franchises such as the 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Houston Texans, all potential playoff contenders.
His offensive scheme and playcalling have turned around Trevor Lawrence’s perception from a potential bust to a borderline MVP candidate. A win against the Tennessee Titans in week 18 would secure them the AFC South title.
So, while Shanahan has had a wildly impressive season, three other coaches in their first year with their teams also have strong cases for the award. It’ll come down to how Shanahan, Vrabel, Johnson, and Coen perform in the soon-approaching playoffs.
