With action on the gridiron closer than you think, it is never too early to dive into FanDuel Sportsbook's list of NFL futures.

In particular, the race for Associated Press Coach of the Year is anticipated to be rather contentious. There are no less than eight teams with new head coaches in 2024, and that can often be used as a catalyst for this award.

As for last season's winner, Kevin Stefanski of the Cleveland Browns earned his second AP COY designation. Going forward, Stefanski is listed at 60-to-1 (tied longest) to win for a third time in 2024. Of course, only Allie Sherman (1961-62) and Don Shula (1967-68) have won in back-to-back campaigns.

The regular season is already less than three months from kickoff. Let's dive into the current NFL Coach of the Year odds, highlighting the league's strongest upcoming cases.

All NFL odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.

2024 AP Coach of the Year Odds

*Denotes past AP COY winners.

Raheem Morris, Falcons (+1000)

The Atlanta Falcons have moved on from Arthur Smith in lieu of first-time head coach Raheem Morris.

Already, Morris' tenure in ATL has started with a bang, as the Falcons signed quarterback Kirk Cousins before subsequently selecting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall in the NFL Draft. From there, Atlanta has an offensive skill group that features Bijan Robinson and Drake London.

Morris has worked amongst the NFL ranks since the early 2000s, but this will be his first stint as a full-blown head coach. Still, he is quite familiar with the brand and personnel on hand in Georgia's capital city -- Morris previously served as Atlanta's assistant head coach (2015-2019) and interim head coach (2020).

Headed for 2024, FanDuel Sportsbook lists Morris with 10-to-1 odds to win NFL COY, making him the market's joint favorite.

Matt Eberflus, Bears (+1000)

Matt Eberflus of the Chicago Bears is the only other coach currently yielding 10-to-1 odds to win Coach of the Year. Be that as it may, he is entering his third season with Chicago while still looking for his first winning record.

Having once played linebacker for the Toledo Rockets under Nick Saban, Eberflus is a defensive coach that brings experience from the NFC, AFC, and NCAA. However, the Bears are the only organization he has ever held the head coaching position for.

Chicago has played to a 10-24 record in the Eberflus era. Still, it appears we are at a turning of the tide in the Midway. First-round draft picks Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze are here to help improve upon 21.2 PPG; adding veteran receiver Keenan Allen should also assist the cause.

DeMeco Ryans, Texans (+1400)

Back with the Houston Texans for Year 2 as head coach, former NFL linebacker DeMeco Ryans is just getting started. Now leading the franchise he once played for, Ryans takes great pride in his current role.

Last season, Ryans and quarterback C.J. Stroud produced one of the most impressive organizational turnarounds, taking Houston from 3-13 to 10-7 (winning AFC South along the way).

At FanDuel Sportsbook, the Texans are yielding +105 odds to win the division for a second straight year. Their defense -- one that allowed only 20.2 PPG in 2023 -- should return strong as receiver Stefon Diggs joins a dynamic offensive group. Simply, I expect Ryans to be a popular name to win AP COY.

Given the indirectness of this market (coaches don't play the game and voting is subjective), 14-to-1 odds to be awarded Coach of the Year feels like a fair listing for Ryans.

Shane Steichen, Colts (+1400)

Staying in the AFC South, the Indianapolis Colts are commencing the team's second season with Shane Steichen as head coach. Indy went 9-8 a season ago, but all signs point toward improvement in "Circle City."

Given Steichen's +1400 label in this market, the oddsmakers are expecting big things from he and Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson. To be fair, we saw Richardson for less than four full games in 2023, yet most on-field results were positive.

Like Richardson, Steichen was a Division I signal-caller once upon a time. Indy's head coach might not have been a first-round draft pick, but he contributed 27 career touchdowns for the UNLV Rebels -- perhaps he is able to sharpen AR5's best quarterbacking abilities.

Jonathan Gannon, Cardinals (+1400)

Of all coaches near the top of FanDuel's 2024 NFL COY oddsboard, the Arizona Cardinals' Jonathan Gannon is the one that puzzles me most.

Like Ryans and Steichen above, Gannon is beginning his second campaign as an NFL HC. Still, Gannon and the Cardinals were nowhere near the playoffs in 2023, finishing 4-13.

Gannon is a defensive-minded head coach. He served as defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles for two seasons, including during their most recent Super Bowl appearance. However, Arizona surrendered 26.8 PPG to opponents last year, which was the NFL's second-highest clip.

On the bright side, quarterback Kyler Murray is back to start the season in 2024. From there, the Cards selected playmaker Marvin Harrison Jr. in April's NFL draft -- maybe change is on the horizon in the desert.

Jim Harbaugh, Chargers (+1400)

Leaving his beloved Michigan Wolverines on the heels of a national title, Jim Harbaugh will take over the Los Angeles Chargers in 2024.

As noted in the introduction, coaches can have success in this market upon joining a new team. Of the 68 AP COY recipients since 1957, 25% (17 of 68) were coaches in their first year with a franchise. The younger Harbaugh is well aware of this, as he was one of those winners in his first season with the San Francisco 49ers (2011).

Whether it is due to the "grass is greener on the other side" complex or the ability to provide noticeable improvement against a recent baseline, coaches have the ability to inject meaningful change upon joining a fresh organization. For the Bolts, Harbaugh very well could be that guy.

Harbaugh has been a successful coach at every stop, guiding Michigan (89-25), the 49ers (44-19) and Stanford Cardinal (29-21) all to steep winning records. Genuinely, while carrying +1400 odds at FanDuel Sportsbook, I would not count Jimbo out -- we'll see what he and quarterback Justin Herbert can do together.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.