Kellen Moore just rocketed to the top of the 2026 NFL Coach of the Year odds board, sitting at +600 on DraftKings Sportsbook as of September 23. This is a massive shift for Moore, whose odds were sitting at +1600 just recently, but after a huge Week 2 upset in Baltimore, the league is clearly taking notice of what he’s building.
The Saints Are Rolling, and Moore Is Driving
Look, this award isn’t always about the best record. It’s about exceeding expectations, pulling off a major turnaround, or elevating a franchise. Moore is hitting all those notes early. He’s got the Saints looking like a legitimate contender, averaging 27.0 points per game, which is good for ninth in the league. They’re also putting up 383.5 total yards per game, ranking them seventh overall, and their passing game is electric, clocking in at 305.5 yards per game, second-best in the entire NFL. The Saints are playing inspired football, and it’s clear the oddsmakers see Moore as the architect of this early-season surge.
Kubiak’s Quick Start and Harbaugh’s Plummet
Moore isn’t the only coach making noise early. Klint Kubiak, the Raiders’ new head honcho, is second on the odds board at +900 after leading his team to their first 2-0 start since 2021. That included a huge upset win over the Chargers, which tells you everything about the kind of impact he’s having. Think about it: 60% of Coach of the Year winners over the last decade were in their first season with their team. Kubiak could absolutely keep that trend alive.
Meanwhile, John Harbaugh, who started the season as the +600 favorite, has seen his odds tank to +1400. That’s a significant slide to sixth on the board. A blowout Week 2 loss to the Rams and a season-ending injury to starting quarterback Jaxson Dart clearly crushed his prospects, highlighting just how quickly things can change in this league.
What This Award Really Means
This award really does reward the coaches who defy the preseason talk. In 2025, Mike Vrabel won it in his first season with the Patriots, transforming them from a 4-13 team in 2024 to a 13-4 powerhouse, winning the AFC East and making a Super Bowl appearance. He’s won it twice now, proving that a dramatic turnaround is the golden ticket. Kevin O’Connell snagged the award in 2024, and Kevin Stefanski also boasts two trophies, showing it’s all about impact and exceeding what everyone expected.
Can Moore keep the Saints rolling and cement his spot? Will Kubiak continue that first-year magic for the Raiders? We’re only two weeks in, but the Coach of the Year race is already wild, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting narratives to watch this season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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