The voting for NFL Coach of the Year between DeMeco Ryans of the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns head man Kevin Stefanski was so darn close.
The two tied for overall votes. But Stefanski was able to beat out Ryans with one more first-place vote. It really was a nail-biter.
With that said, most believed that Ryans was the odds-on favorite to win the award. In his first season as the Texans’ head coach, Ryans led the team to a 10-7 record and a spot in the AFC Divisional Playoffs. This is an organization that posted a 3-13-1 record the previous season. In fact, Houston went a combined 10-38 in the three years prior to Ryans’ arrival.
He also played a role in quarterback C.J. Stroud winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and Will Anderson earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Sure, Stefanski did his thing for the Browns. They were the most injury-plagued team in the NFL this past season. Quarterback Deshaun Watson missed 11 games to injury. Star running back Nick Chubb missed all but two games. He did a heck of a job.
Even then, it’s hard to look beyond what Ryans was able to do in his first season as an NFL head coach. What’s even more eye-opening here is the fact that Ryans was completely left off the ballot of seven voters. What is happening here?
Related: How Houston Texans’ DeMeco Ryans has had one of the most impressive NFL rookie seasons ever
NFL world reacts to DeMeco Ryans being snubbed for Coach of the Year
Obviously, those around the NFL world had their reactions to Ryans being snubbed. Most showed their respect for the job Stefanski did. But the widespread belief was that Houston’s head coach should have won.