Bears Head Coach Ben Johnson Gets Wholesale Confidence Boost From Bookmakers
Ben Johnson was the hottest head-coaching commodity over the past two hiring cycles, so it’s understandable that the Chicago Bears fanbase was positively thrilled when the team made the former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator the team’s 18th full-time head coach in franchise history.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams starts NFL career with win, support of Lincoln Riley
And it turns out that it is not just the league who is high on him, but bookmakers too, as Johnson has opened as the favorite to win the annual “Coach of the Year” award, per FanDuel Sportsbook – via Fox Sports.
Ben Johnson Favored To Win Coach of The Year
Fox Sports lists the most likely candidates, with Johnson at the top of the pile, for now.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams starts NFL career with win, support of Lincoln Riley
Ben Johnson: +800 (bet $10 to win $90 total)
Mike Vrabel: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Liam Coen: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total)
Pete Carroll: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Mike MacDonald: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Dave Canales: +1200 (bet $10 to win $130 total)
Kellen Moore: +1400 (bet $10 to win $150 total)
Aaron Glenn: +1700 (bet $10 to win $180 total)
Jonathan Gannon: +1900 (bet $10 to win $200 total)
Jim Harbaugh: +2000 (bet $10 to win $210 total)”
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams starts NFL career with win, support of Lincoln Riley
An new, offensive-minded coach with an up-and-coming team (supposedly), will always end up high on the bookies’ list of prime candidates to win COY.
The “rookie” portion, in particular, stands out: four of the last ten recipients of the award were first year head coaches – so it is clear that AP values novelty in its distribution of the award.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams starts NFL career with win, support of Lincoln Riley
Because in theory, Andy Reid or (when he was a head coach) Bill Belichick or John Harbaugh could easily win the award every year given their numerous accomplishments in the NFL on a yearly basis.