NFL Coach Of The Year, By Meeting High Expectations

This award is given to the head coach of the team that meets the following criteria:

  1. Made the playoffs in the current season.
  2. Among the playoff teams in the current season, had the best regular season record from the prior season.
  3. Did not have a losing record in the current season.

It is possible for this award to be given to more than one head coach per season if prior regular season records were tied.

Colored rows indicate the following:

  • Green – Won Super Bowl
  • Blue – Lost Super Bowl
  • Red – Went one and done in the playoffs
Year Coach Team Record End Result
2022 Andy Reid Kansas City Chiefs 14-3 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
Mike McCarthy Dallas Cowboys 12-5 Lost Divisional (1-1)
2021 Andy Reid Kansas City Chiefs 12-5 Lost Conference (2-1)
2020 John Harbaugh Baltimore Ravens 11-5 Lost Divisional (1-1)
2019 Sean Payton New Orleans Saints 13-3 Lost Wild Card (0-1)
2018 Bill Belichick New England Patriots 11-5 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
Doug Pederson Philadelphia Eagles 9-7 Lost Divisional (1-1)
2017 Bill Belichick New England Patriots 13-3 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
2016 Bill Belichick New England Patriots 12-4 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
2015 Gary Kubiak Denver Broncos 12-4 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
Bill Belichick New England Patriots 12-4 Lost Conference (2-1)
2014 John Fox Denver Broncos 12-4 Lost Divisional (0-1)
Pete Carroll Seattle Seahawks 12-4 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
2013 John Fox Denver Broncos 13-3 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
2012 Mike McCarthy Green Bay Packers 11-5 Lost Divisional (1-1)
2011 Bill Belichick New England Patriots 13-3 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
2010 Jim Caldwell Indianapolis Colts 10-6 Lost Wild Card (0-1)
2009 Jim Caldwell Indianapolis Colts 14-2 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
2008 Tony Dungy Indianapolis Colts 12-4 Lost Wild Card (0-1)
2007 Norv Turner San Diego Chargers 11-5 Lost Conference (2-1)
2006 Tony Dungy Indianapolis Colts 12-4 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
2005 Bill Cowher Pittsburgh Steelers 11-5 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
2004 Bill Belichick New England Patriots 14-2 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
2003 Andy Reid Philadelphia Eagles 12-4 Lost Conference (2-1)
2002 Bill Cowher Pittsburgh Steelers 10-5-1 Lost Divisional (1-1)
2001 Brian Billick Baltimore Ravens 10-6 Lost Divisional (1-1)
Jon Gruden Oakland Raiders 10-6 Lost Divisional (1-1)
2000 Jeff Fisher Tennessee Titans 13-3 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1999 Dennis Green Minnesota Vikings 10-6 Lost Wild Card (0-1)
1998 Steve Mariucci San Francisco 49ers 12-4 Lost Divisional (1-1)
1997 Mike Shanahan Denver Broncos 12-4 Won Super Bowl (4-0)
1996 Barry Switzer Dallas Cowboys 10-6 Lost Divisional (1-1)
1995 George Seifert San Francisco 49ers 11-5 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1994 Barry Switzer Dallas Cowboys 12-4 Lost Conference (1-1)
1993 George Seifert San Francisco 49ers 10-6 Lost Conference (1-1)
1992 Joe Gibbs Washington Redskins 9-7 Lost Divisional (1-1)
1991 Marv Levy Buffalo Bills 13-3 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
1990 George Seifert San Francisco 49ers 14-2 Lost Conference (1-1)
1989 Marv Levy Buffalo Bills 9-7 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1988 Bill Walsh San Francisco 49ers 10-6 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
1987 Mike Ditka Chicago Bears 11-4 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1986 Mike Ditka Chicago Bears 14-2 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1985 Bill Walsh San Francisco 49ers 10-6 Lost Wild Card (0-1)
1984 Joe Gibbs Washington Redskins 11-5 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1983 Joe Gibbs Washington Redskins 14-2 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
1982 Forrest Gregg Cincinnati Bengals 7-2 Lost Round 1 (0-1)
1981 Tom Landry Dallas Cowboys 12-4 Lost Conference (1-1)
1980 Don Coryell San Diego Chargers 11-5 Lost Conference (1-1)
1979 Chuck Noll Pittsburgh Steelers 12-4 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
1978 Tom Landry Dallas Cowboys 12-4 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
1977 John Madden Oakland Raiders 11-3 Lost Conference (1-1)
1976 Bud Grant Minnesota Vikings 11-2-1 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
1975 John Madden Oakland Raiders 11-3 Lost Conference (1-1)
1974 Don Shula Miami Dolphins 11-3 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1973 Don Shula Miami Dolphins 12-2 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
1972 Tom Landry Dallas Cowboys 11-3 Lost Conference (1-1)
1971 Bud Grant Minnesota Vikings 11-3 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1970 Bud Grant Minnesota Vikings 12-2 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1969 Tom Landry Dallas Cowboys 11-2-1 Lost Divisional (0-1)
1968 Don Shula Baltimore Colts 13-1 Lost Super Bowl (2-1)
1967 Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers 9-4-1 Won Super Bowl (3-0)
1966 Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers 10-3-1 Won Super Bowl (2-0)
1965 Don Shula Baltimore Colts 10-3-1 Lost Conference (0-1)
1964 Blanton Collier Cleveland Browns 10-3-1 Won Championship (1-0)
1963 Allie Sherman New York Giants 11-3 Lost Championship (0-1)
1962 Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers 13-1 Won Championship (1-0)
1961 Vince Lombardi Green Bay Packers 11-3 Won Championship (1-0)
1960 Buck Shaw Philadelphia Eagles 10-2 Won Championship (1-0)
1959 Jim Lee Howell New York Giants 10-2 Lost Championship (0-1)
1958 Paul Brown Cleveland Browns 9-3 Lost Conference (0-1)
1957 Paul Brown Cleveland Browns 9-2-1 Lost Championship (0-1)