The
NFL Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations
to the National Football League head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working
with the talent he has at his disposal. Currently, the most widely recognized award is presented by
the Associated Press (AP). First presented in 1957, the AP award didn't include American
Football League teams until the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. The Sporting News has given its
NFL Coach of the Year awards since 1947. Other NFL Coach of the Year awards are presented by Pro
Football Weekly-Pro Football Writers of America and the Maxwell Football Club.
The United Press International (UPI) NFL Coach of the Year award was first presented in 1955.
From 1960 to 1969, before the AFL-NFL merger, an award was also given to the most outstanding
coach from the American Football League. When the leagues merged in 1970, separate awards were
given to the best coaches from the American Football Conference and National Football Conference
conferences. The United Press International discontinued the awards after 1996.
