DeMeco Ryans, who led the Houston Texans to the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2020 in his first season as head coach, is the 2023 NFL Coach of the Year, chosen in voting conducted by the Professional Football Writers of America (PFWA).
Detroit executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes, whose personnel moves helped the Lions secure their first division title since 1993, is the 2023 NFL Executive of the Year.
Baltimore defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who oversaw a dominant group that led the NFL in scoring defense, sacks and takeaways and helped the Ravens capture the AFC No. 1 seed, is the 2023 NFL Assistant Coach of the Year.
Ryans led the Texans to a 10-7 record and the franchise’s first AFC South title since 2019 during the 2023 season. Houston was the first team in NFL history to win its division with a first-year head coach and a rookie quarterback (C.J. Stroud). Houston won three of its final four games to capture the division in the season’s final weekend. The Texans were seventh in passing yards per game (245.5), sixth in rushing defense (96.6 yards per game allowed) and 11th in points allowed (20.8). The Texans had the 2023 PFWA Rookie and Offensive Rookie of the Year in Stroud and the Defensive Rookie of the Year (DE Will Anderson Jr.). WR Nico Collins and T Laremy Tunsil were selected to the PFWA’s All-AFC team.
This is the first PFWA Coach of the Year honor for Ryans, who was the PFWA’s Assistant Coach of the Year honoree in 2022. This is also the first Coach of the Year award for the Texans’ franchise. Ryans is the seventh person to earn both the Coach of the Year and Assistant Coach of the Year awards from the PFWA during his career (Bruce Arians, Brian Daboll, Dom Capers, Jason Garrett, Marvin Lewis and Ron Rivera).
Holmes directed the Lions return to a division title and the NFC’s No. 3 seed in 2023. Detroit was 12-5 this season, which tied for the most victories in a season in Lions history. The Lions were 6-3 on the road, tying a franchise road victory record, and the club did not lose consecutive games the entire season for the first time since 1962. The Lions also won seven games by 10 or more points for the first time since 1997. During the offseason, the Lions added nine free agents, including linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a 2023 PFWA All-NFC special teams selection. The Lions’ 2023 NFL Draft haul included three eventual PFWA All-Rookie selections – running back Jahmyr Gibbs (first round), linebacker Jack Campbell (first round) and tight end Sam LaPorta (second round). Gibbs (11 touchdowns) and LaPorta (10) are the NFL’s first set of rookie teammates to each have 10 or more TDs in a season. The Lions’ 2023 rookie class are the first since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger to produce a combined 10 rushing and 10 receiving touchdowns. Tackle Penei Sewell, drafted in Holmes’ first season in charge in 2021, was selected to the PFWA’s All-NFL and All-NFC teams.
This is the first PFWA Executive of the Year honor for Holmes and the Lions since the award was established in 1993.
Macdonald is in his second season as the Ravens defensive coordinator after he re-joined Baltimore after spending the 2021 season as the University of Michigan’s defensive coordinator. He previously spent seven seasons (2014-20) with the Ravens – three as linebackers coach, one as defensive backs coach, two as a defensive assistant and one as defensive coaching intern. This season, Macdonald coached the Ravens’ defense to NFL No. 1 ranks in scoring defense (16.5), sacks (60) and takeaways (31, tied with the New York Giants) – making the 2023 Ravens the first defensive unit to ever lead the league in those three categories in the same season. The Ravens defense also led NFL in touchdowns allowed (26), yards allowed per play (4.6; tied with Cleveland and the New York Jets), opponent passer rating (74.6) and opponent net yards per pass (5.1). Safety Kyle Hamilton was a PFWA All-NFL and All-AFC selection, and middle linebacker Roquan Smith was an PFWA All-AFC choice.
Macdonald is the fourth Ravens assistant to receive the PFWA award established in 1993, joining Marvin Lewis (2000), Rex Ryan (2006) and Greg Roman (2019).
2023 COACH OF THE YEAR: DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
2023 EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR: Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions
2023 ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: Mike Macdonald, Baltimore Ravens
PFWA NFL COACH OF THE YEAR: 1966 – Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboys; 1967 AFL – John Rauch, Oakland Raiders; 1967 NFL – Vince Lombardi, Green Bay Packers; 1968 AFL – Weeb Ewbank, New York Jets; 1968 NFL – Don Shula, Baltimore Colts; 1969 AFL – John Madden, Oakland Raiders; 1969 NFL – Bud Grant, Minnesota Vikings; 1970 AFC – Paul Brown, Cincinnati Bengals; 1970 NFC – Dick Nolan, San Francisco 49ers; 1971 AFC – Don Shula, Miami Dolphins; 1971 NFC – George Allen, Washington Redskins; 1972 AFC – Don Shula, Miami Dolphins; 1972 NFC – Dan Devine, Green Bay Packers; 1973 AFC – John Ralston, Denver Broncos; 1973 NFC – Chuck Knox, Los Angeles Rams; 1974 AFC – Sid Gilman, Houston Oilers; 1974 NFC – Don Coryell, St. Louis Cardinals; 1975 AFC – Ted Marchibroda, Baltimore Colts; 1975 NFC – Tom Landry, Dallas Cowboys; 1976 AFC – Chuck Fairbanks, New England Patriots; 1976 NFC – Jack Pardee, Chicago Bears; 1977 AFC – Red Miller, Denver Broncos; 1977 NFC – Leeman Bennett, Atlanta Falcons; 1978 AFC – Walt Michaels, New York Jets; 1978 NFC – Dick Vermeil, Philadelphia Eagles; 1979 AFC – Don Coryell, San Diego Chargers; 1979 NFC – Dick Vermeil, Philadelphia Eagles; 1980 AFC – Chuck Knox, Buffalo Bills; 1980 NFC – Leeman Bennett, Atlanta Falcons; 1981 AFC – Forrest Gregg, Cincinnati Bengals; 1981 NFC – Bill Walsh, San Francisco 49ers; 1982 AFC – Tom Flores, Los Angeles Raiders; 1982 NFC – Joe Gibbs, Washington Redskins; 1983 AFC – Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers; 1983 NFC – Joe Gibbs, Washington Redskins; 1984 AFC – Chuck Knox, Seattle Seahawks; 1984 NFC – Bill Walsh, San Francisco 49ers; 1985 AFC – Raymond Berry, New England Patriots; 1985 NFC – Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears; 1986 AFC – Marty Schottenheimer, Cleveland Browns; 1986 NFC – Bill Parcells, New York Giants; 1987 AFC – Ron Meyer, New England Patriots; 1987 NFC – Jim Mora, New Orleans Saints; 1988 AFC – Sam Wyche, Cincinnati Bengals; 1988 NFC – Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears; 1989 AFC – Chuck Noll, Pittsburgh Steelers; 1989 NFC – Lindy Infante, Green Bay Packers; 1990 – Art Shell, Los Angeles Raiders; 1991 – Wayne Fontes, Detroit Lions; 1992 – Bobby Ross, San Diego Chargers; 1993 – Dan Reeves, New York Giants; 1994 – Bill Parcells, New England Patriots; 1995 – Dom Capers, Carolina Panthers; 1996 – Dom Capers, Carolina Panthers; 1997 – Jim Fassel, New York Giants; 1998 – Dan Reeves, Atlanta Falcons; 1999 – Dick Vermeil, St. Louis Rams; 2000 – Jim Haslett, New Orleans Saints; 2001 – Dick Jauron, Chicago Bears; 2002 – Andy Reid, Philadelphia Eagles; 2003 – Bill Belichick, New England Patriots; 2004 – Marty Schottenheimer, San Diego Chargers; 2005 – Lovie Smith, Chicago Bears; 2006 – Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints; 2007 – Bill Belichick, New England Patriots; 2008 – Tony Sparano, Miami Dolphins; 2009 – Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals; 2010 – Bill Belichick, New England Patriots; 2011 – Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco 49ers; 2012 – Bruce Arians, Indianapolis Colts; 2013 – Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers; 2014 – Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals; 2015 – Ron Rivera, Carolina Panthers; 2016 – Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys; 2017 – Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams; 2018 – Matt Nagy, Chicago Bears; 2019 – John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens; 2020 – Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns; 2021 – Mike Vrabel, Tennessee Titans; 2022 – Brian Daboll, New York Giants; 2023 – DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans.
PFWA EXECUTIVE OF THE YEAR: 1993 – George Young, New York Giants; 1994 – Carmen Policy, San Francisco 49ers; 1995 – Bill Polian, Carolina Panthers; 1996 – Bill Polian, Carolina Panthers; 1997 – George Young, New York Giants; 1998 – Front Office, Minnesota Vikings; 1999 – Bill Polian, Indianapolis Colts; 2000 – Randy Mueller, New Orleans Saints; 2001 – Charley Armey, St. Louis Rams; 2002 – Al Davis, Oakland Raiders; 2003 – Scott Pioli, New England Patriots; 2004 – A.J. Smith, San Diego Chargers; 2005 – Bill Polian, Indianapolis Colts; 2006 – Mickey Loomis, New Orleans Saints; 2007 – Scott Pioli, New England Patriots; 2008 – Bill Parcells, Miami Dolphins; 2009 – Bill Polian, Indianapolis Colts; 2010 – Scott Pioli, Kansas City Chiefs; 2011 – Trent Baalke, San Francisco 49ers; 2012 – Ryan Grigson, Indianapolis Colts; 2013 – John Dorsey, Kansas City Chiefs; 2014 – Jerry Jones, Dallas Cowboys; 2015 – Mike Maccagnan, New York Jets; 2016 – Reggie McKenzie, Oakland Raiders; 2017 – Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles; 2018 – Chris Ballard, Indianapolis Colts; 2019 – John Lynch, San Francisco 49ers; 2020 – Brandon Beane, Buffalo Bills; 2021 – Bill Belichick, New England Patriots; 2022 – Howie Roseman, Philadelphia Eagles; 2023 – Brad Holmes, Detroit Lions.
PFWA ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR: 1993 – Ray Rhodes, Green Bay Packers; 1994 – Dom Capers, Pittsburgh Steelers; 1995 – Pete Carroll, San Francisco 49ers; 1996 – Dave Campo, Dallas Cowboys; 1997 – John Fox, New York Giants; 1998 – Brian Billick, Minnesota Vikings; 1999 – Dom Capers, Jacksonville Jaguars; 2000 – Marvin Lewis, Baltimore Ravens; 2001 – Mike Mularkey, Pittsburgh Steelers; 2002 – Monte Kiffin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2003 – Romeo Crennel, New England Patriots; 2004 – Dick LeBeau, Pittsburgh Steelers; 2005 – Ron Rivera, Chicago Bears; 2006 – Rex Ryan, Baltimore Ravens; 2007 – Jason Garrett, Dallas Cowboys; 2008 – Dick LeBeau, Pittsburgh Steelers; 2009 – Mike Zimmer, Cincinnati Bengals; 2010 – Marty Mornhinweg, Philadelphia Eagles; 2011 – Wade Phillips, Houston Texans; 2012 – Bruce Arians, Indianapolis Colts; 2013 – Ken Whisenhunt, San Diego Chargers; 2014 – Todd Bowles, Arizona Cardinals; 2015 – (tie) Hue Jackson, Cincinnati Bengals and Wade Phillips, Denver Broncos; 2016 – Kyle Shanahan, Atlanta Falcons; 2017– Pat Shurmur, Minnesota Vikings; 2018– Vic Fangio, Chicago Bears; 2019 – Greg Roman, Baltimore Ravens; 2020 – Brian Daboll, Buffalo Bills; 2021 – Dan Quinn, Dallas Cowboys; 2022 – DeMeco Ryans, San Francisco 49ers; 2023 – Mike Macdonald, Baltimore Ravens.