By PFW staff
Dec. 31, 2005

When you think about the top coaching jobs in the NFL this season, a number of worthy candidates come to mind.

After leading the Colts to 13 straight wins to start the season, many NFL observers were ready to hand the award to Tony Dungy. However, with the Colts having stumbled the past two weeks, it has given voters an opportunity to look at some of the other exceptional coaching performances.

Though most people had the Bears buried in last place, Lovie Smith steered his team, despite relying on a rookie quarterback for much of the season, to a surprising NFC North division title.

A talented Seahawks club finally put it all together, took advantage of a weak NFC West division, and stormed to the NFC’s top seed, earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. A year after a disappointing home playoff loss, Mike Holmgren has his team in position to quiet its critics.

Bill Belichick withstood the departure of his offensive and defensive coordinators, several key injuries and the death of his father to lead the two-time defending champions to a third straight AFC East title.

The young and talented Bengals have been ably led by Marvin Lewis to their first playoff berth since 1990 and first division title since 1988, when they last went to the Super Bowl. Lewis has coupled an explosive offense with an opportunistic defense to lift the Bengals to the ranks of contenders rather than pretenders.

Mike Shanahan deserves tremendous kudos for getting such an efficient season out of QB Jake Plummer. By putting a premium on managing the game and not making turnovers, Plummer has been reborn, and the Broncos have run away with the fiercely competitive AFC West.

Other strong coaching performances have been turned in by Jon Gruden in Tampa, Tom Coughlin in New York, Joe Gibbs in Washington and Jack Del Rio in Jacksonville.

So, who will win the 2005 NFL Coach of the Year award? We asked people around the league for their opinions. Here are some of the answers we received:

Chiefs RB Larry Johnson:
“I would say Lovie Smith. As far as being a black coach, going into an organization where your back is against the wall, he turned that organization around and pretty much brought that defense and offense, without a starter (at quarterback), back to where it looks similar to the 1985 Bears. That’s hard to do as far as Mike Ditka and all that. Those are some tough shoes to fill, especially in Chicago. Him doing that, and bringing those guys back, that’s wonderful.”

ProFootballWeekly.com columnist Todd Wright:
“Lovie Smith has gone from valued position coach in Tampa Bay to strong defensive coordinator in St. Louis to Coach of the Year in Chicago. The Bears aren’t loaded with established star players, and the one who would be considered one, Brian Urlacher, has finally reached his true potential in just his second year in Smith’s defense. The Bears overcame a prolonged holdout to a top-five franchise back and a preseason injury to its starting quarterback to win the NFC North and a first-round bye. This team also plays with a real identity and quickly established a winning personality.”

PFW Chiefs correspondent Rick Dean, of the Topeka Capital Journal:
“I still go with Tony Dungy. I’m a huge fan. The way he comes back from this tragedy in his personal life, I think the club will really rally around him because of the dignity of the man and the quiet calm that he brings to the team. They’ll go to the Super Bowl for him.

PFW Packers correspondent Bob McGinn, of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:
“Tony Dungy, Indy. … He fixed the defense. Finally. That team is built for its building and for Ford Field, where its season probably will wind up. 'Steady as she goes' sums up Tony Dungy.”

PFW Seahawks correspondent Mike Sando, of the Tacoma News Tribune:
“Jon Gruden. Tampa Bay lost its starting QB (Brian Griese), and they weren’t a playoff team last year. I like the way he’s developed the offense. Plus, the Bucs really had to play some tough teams.”

PFW Raiders correspondent Mike Wagaman, of Silver & Black Illustrated:
“I’d say right now it’s a toss-up between Marvin Lewis and Nick Saban. Marvin, it may not be so much Coach of the Year for this year, but a culmination of things with how he’s turned that franchise around. And Saban because when he took that job, no one would have guessed that he would’ve won five games, let alone have a chance to go .500. I look at guys who did something they weren’t expected to do, and Lewis and Saban are two guys that lead in that respect.”

PFW Jaguars correspondent Vito Stellino, of the Florida Times-Union:
“Dungy. He kept a good team focused all year, going 13-0, and didn’t lose until they had clinched everything. Also, for upgrading the defense to complement his offense.”

PFW Broncos correspondent Bill Williamson, of the Denver Post:
“Lovie Smith. I’m just a believer that the big turnaround is more impressive than the jump from 11 wins to 13 or 14. We have a coach here (Mike Shanahan) who could get some votes, but I think Lovie is most deserving.”

PFW Bills correspondent Chuck Pollock, of the Olean (N.Y.) Times-Herald:
“I have to say Lovie Smith. To do what he’s done, albeit in a weak division, with virtually no offense is pretty impressive.”

PFW Panthers correspondent Scott Fowler, of the Charlotte Observer:
“Dungy. He’s imposed his defense to go along with an already superb offense. They’re going to win the whole thing.”

PFW Cardinals correspondent Darren Urban, of the East Valley/Scottsdale Tribune:
“There are four or five great candidates, but I would have to go with Lovie Smith. I didn’t expect the Bears to do anything. He did a great job of keeping the team together when Rex Grossman got hurt. It’s hard to argue against him.”

PFW Rams correspondent Jim Thomas, of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
“Lovie Smith. He’s taken a really offensively impaired team and has turned it into a playoff team with that great old Bears attitude.”

PFW Niners correspondent Kevin Lynch, of the San Francisco Chronicle:
“It might be a bit of a sentimental pick, but my choice is Tony Dungy, irrespective of the tragedy with his son. He really did a great job developing the Colts’ defense, and it’s so hard to go 13-0 in this day and age.”

PFW Bengals correspondent Mark Curnutte, of The Cincinnati Enquirer:
“Lovie Smith. He's done more with less than (Tony) Dungy or (Marvin) Lewis.”

PFW Steelers correspondent Jim Wexell, of SteelCitySports.com:
“The obvious choice is Tony Dungy. They won the games they had to win.”

PFW executive editor Dan Arkush:
“I'll go with Lovie Smith, but I’d have no problem at all if as many as four other coaches (Tony Dungy, Marvin Lewis, Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren) got the nod instead. Lovie stuck to his guns all season, sticking with the game plan even after Rex Grossman went down. He’s made all the right moves and has stayed on an even keel that has been quite impressive. His decision to bench Kyle Orton and go back to Grossman a few Sunday nights ago was perfectly timed.”

PFW associate editor Eric Edholm:
“I think, like the MVP race, this is an extremely close battle. Five guys come to mind: Lovie Smith, Tony Dungy, Marvin Lewis, Mike Holmgren and Bill Belichick. (An aside: Would the league please recognize that the success of the aforementioned three black head coaches only has opened more teams’ eyes to hiring minorities and that the league’s rules concerning a mandated interview with a minority are strange and unfair? Likely not.) I think it’s fair to say that Lewis’ and Smith’s successes are considered the biggest surprises or turnarounds, but that to me doesn’t warrant getting the award by itself. To me, it should be the guy who does the best job coaching his team and overcoming the obstacles. To me, the Seahawks have had the easiest road, so Holmgren finishes fifth in my ballot. Dungy, personal sympathies aside, gets my fourth-place vote. Still, a fantastic job he has done this season. Lewis is a fine head coach who has changed identities and allowed his offense to dictate the pulse of the team; for that, he’s third. Belichick has been tremendous, keeping the tenor of his team positive and juggling an ever-changing roster; he gets my No. 2 vote. In my mind, Smith’s job in leading the Bears to a first-round bye with a rookie quarterback and few offensive weapons, that’s the stuff of a Coach of the Year.”

PFW associate editor Trent Modglin:
“How can you not give it to Lovie Smith? I mean, really. Forget about their ugly passing numbers or a relatively easy schedule. The Bears have a first-round bye and own a defense that rivals the big shoes from the mid-’80s Bears teams. The debate should be over right there.”

PFW associate editor Mike Wilkening:
“My vote goes to Tony Dungy, who takes the NFL's most complete team into the playoffs. But Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan is another worthy candidate, as are the Bears' Lovie Smith, the Bengals' Marvin Lewis and the Seahawks' Mike Holmgren.”

Let us know whom you'd vote for — see Today's Poll.

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