Sean McDermott, 2019 NFL Coach of the Year?
It could happen, according to an NFL.com survey.
The actual award is chosen by media members across the country later this year. But a survey of 24 anonymous front office executives voted on the end of season awards well ahead of the actual vote via the league’s website.
In regard to McDermott, he’s the hypothetical winner of that award.
Per the vote, McDermott edged out the Ravens’ John Harbaugh (5.5 votes) and the 49ers’ Kyle Shanahan (5 votes). McDermott landed seven votes.
Here’s how McDermott winning was explained:
“They’ve played really good defensively,” an NFC personnel director said of the Bills. “He’s winning with a young quarterback — they’re kind of winning because of the quarterback, too. I just think they have an identity. The team knows who they are. Isn’t that 90 percent of it?”
An NFC executive made the case for Harbaugh based in large part Jackson’s success: “Just what they’ve done with that offense, totally changed their philosophy for one player, is pretty amazing. Just to have the nuts to do it. Most coaches wouldn’t even draft the guy because he doesn’t fit or he wasn’t good on the board. Not only did they take him, but they changed everything so he would have the ability to have success. And it’s paid off.”
Shanahan’s 49ers are tied atop the NFC West at 11-3. Mike Tomlin (3 1/2 votes) also has some strong supporters, with the Steelers staying in the hunt at 8-6 despite losing QB Ben Roethlisberger to a season-ending elbow injury in Week 2. Receiving one vote each: Green Bay’s Matt LaFleur, Houston’s Bill O’Brien and … Miami’s Brian Flores, who is 3-11 in the first season of a ground-up rebuild. “Winning any games with that roster deserves recognition,” an AFC personnel director said.
Along with McDermott being named the Coach of the Year in this poll, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane landed in third place for Executive of the Year. 49ers GM John Lynch took home that award.
Other honorees voted on included Offensive MVP, Defensive MVP, and Rookies of the Year for both sides of the ball. Lamar Jackson and Stephon Gilmore won those first two, respectively, while Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and the 49ers’ pass rush Nick Bosa took the rookie hardware. No Bills players earned nods in any of those categories.
[lawrence-related id=51438,51457,51419,51326]