NFL Coach of the Year Odds for the Top 9 Viable Candidates

At times, the coach of an NFL team can wear the hat of coach, teacher, parent, boss, motivator and babysitter.

But if you ask all of them, they probably would say they wouldn't change any of those titles for anything in the world.

And as the NFL season has progressed past the halfway point, we have seen these coaches, all 32 of them, at their best and their worst (well, maybe not Mike McCarthy).

Some have clearly displayed the moxie needed to win tough games, make tough decisions and make a claim for postseason hardware.

I am not a gambler by any means. But if I were to place odds or bet on who the Coach of the Year would be, these names would be at the top of the list.

I am going to rank in order from ninth to first according to who I think the Coach of the Year candidates should be. While some may surprise, some will come as no shock.

Enjoy.

9. Gary Kubiak, Houston Texans

It is so weird talking about Kubiak gaining any kind of recognition for hardware.

He has led a mediocre team for so long and now, the team is in the driver seat for the AFC South crown. But some say his job may still be in jeopardy.

Kubiak needs all his keep components in place, and that includes his quarterback, his fleet-footed receiver and a stable of great running backs to make this work.

The defense, led by Wade Phillips, is playing the best it has since the franchise joined the NFL.

8. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints

You knew when they scored 34 points against the Packers in the first game of the year it would be the status quo for the Saints.

Admittedly, they have hit some bumps along the way. But Sean Payton has kept this team afloat despite injuries to himself.

Payton is aces with this offense and Drew Brees. They keep going and going and going.

7. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis: getting older. Ed Reed: getting older. Terrell Suggs: getting older.

The Ravens defense: getting better.

John Harbaugh has a great defense to ask to win games, a strong running game that can turn the switch on at a moment's notice and a quarterback that gives him fits.

Harbaugh has done everything he can to make his quarterback give him the consistency needed to get to the Super Bowl.

And his team was still able to beat the Steelers and the Bengals and remain the class of the division.

6. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

We see them get blown out of the gates by Baltimore in the first game of the season and we start to think this is a team on the decline.

Tell that to Mike Tomlin, Ben Roethlisberger and anyone else who would listen.

The Steelers may have lost twice to the Ravens, but they beat New England and still have a pretty good defense.

And one of the more underrated receiving corps in the NFL.

Tomlin knows how to put everything together and make it work.

5. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals

Didn't we all think Marvin Lewis would get a pink slip after last season?

Didn't we all think Marvin Lewis was doomed having to start a rookie at quarterback this season?

Didn't we think new offensive coordinator Jay Gruden would have issues running an NFL offense?

Boy, we all were fooled.

The Bengals may not be ready to claim the AFC North, but it is good to see the division is a three-team race, not just two.

4. Jim Schwartz, Detroit Lions

This is a team that will keep on getting better.

When the team drafted Nick Fairley in the first round to team with Ndamukong Suh, I immediately thought of John Henderson and Marcus Stroud with the Jaguars eight years ago.

Schwartz has faced adversity with "slap-gate" and a team that has been recognized as a "dirty" outfit.

The Lions still move on and look better than they have in years.

Calvin Johnson is the best receiver in the NFL and Matthew Stafford continues to improve as a passer.

It can only get better.

3. Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears

This team has recovered from early woes to become 7-3 and in the thick of the NFL playoff race.

Da Bears are alive and well.

It was once thought (by me) that Smith could be in danger of losing his job. They have had issues at quarterback, a contract dispute with two important cogs on the team (Lance Briggs and Matt Forte) and Smith and his staff keep plugging along.

He has truly done a remarkable job.

2. Mike McCarthy, Green Bay Packers

He may be the most nondescript coach in the NFL.

McCarthy just goes about his business and gets results.

Last year, it was a 10-6 Packers team claiming the Lombardi Trophy from the sixth playoff slot.

This year, it is about Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense slamming the gas on the throats of their opponents.

This story is one of the greatest ever being told in the NFL.

1. Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers

A rookie coach heading a group of men who were lost last season.

Harbaugh has done a remarkable job to get the 49ers to a 9-1 record this year.

Even more remarkable is the fact the NFC West is so flat this season and the division can possibly be wrapped up this coming weekend.

Harbaugh has proven the apple does not fall far from the tree in the household with he and brother John (Ravens head coach) pushing all the right buttons.