CHICAGO — As the 2025 NFL regular season winds toward its finish, two first-year head coaches — Ben Johnson of the Chicago Bears and Liam Coen of the Jacksonville Jaguars — have built compelling, data-backed cases for Coach of the Year. In fact, their work has been so transformational that a strong argument exists to either split the award by conference or recognize them jointly as co-Coaches of the Year.
Johnson may ultimately take home the hardware, especially after Chicago’s statement win over Green Bay on Saturday night, but Coen’s impact in Jacksonville has been just as profound.
Start with Chicago. The Bears stumbled to a 5–12 record in 2024, finishing near the bottom of the league in scoring and offensive efficiency. Confidence was low. Direction was uncertain. Johnson changed that almost immediately. Entering Week 16, the Bears are 11–4, leading the NFC North and positioned as a legitimate playoff threat. That six-win improvement is among the largest single-season turnarounds in franchise history.
The numbers support it. Chicago is averaging roughly 26 points per game, a massive jump from last season, while ranking near the top of the NFC in total offense. Johnson’s offensive structure has maximized rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, unlocked DJ Moore as a matchup nightmare and brought weekly adaptability that Chicago simply lacked a year ago. Just as importantly, the Bears have shown resilience — winning close games, finishing strong and playing their best football in December.
Then there’s Jacksonville, where Coen inherited a 4–13 Jaguars team from 2024 that had fallen flat after preseason playoff expectations. One year later, Jacksonville sits at 10–4, leading the AFC South and rolling into the postseason with momentum. That nine-win swing isn’t noise — it’s culture change.
Oh, and the Jaguars are up by 14 on the Broncos in Denver at time of writing, which would make them 11-4 if they can hold on. Even if they don’t, putting up 34 by the start of the 4th quarter on that vaunted Denver defense, on the road, is quite impressive.
Coen’s Jaguars are balanced and efficient. They rank inside the league’s top 10 in scoring offense at nearly 27 points per game, while the defense has shaved multiple points off last year’s average allowed. Trevor Lawrence is enjoying his most complete season as a pro, protected by smarter scheming and supported by a diversified run game and confident play-calling. Jacksonville hasn’t just won — it’s controlled games, adjusted midstream and punished mistakes.
What unites Johnson and Coen is more than record improvement. Both walked into buildings defined by losing and replaced it with belief. Their schematic creativity shows up on film; their leadership shows up late in games. These teams expect to win now — something neither franchise could honestly claim a year ago.
Johnson revived a Bears franchise starving for relevance. Coen resurrected a Jaguars team written off too early. Choosing one over the other feels reductive. If the league truly wants to honor excellence, this might be the season to recognize that greatness came in pairs.
One award. Two conferences. Two coaches who changed everything.
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