As we officially hit the midway point of the season, you start looking at teams—gauging which ones are gearing up for a playoff push and which ones are already thinking about who will be on their draft board in the first round.
While talent is one thing, what really makes or breaks a team is the head coach. You can have all the talent in the world, but if there’s no scheme, no leader, no culture, and poor play calling, you have nothing. If you look at the standings across the league, it’s clear: some teams you wouldn’t expect to be near the top of the pecking order are thriving, while others you’d expect to be dominant are struggling.
Coaches are arguably the most important factor in building a franchise—a well-rounded coach can completely change a team’s trajectory. Today, we’ll analyze the top five coaches in the PML so far this season. These five, without question, should be considered the frontrunners for Coach of the Year.
1. Coach Keraun – Jacksonville Jaguars (7-0)
Coach Keraun has been around for a long time. When you think of winning culture, you think of Coach Keraun. He has shown success with teams in the past, and while he may not yet have that Super Bowl ring, his high win rate and consistent playoff appearances have always made him a threat.
This season isn’t about all-time résumés, but it’s worth noting what he’s built on. After being hired by the Jacksonville Jaguars this past offseason, Coach Ke knew the task ahead would be an uphill battle. Instead, he’s made it look like a walk in the park. Sitting undefeated at 7-0 and holding the No. 1 seed with a three-game cushion at the midway point, he’s walked into this organization like a man on a mission.
His offensive scheme has Jacksonville at the top of the league in multiple categories, and his biggest accomplishment may be the revival of Trevor Lawrence. Once labeled a generational quarterback but questioned for inconsistency, Lawrence is now thriving under Coach Ke’s guidance—throwing 27 touchdowns with only 2 interceptions on the year. By putting Lawrence in comfortable situations, the Jaguars’ passing attack has become one of the most feared in the league.
Of course, the offense grabs the headlines—especially with the duo of Lawrence and Brian Thomas Jr., backed by a strong supporting cast—but the defense deserves just as much credit. Week in and week out, they’ve quietly put opponents in a chokehold, flying under the radar despite elite production.
It’s safe to say the Jacksonville Jaguars are a legitimate threat. With Coach Ke making an immediate impact in his debut season, this team is firmly in the mix to make a deep playoff run and potentially fight for the Lombardi Trophy.
Key Coaching Stat: The Jacksonville Jaguars rank top three in every major defensive category, including No. 1 in three of the four.
2. Coach Bohmer – Philadelphia Eagles (8-0)
When you enter a league like the Premier Madden League, any prior success elsewhere is forgotten. This is a new level, a new challenge—however you want to phrase it. When Coach Bohmer took the job with the Philadelphia Eagles, questions immediately surfaced: how would he hold up in a division with experienced coaches like Coach Burn and Coach Que, not to mention a league full of proven veterans?
He’s answered those questions quickly—and put the entire league on notice. Yes, the Eagles arguably boast the most talented roster in the league, but talent alone doesn’t guarantee wins. What matters is putting that talent in position to succeed, and that’s exactly what Coach Bohmer has done. He wasted no time identifying his team’s strengths and weaknesses, and now sits as one of only two undefeated coaches in the league, alongside Coach Ke.
Bohmer has made it clear he wants to wear defenses down with the bruising ground attack of Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts. Stop the run, and he’s not afraid to take the top off with his passing game. The balance is lethal, and so far, no one has been able to solve it.
It’s rare to see a coach dominate like this in his debut season, but Coach Bohmer has done just that. His scheme has maximized his roster’s potential, putting players in the right positions to succeed—and making the Eagles a legitimate Super Bowl threat from the jump.
Key Coaching Stat: The Eagles have piled up 1,730 rushing yards at the midway point—nearly 500 yards more than the second-place team.
3. Coach HD – Atlanta Falcons (6-2)
Coach HD has been around the block as one of the longest-tenured coaches in the league. In recent years, his results haven’t matched his reputation, but this season—with a fresh start in Atlanta—he’s made it clear the culture changes when he’s in charge. From disciplined football to effective drives and forced turnovers, Coach HD has the Falcons rolling.
After dropping his first two games, the narrative around the league was “same old, same old.” But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Since then, he’s rattled off six straight wins and climbed into the top five of most league power rankings. His offense has been sharp and balanced, with Bijan Robinson pounding the ground game and weapons like Kyle Pitts and Drake London producing through the air. The most impressive stat? Second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. hasn’t thrown a single interception since Week 2—an applause-worthy feat in a league as competitive as this.
Defensively, the Falcons are suffocating. Opposing offenses are finding no room to breathe—whether it’s the young, energized defensive line wreaking havoc in the backfield, the linebacker corps stuffing runners short of the chains, or the secondary locking down like a reincarnated Legion of Boom.
The big question: has Coach HD truly turned a new leaf? Traditionally known for his aggressive, fast-paced style, this season he has his team playing more controlled, calculated football. Unless an unexpected collapse occurs, the division looks like his to lose. The only thing left to prove is whether Coach HD can carry this success into the playoffs, when it matters most. On his current trajectory, it’s safe to say he just might.
Key Coaching Stat: Atlanta’s defense has forced 18 interceptions, 6 fumbles (4 recovered), and scored 4 defensive touchdowns.
4. Coach CB – Seattle Seahawks (5-2)
This might be the surprise of the season. Coach CB is no stranger to the league, a veteran presence who has been around for years. But if you look at his past résumé, it hasn’t exactly been stacked with wins or deep playoff runs. Outside of a couple postseason berths, teams were used to seeing his squads land in the early draft lottery.
Not this year. Coach CB has taken the league by storm, unlocking a new level of offense and crafting a scheme that has opposing coaches second-guessing themselves. This isn’t the Coach CB of old—he’s evolved. From Charmander, to Charmeleon, and now to full Charizard mode. His defenses have always been strong, but with this offensive explosion added to the mix, it’s safe to say the NFC—and the entire league—needs to be on high alert.
The Seahawks have already stacked multiple impressive wins, and their two losses came in tightly contested battles. A playoff berth hasn’t been secured yet, but the trajectory looks promising. And if Seattle gets in, don’t call them a dark horse or an underdog—consider them a legitimate favorite.
Key Coaching Stat: The Seahawks have five different players with 20+ receptions, including four who have topped 100 receiving yards.
5. Coach DK – Pittsburgh Steelers (5-3)
Fun fact: Coach DK is the only Super Bowl–winning coach on this list—a reminder of how dynamic and competitive coaching styles and personalities have become in the league. His sudden early-season return after more than a year away surprised many. After the Steelers stumbled to a 1-2 start and were left without a coach overnight, Coach Miles made the call to bring in the veteran leader.
Known for his lockdown defenses, Coach DK was considered a perfect fit for a Steelers roster that lives and dies by its defensive identity. While still adjusting, his impact has been immediate. The Steelers have ripped off four straight wins, and he has them firmly in the hunt for the division crown. His résumé speaks for itself—he once took the Los Angeles Rams out of the trenches and turned them into the best in the league. Now, he’s transforming Pittsburgh. Despite an aging roster and limited top-tier talent, Coach DK has found ways to develop hidden gems, giving fans reason to believe this team could be one of the league’s best once again.
Even with a Super Bowl on his record and legendary status in PML circles, competing in the brutal AFC North means he has to bring his A-game every single week. Right now, the Steelers look destined for the playoffs—whether that’s as a division winner or a wild card remains to be seen. But once January football arrives, it becomes a chess match, and one wrong move against a coach like DK can put you five steps behind.
Key Coaching Stat: Player development has been a hallmark of DK’s return. Undrafted rookie running back Nate Carter has emerged as the team’s No. 1 back, while veteran quarterback Desmond Ridder has enjoyed a surprising career resurgence.
Honorable Mention:
- Coach Xev – Dallas Cowboys (6-3)
- Coach SP – Cleveland Browns (6-3)
After nine weeks of high-level football, it’s safe to say these five coaches are the frontrunners for the highly valued Coach of the Year award. But what will happen when the tides change and the playoffs arrive? That remains to be seen. Which coaches will surge, and which will stumble as the season continues? We’ll be watching closely, week to week, to track the successes and setbacks across the league.
(This is simply my opinion. You don’t have to agree with it. Please be respectful and mindful, thanks.)
Side Note: ChatGPT was used only for grammar and spelling corrections, as English is not my first language.
