This award is given to the head coach of the team that meets the following criteria:
- Made the playoffs in the current season.
- Among the playoff teams in the current season, had the best regular season record from the prior season.
- Did not have a losing record in the current season.
It is possible for this award to be given to more than one head coach per season if prior regular season records were tied.
Colored rows indicate the following:
- Green – Won Super Bowl
- Blue – Lost Super Bowl
- Red – Went one and done in the playoffs
| Year | Coach | Team | Record | End Result |
| 2022 | Andy Reid | Kansas City Chiefs | 14-3 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| Mike McCarthy | Dallas Cowboys | 12-5 | Lost Divisional (1-1) | |
| 2021 | Andy Reid | Kansas City Chiefs | 12-5 | Lost Conference (2-1) |
| 2020 | John Harbaugh | Baltimore Ravens | 11-5 | Lost Divisional (1-1) |
| 2019 | Sean Payton | New Orleans Saints | 13-3 | Lost Wild Card (0-1) |
| 2018 | Bill Belichick | New England Patriots | 11-5 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| Doug Pederson | Philadelphia Eagles | 9-7 | Lost Divisional (1-1) | |
| 2017 | Bill Belichick | New England Patriots | 13-3 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) |
| 2016 | Bill Belichick | New England Patriots | 12-4 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| 2015 | Gary Kubiak | Denver Broncos | 12-4 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| Bill Belichick | New England Patriots | 12-4 | Lost Conference (2-1) | |
| 2014 | John Fox | Denver Broncos | 12-4 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| Pete Carroll | Seattle Seahawks | 12-4 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) | |
| 2013 | John Fox | Denver Broncos | 13-3 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) |
| 2012 | Mike McCarthy | Green Bay Packers | 11-5 | Lost Divisional (1-1) |
| 2011 | Bill Belichick | New England Patriots | 13-3 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) |
| 2010 | Jim Caldwell | Indianapolis Colts | 10-6 | Lost Wild Card (0-1) |
| 2009 | Jim Caldwell | Indianapolis Colts | 14-2 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) |
| 2008 | Tony Dungy | Indianapolis Colts | 12-4 | Lost Wild Card (0-1) |
| 2007 | Norv Turner | San Diego Chargers | 11-5 | Lost Conference (2-1) |
| 2006 | Tony Dungy | Indianapolis Colts | 12-4 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| 2005 | Bill Cowher | Pittsburgh Steelers | 11-5 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| 2004 | Bill Belichick | New England Patriots | 14-2 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| 2003 | Andy Reid | Philadelphia Eagles | 12-4 | Lost Conference (2-1) |
| 2002 | Bill Cowher | Pittsburgh Steelers | 10-5-1 | Lost Divisional (1-1) |
| 2001 | Brian Billick | Baltimore Ravens | 10-6 | Lost Divisional (1-1) |
| Jon Gruden | Oakland Raiders | 10-6 | Lost Divisional (1-1) | |
| 2000 | Jeff Fisher | Tennessee Titans | 13-3 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1999 | Dennis Green | Minnesota Vikings | 10-6 | Lost Wild Card (0-1) |
| 1998 | Steve Mariucci | San Francisco 49ers | 12-4 | Lost Divisional (1-1) |
| 1997 | Mike Shanahan | Denver Broncos | 12-4 | Won Super Bowl (4-0) |
| 1996 | Barry Switzer | Dallas Cowboys | 10-6 | Lost Divisional (1-1) |
| 1995 | George Seifert | San Francisco 49ers | 11-5 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1994 | Barry Switzer | Dallas Cowboys | 12-4 | Lost Conference (1-1) |
| 1993 | George Seifert | San Francisco 49ers | 10-6 | Lost Conference (1-1) |
| 1992 | Joe Gibbs | Washington Redskins | 9-7 | Lost Divisional (1-1) |
| 1991 | Marv Levy | Buffalo Bills | 13-3 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) |
| 1990 | George Seifert | San Francisco 49ers | 14-2 | Lost Conference (1-1) |
| 1989 | Marv Levy | Buffalo Bills | 9-7 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1988 | Bill Walsh | San Francisco 49ers | 10-6 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| 1987 | Mike Ditka | Chicago Bears | 11-4 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1986 | Mike Ditka | Chicago Bears | 14-2 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1985 | Bill Walsh | San Francisco 49ers | 10-6 | Lost Wild Card (0-1) |
| 1984 | Joe Gibbs | Washington Redskins | 11-5 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1983 | Joe Gibbs | Washington Redskins | 14-2 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) |
| 1982 | Forrest Gregg | Cincinnati Bengals | 7-2 | Lost Round 1 (0-1) |
| 1981 | Tom Landry | Dallas Cowboys | 12-4 | Lost Conference (1-1) |
| 1980 | Don Coryell | San Diego Chargers | 11-5 | Lost Conference (1-1) |
| 1979 | Chuck Noll | Pittsburgh Steelers | 12-4 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| 1978 | Tom Landry | Dallas Cowboys | 12-4 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) |
| 1977 | John Madden | Oakland Raiders | 11-3 | Lost Conference (1-1) |
| 1976 | Bud Grant | Minnesota Vikings | 11-2-1 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) |
| 1975 | John Madden | Oakland Raiders | 11-3 | Lost Conference (1-1) |
| 1974 | Don Shula | Miami Dolphins | 11-3 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1973 | Don Shula | Miami Dolphins | 12-2 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| 1972 | Tom Landry | Dallas Cowboys | 11-3 | Lost Conference (1-1) |
| 1971 | Bud Grant | Minnesota Vikings | 11-3 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1970 | Bud Grant | Minnesota Vikings | 12-2 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1969 | Tom Landry | Dallas Cowboys | 11-2-1 | Lost Divisional (0-1) |
| 1968 | Don Shula | Baltimore Colts | 13-1 | Lost Super Bowl (2-1) |
| 1967 | Vince Lombardi | Green Bay Packers | 9-4-1 | Won Super Bowl (3-0) |
| 1966 | Vince Lombardi | Green Bay Packers | 10-3-1 | Won Super Bowl (2-0) |
| 1965 | Don Shula | Baltimore Colts | 10-3-1 | Lost Conference (0-1) |
| 1964 | Blanton Collier | Cleveland Browns | 10-3-1 | Won Championship (1-0) |
| 1963 | Allie Sherman | New York Giants | 11-3 | Lost Championship (0-1) |
| 1962 | Vince Lombardi | Green Bay Packers | 13-1 | Won Championship (1-0) |
| 1961 | Vince Lombardi | Green Bay Packers | 11-3 | Won Championship (1-0) |
| 1960 | Buck Shaw | Philadelphia Eagles | 10-2 | Won Championship (1-0) |
| 1959 | Jim Lee Howell | New York Giants | 10-2 | Lost Championship (0-1) |
| 1958 | Paul Brown | Cleveland Browns | 9-3 | Lost Conference (0-1) |
| 1957 | Paul Brown | Cleveland Browns | 9-2-1 | Lost Championship (0-1) |