Lions head coach Dan Campbell is back in Coach of the Year race

Early buzz gave way to a rough start for the Detroit Lions, but the betting odds have head coach Dan Campbell back the race for NFL Coach of the Year.

With solid expectations for improvement this year, and certainly some “Hard Knocks” buzz mixed in, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell surfaced in the conversation as a possible long shot candidate for NFL Coach of the Year this year.

Then the Lions started 1-6, with Campbell feeling like had had cost the team at least a couple wins.

The Lions have won five of their last six games, with a narrow Thanksgiving Day loss to the Buffalo Bills the only blemish over that stretch. At 6-7 they are in the hunt for a playoff spot, albeit with the need to keep winning games to keep it that way.

And, as the Lions become a positive topic of conversation nationally, Campbell is back in the Coach of the Year race.

Dan Campbell: Coach of the Year odds

Via DraftKings Sportsbook this week, after Week 14, Campbell has the second-best odds to win NFL Coach of the Year at 9/2. Over at FanDuel Sportsbook he’s tied for the second-best odds, at +1200 with Jets head coach Robert Saleh. Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is the favorite to win the award at both sportsbooks, and presumably many (if not all) other sportsbooks, and he’s  sitting at minus money on FanDuel (-380) and Draft Kings (1/4).

The Lions would have to finish with a winning record at mimimum, and all but surely make the playoffs, for Campbell to have any real chance to win Coach of the Year. And even then it looks like it’ll be very tough to overtake Siranni.

Campbell is in line to get some Coach of the Year votes though, and that accomplishment should not be overlooked.

Note: Odds refresh regularly and are subject to change.