Coming into the season, Jim Harbaugh was one of the favorites to take home the NFL Coach of the Year award. With five games left to play, he is still considered to be one of the candidates. But would need some help if he hopes to take home the hardware for the second time in his career, and it begins with Sunday night’s game in Kansas City.
Jim Harbaugh Is One Of The Underdog Candidates For COY
The current front-runner and heavy favorite is Dan Campbell. The Lions are the Super Bowl favorites and have won 11 in a row after their victory this past Thursday night. Before Sunday’s action around the league, their head coach was listed at around even money, depending on the sports book.
While Campbell is certainly in the driver’s seat for the award, there is a way for he and the Lions to play him out of contention. Detroit has the 5th-toughest remaining schedule in the league, with big games against the Bills, Vikings, and 49ers still looming. While a collapse seems unlikely, it is a possibility given the level of their upcoming opponents.
Chargers are allowing just 13.1 points per game this season, the fewest by a team in their first year under a new head coach in the past 20 years.
The second-best? The 2011 San Francisco 49ers, also coached by Jim Harbaugh. pic.twitter.com/Eh1e8yCdq6
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 17, 2024
For Harbaugh to make up the ground, the Chargers would have to go on a run. They have the 18th-toughest remaining schedule, with their best remaining opponent being the Chiefs, who they will see on Sunday night. Their final two games of the year will be played against the Patriots and Raiders, two of the worst teams in the NFL.
It wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for Los Angeles to finish with a 12-5 record. If they did, and the Lions dropped two games, then the race for Coach of the Year will tighten significantly.
Lions Would Have To Slip Up In The Final Weeks
Jim Harbaugh and Dan Campbell aren’t the only candidates. Kevin O’Connell and Mike Tomlin have their teams overachieving, and Sean Payton is being considered due to the surge by the Broncos. But none of it would matter if the Lions are able to continue their winning ways through the end of the regular season.
A win against the Chiefs on Sunday night would go a long way. Getting to nine wins would solidify their standing in the AFC playoff picture, and doing so against a division opponent like Kansas City would be a feather in the cap.
The first NFL Coach of the Year award for Jim Habaugh came back in 2011 when he was the head man for the 49ers. More recently, he won the AP College Football Coach of the Year in 2021.
