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Bill Belichick and Mike McCarthy Being Favorites for 2020 Coach of the Year is Disrespectful to Mike Vrabel

By Emily Adams

Mike Vrabel is quietly building the Titans into major contenders in the NFL. If they go all the way, he's a shoe-in for coach of the year.
Mike Vrabel is quietly building the Titans into major contenders in the NFL. If they go all the way, he's a shoe-in for coach of the year. / Rob Carr/Getty Images

Really? Mike McCarthy?

There's no denying that both New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and Dallas Cowboys head coach McCarthy are great at what they do, and this year, Belichick does have the opportunity to actually earn the NFL Coach of the Year instead of leaning on Tom Brady to run his system to perfection. Even so, both of these coaches are getting way more credit up front than they're due. Just take a look at the current betting odds for top coaching honors heading into 2020.

Think about it -- Mike Vrabel, head coach of the Tennessee Titans, is in the best position to make a run for Coach of the Year in 2020. In 2019, he led the Titans on their best postseason run since 2002 after failing to make the playoffs at all a year before. He also coached quarterback Ryan Tannehill to a breakout year and recently re-signed him to a four-year, $118 million contract to run it back.

Vrabel's squad is not a favorite even to win the AFC South, but they also aren't necessarily the underdog. He is right in the sweet spot, because his roster is not so strong that they could win without coaching, nor is it too weak to win at all. If Vrabel can get this team even to an AFC Championship win, he deserves to be Coach of the Year more than any other coach in the league. So, why is he staring down +2000 odds?

McCarthy is a favorite strictly because of the Cowboys' incredible draft class and all-consuming buzz. However, it seems a little premature to call him a potential Coach of the Year when his team failed to make the postseason last year, his rookies are all unproven at the professional level, and Dak Prescott's contract extension standoff remains a massive headache.

He could certainly make a case for himself if things go well, but there's hardly enough evidence to assume that they will. It's far too early to call him a favorite.

Enough with the Patriots and Cowboys hype! Mike Vrabel, it's your time to shine.