20 Highest Paid NFL Coaches

20 Highest Paid NFL Coaches

In the intense realm of the NFL, every decision carries high stakes, capable of shaping the outcome of the game. As I explore this world, I’m drawn to the figure at the helm of every team, the head coach, the mastermind orchestrating strategies and leading their players to victory. Their leadership, vision, and ability to motivate players are invaluable assets, positioning them as some of the highest-paid professionals in the sports world. Join me in this article as we delve into the captivating world of NFL coaching salaries, revealing the top 20 highest-paid coaches and uncovering the factors that contribute to their impressive financial packages.

These coaches are not merely tacticians on the field; they’re motivators, leaders, and vital figures shaping the league’s landscape. Together, we’ll explore the impact of winning records, championship titles, and individual accolades on a coach’s salary. We’ll also delve into the role of experience, reputation, and market value in shaping these financial packages. Additionally, let’s take a glimpse into the future of NFL coaching salaries, discussing potential trends and factors that may influence the financial landscape of the game.

1. Bill Belichick – $20 million

Bill Belichick is an American football coach who is the head coach and general manager of the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). Widely regarded as one of the greatest head coaches of all time, he holds numerous coaching records, including the record of most Super Bowl wins as a head coach, all with the Patriots, along with two more during his time as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, for the record of eight combined total Super Bowl victories as coach and coordinator.

With six Super Bowl rings and 23 years of tenure with the New England Patriots, Belichick is the highest-paid coach. He also makes personnel decisions for the Patriots, including the draft, free agency and trades. Belichick is a three-time AP Coach of the Year and the all-time leader in playoff wins by a coach.

2. Sean Payton – $18 million

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Sean Payton is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) and a former quarterback. Previously, he served as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 2006 to 2021, leading the franchise to its first Super Bowl victory during the 2009 season. Payton played college football for the Eastern Illinois Panthers and played professionally in 1987 with the Chicago Bears and in 1988 overseas in Britain for the Leicester Panthers.

In 2022, it was reported that the Dolphins offered Payton a five-year deal worth $100 million, a deal that would have made him the second highest-paid coach in NFL history, and would have been only the second $100 million deal signed by a head coach, after Jon Gruden’s 10-year, $100 million contract to return to the Oakland Raiders in 2018.

3. Pete Carroll – $15 million

Pete Carroll is an American football coach who is the head coach and executive vice president for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League. Under Carroll, the Seahawks have qualified for the playoffs nine times, clinched their division five times, made two consecutive Super Bowl appearances, and won the franchise’s first championship in Super Bowl XLVIII. The team’s Legion of Boom defence also led the league in scoring defence for four consecutive seasons during his tenure. Carroll is one of four head coaches to win a college football national championship and an NFL championship.

Carroll has led the team to the postseason 10 times in 12 years. Seattle won Super Bowl XLVIII over the Broncos before losing to the Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX the following year. The 71-year-old Carroll is the NFL’s oldest head coach, but his latest contract extension runs through 2025.

4. Sean McVay –  $14 million

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Sean McVay is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Los Angeles Rams. He became the youngest NFL head coach in the modern era when he was hired by the Rams in 2017 at the age of 30. McVay is also the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl, make multiple Super Bowl appearances, and be named the AP NFL Coach of the Year. Going into the 2023 NFL season, McVay remains the youngest head coach in the league.

After winning his first Super Bowl, McVay was rewarded with a hefty new contract that made him one of the league’s highest-paid coaches. He threatened retirement, and the threat worked out in his favour. Los Angeles suffered its first losing season under McVay in 2022, but the Rams have won the NFC Championship Game twice in his tenure.

5. Mike Tomlin – $12.5 million

Mike Tomlin is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League. Since joining the Steelers in 2007, he has led the team to ten playoff runs, seven division titles, three AFC Championship Games, two Super Bowl appearances, and a title in Super Bowl XLIII. 

At age 36, Tomlin became the youngest head coach to win the Super Bowl, a record which was later broken by Sean McVay in Super Bowl LVI. Tomlin holds the record for most consecutive non-losing seasons to begin a coaching career with 16 and has never had a losing season.

6. Andy Reid – $12 million

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Andy Reid is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League. He is the only NFL coach to win 100 games for two different teams, has the most wins for those same teams and appears in four consecutive conference championships with two different franchises. Reid is regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history.

Reid was immediately hired as the head coach of the Chiefs in 2013, where he quickly revitalized the struggling franchise. He helped end the eight-game playoff losing streak that began in 1993. In 10 seasons with Kansas City, he has led them to successful seasons with nine postseason appearances, seven consecutive division titles, five consecutive AFC Championship Games, three Super Bowl appearances (LIV, LV, LVII), and two wins (LIV, LVII).

7. John Harbaugh – $12 million

John Harbaugh is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. Harbaugh has led the Ravens to 164 wins (including playoffs) since his tenure began in 2008, the fourth-most wins in the NFL over that span, and has surpassed Brian Billick for the most wins by a head coach in Baltimore Ravens franchise history.

He is also the only head coach in NFL history to win a playoff game in six of the first seven seasons of a coaching career and has the most road playoff wins by a head coach. Outside of winning Super Bowl XLVII, Harbaugh has guided the Ravens to four AFC North division championships, three AFC Championship appearances and a franchise-best 14–2 record in 2019.

8. Kyle Shanahan – $10 million

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Kyle Shanahan is an American football coach who is the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. He came to prominence as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons, whose offence in 2016 led the league in points scored and helped the team reach Super Bowl LI. 

Shanahan became the head coach of the 49ers the following season, and he has led to three playoff runs, two division titles, three NFC Championship Games, and a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl LIV.

9. Josh McDaniels – $10 million

Josh McDaniels is an American football coach. He began his NFL career in 2001 with the New England Patriots, where he served as the offensive coordinator for 14 non-consecutive seasons. During McDaniels’ first stint as offensive coordinator from 2006 to 2008, New England set the season record for points scored and won 16 of their 16 regular season games in 2007. 

In his second stint from 2012 to 2021, the Patriots won three Super Bowl titles. McDaniels was also among the Patriots personnel to be present for all six of their titles during the Brady–Belichick era. Outside of his Patriots tenure, McDaniels served as the head coach of the Denver Broncos from 2009 to 2010 and the Las Vegas Raiders from 2022 to 2023.

10. Mike Vrabel – $9.5 million

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Mike Vrabel is an American football coach and former linebacker who is the head coach of the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League. After retiring as a player following the 2010 season, Vrabel was the linebackers and defensive line coach at Ohio State for three seasons. His NFL coaching career began in 2014 with the Houston Texans as linebackers coach and then defensive coordinator, before becoming the Titans’ head coach in 2018.

11. Doug Pederson – $8.5 million

Doug Pederson is an American football coach and former quarterback who is the head coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League. Pederson spent most of his 13-season playing career as a backup to Brett Favre on the Green Bay Packers, where he was part of the team that won Super Bowl XXXI. He was also a backup to Dan Marino on the Miami Dolphins and a starter for the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns until retiring in 2004.

His most successful season with the Eagles was in 2017 when he won Super Bowl LII, the franchise’s first Super Bowl title.[1] Pederson became the head coach of the Jaguars in 2022 and led them to their first division title and playoff victory since 2017 the same season.

12. Matt LaFleur – $5 million

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Matt LaFleur is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He has served as the quarterback coach of the Washington Commanders, Notre Dame, and the Atlanta Falcons and has been the offensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams and the Tennessee Titans.

13. Robert Saleh – $5 million

Robert Saleh is an American football coach who is the head coach for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). A defensive coach for much of his 20-year coaching career, Saleh has served as an assistant coach for the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars, and San Francisco 49ers from 2005 to 2020, holding his first defensive coordinator position with the 49ers from 2017 to 2020. 

Saleh has appeared in two Super Bowls, one each with the Seahawks and 49ers, winning one in 2014 with the Seahawks. Following the 2020 season, he left the 49ers to become the Jets’ head coach.

14. Zac Taylor – $4.5 million

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Zac Taylor is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. Beginning his NFL career as an offensive assistant, he was the quarterbacks coach for the Los Angeles Rams when they made a Super Bowl appearance in Super Bowl LIII. 

Taylor was named Cincinnati‘s head coach the following season in 2019, where he went 6–25–1 in his first two years. In 2021, he led the Bengals to their first playoff win since 1990, ending the longest active drought in the four major North American sports, en route to an appearance in Super Bowl LVI. He followed this up with 12 wins and a trip to the Conference championship game in 2022. In his time with the Bengals, Taylor has won 5 postseason games, matching the franchise win total before his hiring as head coach.

15. Mike McCarthy – $4 million

Mike McCarthy is an American football coach who is the head coach of the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. From 2006 to 2018, he was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers. In 2011, he led the team to a win in Super Bowl XLV over his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers. He was previously the offensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints.

16. Kevin Stefanski – $3.5 million

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Kevin Stefanski is an American football coach who is the head coach for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He began his NFL career as an assistant coach for the Minnesota Vikings from 2006 to 2019 and was the offensive coordinator during his final two seasons.

Stefanski left Minnesota to become the Browns’ head coach in 2020, where he led the team to their first playoff appearance since 2002. He was named NFL Coach of the Year after the season, becoming the first Browns coach to receive the honour since 1976 and the first following the franchise’s 1999 return as an expansion team.

17. Matt Rhule – $3.5 million

Matt Rhule is an American football coach and former player who is the head coach of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Rhule returned to the NFL in 2020 as head coach of the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers missed the playoffs in each of Rhule’s first two seasons and he was fired after a 1–4 start to 2022, departing Carolina with a combined record of 11–27. The following month, Rhule agreed to an eight-year contract to become Nebraska’s head coach.

18. Kliff Kingsbury – $3.5 million

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Kliff Kingsbury is an American football coach and former quarterback, who is currently a senior offensive analyst and QB coach at USC. 

He previously served as the head coach of Texas Tech (2013–2018) and the Arizona Cardinals (2019–2022). Kingsbury is known for developing quarterback prospects including Case Keenum, Johnny Manziel, Patrick Mahomes, and Kyler Murray.

19. Frank Reich – $3.5 million

Frank Reich is a former American football head coach and former quarterback. He served as the head coach for the Indianapolis Colts and Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). 

He played college football at Maryland and was selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 1985 NFL Draft. Reich spent most of his career backing up Jim Kelly, although he achieved recognition when he led the Bills to the NFL’s largest postseason comeback during the 1992–93 NFL playoffs.

20. Dan Campbell – $3.5 million

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Dan Campbell is an American football coach and a former tight end who has been the head coach for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL) since 2021. He previously served as the assistant head coach and tight ends coach for the New Orleans Saints from 2016 to 2020 and also served as an assistant coach for the Miami Dolphins from 2010 to 2015, most recently as the interim head coach and tight ends coach. Campbell has become one of the more recognizable coaches in the NFL and a fan favourite of Lions and NFL fans alike.

The salary landscape for NFL head coaches is constantly evolving. With the increasing financial stakes in the league, we can expect to see coaching salaries continue to rise in the future. Additionally, factors such as the increasing importance of analytics and the use of performance-based bonuses may further impact the way coaches are compensated.