theScore's NFL Awards Roundtable: Coach of the Year
The NFL Honors will be handed out on Feb. 4, but theScore's NFL Editors are making a case for the players whom they feel deserve to take home the hardware this season.
theScore's NFL Awards
- Offensive Rookie of the Year
- Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Coach of the Year
- Comeback Player of the Year
- Offensive Player of the Year
- Defensive Player of the Year
- Most Valuable Player
Coach of the Year
Bill Belichick, Patriots
Every year, Belichick is a candidate for this award. We've become so used to the standard dominant Patriots season, however, that he's often overlooked. It shouldn't happen again this year. First, Belichick led New England to a 3-1 start without Tom Brady, even winning a game with Jacoby Brissett under center. Then he traded away his team's best defensive player, maybe because he was bored and wanted a challenge. Just name the damn award after him. -Jack Browne
Give Belichick his fourth career Coach of the Year. He earned his previous three by producing 14-2, 16-0, and 14-2 seasons, and he achieved the 14-2 mark again in 2016, despite Brady's four-game absence and missing Rob Gronkowski for essentially 10 games. His nondescript defense also turned into one of the best units in the league. -Michael McClymont
The best coach in football should win this award every year. We can't overlook the fact that Belichick led a team without Brady for a quarter of the season to yet another playoff bye (and was forced at one point to start a third-string rookie passer). It's too easy for him. -David P. Woods
It is ridiculous that Belichick has only won the Coach of the Year award three times. One excuse voters use for not giving the man his due is the fact he has Brady at quarterback. Well, he didn't have that luxury to start this season and he still went 3-1 - so what now? The award isn't for best first-year coach or best turnaround; it's for the best coach. Belichick is the best coach. End of discussion. -Mitch Sanderson
Are we handing this award to the best head coach, or the one who most exceeded expectations? If it's the former, then Belichick wins in a landslide every year. -Dan Wilkins
Jason Garrett, Cowboys
Not only did Garrett turn a 4-12 Cowboys team into the NFC's top seed with a 13-3 record, he managed to overcome the loss of Tony Romo in the preseason. Garrett's greatest accomplishment of 2016 was the expert way he handled the potential quarterback controversy when Romo was ready to return, sticking with Dak Prescott and keeping the locker room together in the process. Belichick is the best coach in the history of the NFL, but Garrett will get the hardware this year. -Justin Boone
Jack Del Rio, Raiders
Oakland improved by five wins in 2016, clinching its first playoff berth since 2002, and Del Rio should be commended for his efforts in developing a young, talented group. The Raiders appear poised to contend for the AFC crown over the next half-decade, and Del Rio is paramount to their ascendance. -Arun Srinivasan
theScore's NFL Awards