Many future head coaches headline this season’s NFL Assistant Coach of the Year odds. Winning this award can help propel an assistant to the top of coach searches in 2026, but who will take the honor?
Let’s analyze the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year betting odds and the top favorites, before I share my ACOY predictions for 2025-26.
2025-2026 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Odds
The table below highlights the top contenders for Assistant Coach of the Year this season, courtesy of BetOnline.
| Assistant Coach | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jeff Hafley (Packers) | +600 |
| Brian Flores (Vikings) | +800 |
| Jesse Minter (Chargers) | +950 |
| Vance Joseph (Broncos) | +1000 |
| Robert Saleh (49ers) | +1000 |
| Vic Fangio (Eagles) | +1000 |
| Zac Robinson (Falcons) | +1100 |
| Klint Kubiak (Seahawks) | +2000 |
| Greg Roman (Chargers) | +2000 |
| Joe Brady (Bills) | +2200 |
| Matt Eberflus (Cowboys) | +2200 |
| John Morton (Lions) | +2200 |
Packers’ DC Jeff Hafley (+600) has the shortest odds to win ACOY at top NFL betting sites. Green Bay’s defense has been dominant so far this season, and Hafley’s scheme is a significant reason why. The team’s acquisition of Micah Parsons has also helped.
Brian Flores and Jesse Minter, who are also defensive coordinators, have the next-best odds at +800 and +950, respectively. Three more DCs, Vance Joseph (Denver), Robert Saleh (SF), and Vic Fangio (Philadelphia), are tied for the fourth-best odds at 10-1 each.
Atlanta’s Zac Robinson has the best odds of any offensive coordinator at +1100.
You can view the latest odds and bet on your predictions by navigating to BetOnline> Football > NFL Futures > Assistant Coach of the Year.
How Is the NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Determined?
As with most major NFL annual awards, the Assistant Coach of the Year is determined by a nationwide panel of football writers.
Any coach other than the head coach is eligible for the award; however, only defensive and offensive coordinators have won it so far. The favorites for 2025-26 continue this trend.
2025-26 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Favorites
Defensive coordinators are currently dominating the top of the Assistant Coach of the Year odds boards. Let’s take a closer look at this year’s top ACOY candidates.
Jeff Hafley (+600)
The Packers’ Jeff Hafley is the +600 favorite to win Assistant Coach of the Year this season. Hafley joined Green Bay’s coaching staff last season and helped the Packers become a top-10 defense.
ELITE DEFENSES 🔥
The Chargers join the Packers as the only teams that have yet to give up a first-half TD this season 👀 pic.twitter.com/DikSrmvIdV
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) September 16, 2025
In his first season as the DC, Green Bay’s defense managed the following:
-
- 6 YPG allowed – 6th fewest
- 4 rushing YPG allowed – 7th fewest
- 9 PPG allowed – 6th fewest
The Packers’ passing defense gave up 215.2 YPG, which ranked 13th in the NFL. However, they have been much improved this season, allowing just 189.5 passing YPG. Green Bay’s 15.5 PPG allowed is currently the fourth-fewest PPG allowed in the league.
Despite the improvements on defense, Hafley did not receive a single ACOY vote last season. That will change this year if the Packers continue playing like a top-five defense.
Brian Flores (+800)
Brian Flores has the second-shortest ACOY this season at +800. He joined the Vikings coaching staff in 2023 after a one-year stint in Pittsburgh. Flores was the head coach for the Dolphins from 2019 to 2021.
Minnesota had one of the best defenses in the NFL in 2024. The Vikings were top 10 in several categories, including:
-
- 5 PPG allowed (5th fewest)
- 4 rushing YPG allowed (2nd fewest)
- 49 sacks (T-4th most)
- 24 INTs (1st most)
Flores finished second in ACOY voting in 2024 for his efforts. He received three first-place votes and finished with a total of 143 points. For reference, Ben Johnson, who won the award, had 29 of the 49 first-place votes and 359 total points.
This year, Flores should be pushing for the prize even harder. The early signs suggest that the Vikings will once again have an exceptional defense.
Jesse Minter (+950)
The Chargers’ Jesse Minter rounds out the top three in the latest ACOY odds at +950. Minter joined LA last season as part of Jim Harbaugh’s staff. He was Harbaugh’s DC for two years at Michigan and helped the Wolverines win the National Championship.
Geno Smith Week 1: 219 passing yards past 10 yards
Geno Smith Week 2: 0 passing yards past 10 yardsJesse Minter is a madman pic.twitter.com/DHJMY0n8HD
— Tyler Schoon (@tylerjschoon) September 16, 2025
Under Minter’s leadership, the Chargers’ defense became one of the best units in the league last season. LA’s D put up the following stats last year:
-
- 9 passing YPG allowed (7th fewest)
- 46 total sacks (T-6th most)
- 7 PPG allowed (1st fewest)
The Chargers are off to a dominant start on defense again this year. They have allowed just 30 total points this year, the third-fewest in the NFL. If their defensive dominance continues, Minter’s head coaching stock will increase as his ACOY odds shorten.
Best Assistant Coach of the Year Sleepers
Including sleepers in your Assistant Coach of the Year predictions is a great way to maximize your potential earnings. Two dark horses for ACOY I recommend betting on are John Morton and Lou Anarumo.
Assistant Coach of the Year Prediction and Betting Pick
Six of the previous 11 Assistant Coach of the Year winners have been defensive coordinators, so it is not surprising that DCs dominate the latest NFL ACOY odds. Jeff Hafley is the +600 favorite, but Brian Flores (+800) is in an excellent position to win the ACOY this season.
Flores was second in ACOY voting last season. Also, Minnesota’s offense has taken a step back as the team attempts to build around first-year starter J.J. McCarthy.
The Vikings’ defense will need to be even better than last season to make up for McCarthy’s struggles. If they live up to the task, then Flores can win his first ACOY in the NFL.
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