Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today's installment, he explores some of the best coaching performances in this young season.
At the quarter mark of the 2026 NFL season, some teams, coaches and players have separated from the pack by authoring stellar opening months. The impressive starts have created buzz in league circles, with observers scribbling names and stats into their notebooks to begin building cases for their favorite award contenders.
As a big believer in the impact of quality coaching on game and season outcomes, I wanted to take this opportunity to identify five coaches who've made strong statements over their first four games of the '26 campaign.
Now, one thing to remember is that sustainability is key to winning the NFL Coach of the Year award. So, while I'm thoroughly impressed with the job Todd Monken has done in his first year as Cleveland's head man, I question whether the Browns can keep this up in the coming months.
Without further ado, here are my top five COY candidates at the moment.
Klint Kubiak
Las Vegas Raiders
The Silver and Black are back in the mix as playoff contenders because Kubiak has elevated the squad with better discipline and greater attention to detail. Although the Raiders' roster is littered with holes, the 3-1 team plays outstanding complementary football, with the offense, defense and special teams working together to produce wins.
Offensively, Kubiak has found a way to maximize Kirk Cousins' skills without exposing his deficiencies as a graybeard playing past his prime. The savvy play-caller has helped Brock Bowers become an unstoppable force by using him as a jumbo receiver in run-heavy personnel packages that make it nearly impossible to match up with the Pro Bowler. Although Ashton Jeanty and the Raiders' ground game have come under fire after a few subpar performances, the former top-10 pick has teamed with rookie fourth-rounder Mike Washington Jr. to add enough balance to the offense to help Cousins close out games in the fourth quarter.
With an imperfect roster that requires Kubiak to be at his best as a white-board chess master, the rookie head coach is my easy front-runner for the prestigious award.
Despite losing the young quarterback who really added to the attractiveness of the Giants job in the first place, Harbaugh has restored the championship aura around one of the NFL's original blue bloods, with the G-Men currently sitting atop the NFC East at 3-1. Through a disciplined, detailed approach that reflects the city's blue-collar persona, New York has reemerged as a playoff contender by embracing the old-school methods that helped the team win four Super Bowls under Bill Parcells and Tom Coughlin.
While the jury is still out on whether the Giants can sustain success with Jameis Winston and/or J.J. McCarthy filling in for Jaxson Dart under center, the rugged ground attack and disruptive defense give them a chance to beat anyone if they can play the game on their terms. Although the loss of Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns will make it an uphill climb, New York's front-seven depth continues to give the squad a chance to play championship-caliber defense with a bunch of young, hungry sack chasers (SEE: Abdul Carter, Arvell Reese and Kayvon Thibodeaux) ready to step up and take over. If Harbaugh can get the youngsters to play like vets, the accolades will head his way as the Giants stack wins and potentially claim the team's first division title since 2011.
Kyle Shanahan
San Francisco 49ers
After watching Shanahan pull off his best coaching job yet last season, with the 49ers nearly claiming the NFC's top seed despite having an injury-ravaged roster, the football world has an even greater appreciation for the head man's work with this 4-0 squad. Brock Purdy is playing at an MVP level with a collection of thirtysomethings (Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Mike Evans, George Kittle, Kyle Juszczyk and Trent Williams) producing within Shanahan's system. Although the injury bug has already hit San Francisco -- what else is new? -- the fifth-year quarterback's spectacular play could allow the team to overcome some losses without skipping a beat on offense.
If the defense keeps dominating and overwhelming opponents with fanatical effort and physicality under new coordinator Raheem Morris, San Francisco could finish with a lofty win total. And inherently, the team's schematic trendsetter could win his first NFL Coach of the Year award.
RELATED CONTENT
Article NFL Week 5 picks: Upset and score predictions, matchup breakdowns for every gameArticle NFL defensive rookie rankings at quarter mark of 2026 season: Sonny Styles or Arvell Reese at No. 1?Article NFL offensive rookie rankings at quarter mark of 2026 season: Denzel Boston, Jeremiyah Love top list
The offensive mastermind has been lauded for his creative schemes and tactics, but at this point, I'm most impressed by his leadership as the point man for a 3-1 squad currently winning with a pair of backup quarterbacks. While Johnson certainly showed off his play-calling and play-design skills with Case Keenum and Tyson Bagent filling in for Caleb Williams, his overall ability to keep the team on track despite the temporary loss of its franchise quarterback is game-ball-worthy.
Additionally, Johnson has built a potent rushing attack that has Kyle Monangai and D'Andre Swift ranked among the league's top 10 rushers through four games. With the offense also thriving behind an unheralded pass catcher (Kalif Raymond) in the No. 1 role due to perimeter injuries, Johnson's imagination and leadership make him a strong early candidate for this honor.
Liam Coen
Jacksonville Jaguars
After immediately transforming Jacksonville from a 4-13 doormat to a 13-4 division champion in his first year on the job, Coen has the Jaguars in a position to emerge as legit title contenders in Year 2. The bold and bodacious play-caller has turned Trevor Lawrence into a top-five quarterback while constructing a balanced but explosive offense that gives the Jags a chance to win any game, regardless of style or foe. With a collection of underrated playmakers and pass catchers flourishing under his tutelage, Coen has used Jacksonville's versatility and interchangeability to befuddle opponents with a ball-control offense built on complexity and flawless execution.
As Anthony Campanile's defense continues to suffocate running games and create turnovers at a high rate, Jacksonville is beginning to look like one of the league's most complete teams. Consequently, the feisty head coach increasingly commands respect as the leader of a franchise that doesn't typically top the NFL marquee.