Lions' Johnson Best Bet for AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year?

Lions' Johnson Best Bet for AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year?
Fact Checked by Pat McLoone

In the NFL, success is followed by a number of things. The first is copying, usually an offensive scheme or some defensive tactics. And another thing that’s sure to follow is that assistant coaches, who frequently go unnoticed, begin to get some well-deserved attention.

After several losing season – four straight duds from 2018 through 2021 --- the Detroit Lions had a revival in 2022. Lions fans and Michigan sportsbooks took notice as the team finished above .500 at 9-8 and did it on the strength of an offense that averaged 26.6 points per game.

This year proved that last season was no fluke. The Lions, now 11-5, have climbed to the top of the NFC North by once again averaging more than 26 points a game. ESPN Bet Michigan has Detroit at +1800 to win the Super Bowl.

Those results put Detroit offensive coordinator Ben Johnson in the conversation for the AP Assistant Coach of the Year Award.

BetMichigan.com – your source for Michigan sports betting apps - considered the field of candidates for that honor.

AP NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Odds

CoachPositionPercentage ChangeOdds
Ben JohnsonDetroit Lions Offensive Coordinator28.6%+250
Todd MonkenBaltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator14.3%+600
Jim SchwartzCleveland Browns Defensive Coordinator10%+900
Dan QuinnDallas Cowboys Defensive Coordinator10%+900
Brian SchottenheimerDallas Cowboys Offensive Coordinator7.7%+1200
Mike MacdonaldBaltimore Ravens Defensive Coordinator7.7%+1200
Steve WilksSan Francisco 49ers Defensive Coordinator7.7%+1200
Steve SpagnuoloKansas City Chiefs Defensive Coordinator6.2%+1500
Bobby SlowikHouston Texans Offensive Coordinator5.4%+1750
Other2.2%+4500

 

Bonus Bets Expire in 7 Days. One New Customer Offer Only. Must be 21+ to participate & present in MI. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-270-7117 for confidential help. Visit BetMGM.com for Terms & Conditions. US promotional offers not available in NY, NV, or Puerto Rico.

Lions’ OC Johnson Leads Pack

The Lions’ success puts Ben Johnson in the lead for the award with hypothetical odds of +250, or a chance of 28.6%.

Behind Johnson is Baltimore offensive coordinator Todd Monken at 14.3% and +600. Then you have Dallas defensive coordinator Dan Quinn and  Cleveland DC Jim Schwartz. Quinn  and Schwarts are assigned hypothetical odds of +900, or a chance of 10%.

The rest of the field for AP Assistant Coach of the Year, according to BetMichigan.com, features a three-way tie among Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas offensive coordinator; Mike Macdonald, the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, and Steve Wilks, San Francisco's defensive coordinator. They are given hypothetical odds of +1200, or chances of 7.7%. Then comes Kansas City DC Steve Spagnuolo (+1500) and Houston OC Bobby Slowik (+1750).

The category of “any other” has hypothetical odds of +4500 or a 2.2% chance. If you decide to take your chances on an NFL wager, be sure to be armed with Michigan sportsbook promos.

quote

Author

Bill Ordine

Bill Ordine, senior journalist and columnist for BetMichigan.com, was a reporter and editor in news and sports for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Baltimore Sun for 25 years, and was a lead reporter on a team that was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News. Bill started reporting on casinos and gaming shortly after Atlantic City’s first gambling halls opened and wrote a syndicated column on travel to casino destinations for 10 years. He covered the World Series of Poker for a decade and his articles on gaming have appeared in many major U.S. newspapers, such as the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Miami Herald and others.

Cited by leading media organizations, such as: