The NFL Coach of the Year is Kevin Stefanski.

And it’s not even close.

Yes, I know that Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions is getting a lot of play for this award, as well he should. He has done an outstanding job in guiding them to an 11-5 record and the NFC North championship. It’s their first division title in 30 years.

As good as that is – – and it is very, very good, as Campbell has taken the momentum from the team’s big push in the second half of 2022 and carried it over to this year, which is difficult to do since momentum hardly ever translates from one season to the next in this league – – it is not as impressive as what’s Stefanski has done.

The Browns are not division champions, but they are also 11-5 and firmly in second place in the toughest division in the NFL, the AFC North. However, while the Lions have had relatively few
injuries, the Browns have been deluged with them. They are banged up at every position on both sides of the ball, and even three sides if you count special teams. That’s a especially so at quarterback, the most important position in team sports, yet they keep chugging right along, winning games left and right with players, you’ve never heard of.

What would the Browns be if they were healthy? We’ll never know, but we do know that they are better than the sum of their parts. That’s coaching. And that starts with Kevin Stefanski, the head coach.

In fact, I would say that Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has done a better job than Campbell because his team is 9-7 and on the verge of a wild-card playoff berth despite the fact the club has been plagued by mediocrity on offense, especially at quarterback. That’s incredible, too.

But here’s guessing — and I’m just guessing; I have no idea — that Campbell will win the award because he and the Lions have been the darlings of the league since even before training camp began.

Steve King