Do you believe in curses? I’m not entirely convinced unless there’s consistent evidence, but there’s something intriguing about this one—it keeps showing up.
The NFL held its annual awards show on Thursday night, and for the third consecutive year, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was nominated for Coach of the Year. And for the third straight time, he didn’t take home the award. Instead, the honor went to Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell.
Lions fans are surely frustrated by the result, but here’s a silver lining: maybe, just maybe, the Lions are dodging a curse.
Last February, Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski won the award, only to see his team plummet to a 3-14 record and now face the prospect of a full rebuild. Rumors are swirling about potential moves, including trading Myles Garrett and looking for a new quarterback.
In 2022, New York Giants head coach Brian Daboll won the coveted honor after guiding his team to the playoffs. But in the following season, the Giants ended with a 6-11 record, missing the playoffs, and now, after a dismal 3-14 season, they’re in turmoil.
So, is there a curse tied to the Coach of the Year award? It certainly seems plausible. Looking at the trend, the results speak for themselves.
| Coach | Record when winning award | Record the following year | Still with team? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Vrabel | 12-5 | 7-10 | Fired |
| Kevin Stefanski | 11-5 | 8-9 | Still with |
| John Harbaugh | 14-2 | 11-5 | Still with |
| Matt Nagy | 12-4 | 8-8 | Fired |
| Sean McVay | 11-5 | 13-3 | Still with |
| Jason Garrett | 13-3 | 9-7 | Fired |
| Ron Rivera | 15-1 | 6-10 | Fired |
| Bruce Arians | 11-15 | 13-3 | Fired |
| Ron Rivera | 12-4 | 7-8-1 | Fired |
It could be the weight of the expectations. After winning the award, all eyes are on you, and the pressure to repeat that success is immense. Some coaches, like John Harbaugh and Sean McVay, have proven they can rise to the challenge and continue winning. But many others? Not so much.
So, could this help Dan Campbell and the Lions next year? Maybe a little—without the added pressure of being the reigning Coach of the Year. But rest assured, they’ll still have the spotlight. The real question is: can they keep the momentum going? Only time will tell.
