Who Should be the 2016 NFL Coach of the Year?

With one game to go in the season there are quite a few candidates this year, let’s look at the favorites.

1) Adam Gase, Miami Dolphins- I do not know why Gase is not mentioned very often in this discussion. Who thought before the year started that the Miami Dolphins would be a ten win team this year? The job he has done has been amazing when you consider at one point in the season they were 1-4 and got embarrassed by the Cincinnati Bengals. Gase at the young age of 38 could be in Miami for a long time, a lot of people thought in the past couple of years that the Dolphins had a lot of talent, but they needed the right guy to put them over the top. Gase has been that man, and he needs more respect for the job that he has done.

2) Dan Quinn, Atlanta Falcons- The Falcons in the past were a talented team that lacked mental toughness. Since Quinn stepped in that has not been a problem. Under Quinn QB Matt Ryan has had his best season and Vic Beasley has become a dominant defender. Now the question is can they win in the playoffs, I think the answer to that question is a resounding yes, but only time will tell.

3) Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys- Garrett probably deserved this award in 2014 when he led the Cowboys to a 12-4 season. After last year’s disastrous season the Cowboys have rebounded behind a great offensive line and two dynamic rookies. Throw in a significantly improved defense, and you have a solid coach of the year candidate.

4) Jack Del Rio, Oakland Raiders- Del Rio can make an even better case for himself with a win in Denver to give the Raiders the number 2 seed. Can he get it done with a backup QB? I have no reason to doubt he can.

5) Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs- Reid is still winning with Alex Smith playing QB, and if a few things go right today he could be a number two seed.

6) Bill Belichick, New England Patriots- Belichick is always hurt when it comes to this award because he is consistently excellent. This year his big plus is going 3-1 without Tom Brady at the helm of his team.

7) Ben McAdoo, New York Giants- It seems like people have forgotten what a great job McAdoo has done in New York. He has made the playoffs with a very limited offense, and he has completely turned the defense around from last year.

8) Jim Caldwell, Detroit Lions- Caldwell has dropped to last on this list because of the Lions recent skid. The thing you have to remember about the Lions is the fact that when Calvin Johnson retired a lot of people left this team for dead. He has a chance to move up this list with a win over the Packers tonight.