2025 is shaping up to be San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan's masterclass, and it's not particularly close when comparing his other years since taking over duties back in 2017.
It's not necessarily because Shanahan has engineered the most high-powered offense or most star-studded roster that demolishes opponents.
No, it's merely because Shanahan has somehow figured out how to get the most out of almost the very least, thanks to the horrendous injury attrition his team has suffered since the outset of the season, highlighted again by the brutal loss of All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner to a broken ankle.
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And yet the Niners are 5-2, sitting in the top spot within the NFC West and in the No. 2 seed in the conference.
While Shanahan owes a lot to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh's return, the former's claim for what'd be his first Coach of the Year award is legitimate.
Although there's one other head coach who stands in his way.
Shane Steichen would like a word about Kyle Shanahan getting Coach of the Year
What first-year New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel has done with quarterback Drake Maye and Co. is exceptional, but the 6-1 Indianapolis Colts under head coach Stane Steichen might just be in a different category altogether.
As the No. 1 seed in the AFC, they technically are.
Steichen, the Northern California native who was a hot-seat candidate entering 2025, not only turned around Indy's offense into the top scoring group in the league through seven weeks, and Indianapolis' score differential is a whopping plus-13.1, not only best in the NFL but four full points higher than the No. 2 team in that category, the Detroit Lions.
And, all the while, Steichen has helped fully transform once-busted quarterback Daniel Jones into a legitimate MVP candidate, seemingly overnight.
The Colts are blowing opponents out of the water, while Shanahan and the 49ers are barely scraping by.
But the Niners are scraping by, and winning a game by one point counts just as much as winning by 13.
Currently, according to FanDuel Sportsbook, Steichen is the oddsmakers' favorite to take home Coach of the Year honors at +125, while Vrabel is No. 2 at +300. Shanahan, meanwhile, is +700 but has a solid chance to increase those when many of his injured stars return to action.
However, if Steichen and the Colts stay hot, it might be a bit too difficult for Shanahan to earn a rightly deserved honor for how well he's managed a Niners team historically banged up.