Los Angeles Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

NFL futures: An early favorite to win Coach of the Year after Day 1 of training camp

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated Jul 24, 2024 5:56 PM ET

Maybe it was wearing the cleats to the first day of training camp. Or when he said in his Wednesday presser that returning to the NFL felt "like being born." Or that he is still taking shots at Ryan Day even though his Big Ten days are over.

Whatever the reason, Jim Harbaugh has already endeared himself to the NFL world once again. That includes oddsmakers, as DraftKings lists him at 10-1 odds to win Coach of the Year less than 24 hours into camp.

The only coach with shorter odds is Chicago Bears boss Matt Eberflus, who is listed at 8-1.

Jim Harbaugh on returning to the NFL. He’s the best

“It feels like being born. It feels like coming out of a womb. You’re in there, it’s comfortable and you’re safe and then poof you’re out, you’re born, the lights are on, it’s chaos, people looking at you and talking at you.” pic.twitter.com/AgV0DzMgYp
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 24, 2024

Harbaugh's hiring last spring rapidly altered the general perception of the Chargers, who occupied the AFC West cellar last year with a 5-12 record and five straight losses to end the 2023 campaign. Now, with Harbaugh at the helm and roughly a month and a half until the next season starts, L.A. is listed at -155 to win Over 8.5 games in 2024.

The Chargers are also listed ahead of the Las Vegas Raiders and the Denver Broncos to win the AFC West at +320 odds. (Not surprisingly, the Kansas City Chiefs are the runaway favorites in that category at -230 odds.)

Plus, speaking of the Raiders, Harbaugh's men are predicted to beat the Silver and Black at home in Week 1 as revenge for Vegas obliterating them 63-21 last season.

There are still plenty of questions ahead of L.A. opening up their season at SoFi. Can Justin Herbert have a bounce-back season? Will Quentin Johnston live up to expectations? Can the Chargers beat the Chiefs for the first time since 2021?

In the meantime, Harbaugh appears to have all the answers — in addition to favorable odds at sportsbooks to be COY.

Check out Yardbarker's betting hub for odds, picks, predictions and analysis — and start winning TODAY!

More must-reads: