The AP NFL Coach of the Year (COTY) is an annual award presented by the Associated Press (AP) to the National Football League (NFL) coach adjudged to have had the most outstanding season. It has been awarded since the 1957 season. Since 2011, the winner has been announced at the annual NFL Honors ceremony.

Don Shula has won the most AP NFL Coach of the Year awards, receiving four during his 33-year head coaching career: three with the Baltimore Colts and one with the Miami Dolphins, all of which were in a nine season span. Chuck Knox and Bill Belichick have each been awarded three times.

Three coaches have won the award in back to back years: Allie Sherman (1961–1962), Shula (1967–1968), and Joe Gibbs (1982–1983).

Winners

Legend Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame ^ Currently active as a head coach in the NFL * Team won NFL championship (1957–1965) or Super Bowl (1966–present) the same year the recipient won the award ~ Won award following their first season as head coach of the team (#) Denotes the number of times a coach appears in this list

+ List of AP NFL Coach of the Year winnersSeason Coach Team Record ~ Detroit Lions* 8–4 Baltimore Colts* 9–3 ~ Green Bay Packers 7–5 Philadelphia Eagles* 10–2 New York Giants 10–3–1 (2) New York Giants 12–2 Chicago Bears* 11–1–2 Baltimore Colts 12–2 (2) Chicago Bears 9–5 Dallas Cowboys 10–3–1 Los Angeles Rams 11–1–2 (2) Baltimore Colts 11–1–2 (3) Baltimore Colts 13–1 Minnesota Vikings 12–2 Cincinnati Bengals 8–6 ~ (2) Washington Redskins 9–4–1 (4) Miami Dolphins* 14–0 Los Angeles Rams 12–2 St. Louis Cardinals 10–4 ~ Baltimore Colts 10–4 Cleveland Browns 9–5 ~ Denver Broncos 12–2 Seattle Seahawks 9–7 Washington Redskins 10–6 (2) Buffalo Bills 11–5 San Francisco 49ers* 13–3 Washington Redskins* 8–1 (2) Washington Redskins 14–2 (3) Seattle Seahawks 12–4 Chicago Bears* 15–1 New York Giants* 14–2 New Orleans Saints 12–3 (2) Chicago Bears 12–4 Green Bay Packers 10–6 Dallas Cowboys 7–9 Detroit Lions 12–4 ~ Pittsburgh Steelers 11–5 ~ New York Giants 11–5 (2) New England Patriots 10–6 ~ Philadelphia Eagles 10–6 Carolina Panthers 12–4 ~ New York Giants 10–5–1 (2) Atlanta Falcons 14–2 St. Louis Rams* 13–3 ~ New Orleans Saints 10–6 Chicago Bears 13–3 Philadelphia Eagles 12–4 New England Patriots* 14–2 San Diego Chargers 12–4 Chicago Bears 11–5 New Orleans Saints 10–6 (2) New England Patriots 16–0 ~ Atlanta Falcons 11–5 Cincinnati Bengals 10–6 (3) New England Patriots 14–2 ~ San Francisco 49ers 13–3 ~ Indianapolis Colts 9–3 Carolina Panthers 12–4 (2) Arizona Cardinals 11–5 (2) Carolina Panthers 15–1 Dallas Cowboys 13–3 ~ Los Angeles Rams 11–5 ~ Chicago Bears 12–4 Baltimore Ravens 14–2 ~ Cleveland Browns 11–5 Tennessee Titans 12–5 ~ New York Giants 9–7–1 (2) Cleveland Browns 11–6 Minnesota Vikings 14–3 ~ (2) New England Patriots 14–3

Multiple-time winners + List of multiple-time winners Count Coach Seasons Team(s) 4 , , , Baltimore Colts (3), Miami Dolphins 3 , , New England Patriots (3) , , Los Angeles Rams, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks 2 , Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins , Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals , Chicago Bears (2) , Washington Redskins (2) , Chicago Bears (2) , New York Giants, New England Patriots , New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons , Carolina Panthers (2) , New York Giants (2) , Cleveland Browns (2) , Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots

See also List of NFL Coach of the Year awards

Notes

References