Highest Paid NFL Coaches 2024
September 16, 2024
I walked into Publix yesterday (needed almond milk) and couldn鈥檛 help but notice the gigantic installment of aqua-and-orange cakes by the entrance. Weird. But then it clicked: it was an early September Sunday. Football season had started. Helmeted Miami Dolphins, fashioned out of frosting and food dye, decorated the cake tops. The actual Miami Dolphins were, at that moment, up at the Hard Rock beating the Jacksonville Jaguars. I didn鈥檛 buy a cake. But I did figure that it鈥檇 be a good time to profile the highest paid NFL coaches in 2024. Everyone knows that NFL players make oodles. But what do the highest paid NFL coaches bring in every year? Check out a list of the highest paid NFL coaches below.
Highest Paid NFL Coaches 鈥� 2024
Note: unlike NFL players鈥� salary information, the contract details of NFL coaches are not typically made public. Therefore, the figures cited below are rough estimates.
33) Antonio Pierce, Las Vegas Raiders 鈥� unknown*
*The highest paid NFL coaches typically make more than $10 million annually. Although there鈥檚 very little transparency when it comes to NFL coaches鈥� salaries鈥攁s is the case here, with Pierce鈥檚鈥攊t鈥檚 likely that, as a first-time coach, he鈥檚 commanding considerably less than the top-earners.
32) Jonathan Gannon, Arizona Cardinals 鈥� between $1 and 5 million
31) Brian Daboll, New York Giants 鈥� between $2 and 4 million
30) Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers 鈥� between $2 and 5 million
29) Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $3 million
Highest Paid NFL Coaches (Continued)
28) Brian Callahan, Tennessee Titans – $3 million
27) Jerod Mayo, New England Patriots – $3.5 million
26) Mike McDaniel, Miami Dolphins – $3.5 million
25) Dennis Allen, New Orleans Saints – $3.5 million
24) Kevin Stefanski, Cleveland Browns – $3.5 million
23) Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts 鈥� between $4 and 6 million
Highest Paid NFL Coaches (Continued)
22) Raheem Morris, Atlanta Falcons – $4 million
21) Mike McCarthy, Dallas Cowboys – $4 million
20) Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders – $4.5 million
19) Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals – $4.5 million
Highest Paid NFL Coaches (Continued)
18) Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions – $4.5 million
17) Matt Eberflus, Chicago Bears – $4.5 million
16) DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans – $4.6 million
15) Kevin O鈥機onnell, Minnesota Vikings 鈥� between $5 and 7 million
14) Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles – $5 million
Nick Siranni has been the Philadelphia Eagles鈥� head coach since 2021. He鈥檚 yet to record a losing season with the team, and all three years of his tenure have resulted in a playoff appearance. In both 2021 and 2023, however, the Eagles were bounced in the first round. In 2022, though, the Eagles made it all the way to the Super Bowl before being bested by the Chiefs.
13) Robert Saleh, New York Jets – $5 million
Robert Saleh signed on to become the head coach of the New York Jets in 2021 with a contract worth $5 million per year for a duration of 5 years. Saleh has yet to record a winning season with the Jets.
Highest Paid NFL Coaches (Continued)
12) Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers – $6 million
Matt LaFleur has been the Green Bay Packers鈥� head coach since 2019. Since then, he鈥檚 led the Packers to a 56-27 regular season record, a winning percentage of .675, and made four playoff appearances. LaFleur鈥檚 most recently-reported contract was worth an estimated $6 million per year.
11) Sean McDermott, Buffalo Bills – $8 million
听Sean McDermott, who鈥檚 been the head coach of the Buffalo Bills since 2017, has helped turn the franchise around. In his first season as the Bills鈥� head coach, he took the team to their first playoff appearance since 1999. Then, in 2020, McDermott鈥檚 leadership saw the Bills鈥� first playoff victory since 1995, a playoff run that ended in the AFC Championship Game.
McDermott鈥檚 current contract takes him through the 2027 season, with an APY estimated around $8 million.
Highest Paid NFL Coaches (Continued)
10) Doug Pederson, Jacksonville Jaguars – $8.5 million
Doug Pederson became the head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022. Prior to that, he played professionally as a quarterback; he spent most of his 13-year NFL career playing backup to Brett Favre. He began his coaching career with the Andy Reid Philadelphia Eagles, serving first as an offensive quality control coach, and then as a quarterbacks coach. He was the Kansas City Chiefs鈥� offensive coordinator from 2013-2015, and he landed his first head coaching gig back with the Eagles in 2016. The following year, he led the Eagles to the franchise鈥檚 first Super Bowl championship.
9) Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks – $9 million
According to NFL Network, Mike Macdonald signed a 6-year deal to become the new head coach of the Seahawks. Some have his salary as high as $9 million per year.
Highest Paid NFL Coaches (Continued)
8) Frank Reich, Carolina Panthers – $9 million
Frank Reich has the distinction of being fired in back-to-back seasons. He became the Indianapolis Colts鈥� head coach back in 2018, and even though he put together a run with the Colts that included three winning seasons and two playoff appearances, he was let go by the team after a 3-5 start to the 2022 season. The next year, Reich became the head coach of the Carolina Panthers. But his stint with the Panthers was short lived. Reich went 1-10 with Carolina before being fired. Despite all that, ESPN has reported that Reich will .
7) John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens – $12 million听
John Harbaugh, brother of Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, has been the head coach of the Baltimore Ravens since 2008. During his tenure, the Ravens have amassed 172 wins, the third-most of any NFL team in that time.
In the 2012-13 season, Harbaugh鈥檚 Ravens made a deep playoff run, ultimately squaring off against the San Francisco 49ers鈥攍ed by younger brother Jim. Never before in Super Bowl history had brothers competed against one another for the championship. Ultimately, the older brother prevailed. Joe Flacco and the Ravens beat the 49ers 34-31.
Before the 2022 season, John Harbaugh signed a contract extension to keep him with the Ravens through 2025. As I noted up top, NFL coaching salaries are shrouded in a certain degree of mystery, but reports claimed the deal was worth about $12 million per year.
Highest Paid NFL Coaches (Continued)
6) Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers – $12.5 million听
Mike Tomlin will almost certainly go down as one of the best NFL coaches of all time (and his current contract makes him one of the highest paid NFL coaches, too). He鈥檚 been the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2007. In that time, he鈥檚 led the Steelers to 11 playoff appearances, 7 division titles, 3 AFC Championship games, and 2 Super Bowl appearances. And in 2009鈥攊n just his second season as head coach, at the age of 36鈥擳omlin鈥檚 Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII, beating the Arizona Cardinals 27-23. That feat made Tomlin the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history鈥攁 record that stood until Sean McVay came along.
Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment? The fact that a Tomlin-led team has never recorded a losing season. That鈥檚 17 consecutive non-losing seasons; only Tom Landry and Bill Belichick have recorded longer streaks of consecutive non-losing seasons.
Tomlin鈥檚 initial contract with the Steelers back in 2007 was a 4-year deal worth a total of $10 million. Now he鈥檚 one of the highest paid NFL coaches, with an APY of $12.5 million.
5) Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers – $14 million
Kyle Shanahan, the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers since 2017, is one of the highest paid NFL coaches. Although he hasn鈥檛 brought the team a Super Bowl championship鈥攖heir last one came in 1994鈥攈e has brought San Francisco a sustained level of success. In 2019, the 49ers made a deep run in the NFL postseason, making it all the way to the Super Bowl before being dispatched by the Chiefs. The 49ers were back in the Super Bowl last year as well, again losing to Kansas City. Overall, the 49ers have won their division three times under Shanahan鈥檚 leadership.
Highest Paid NFL Coaches (Continued)
4) Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams – $15 million听
Coming in at 4th on the list of highest paid NFL players is Sean McVay, who, at the age of 30, became the youngest head coach in NFL history when he was hired by the Los Angeles Rams. That decision by the Rams has already paid dividends. McVay led the Rams to a Super Bowl title in 2022, and in so doing, he became the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl in NFL history. His first year as head coach, he was named AP NFL Coach of the Year.
McVay signed a contract extension in 2022 that keeps him with the Rams until 2026. With a $15 million APY, he鈥檚 one of the highest paid NFL coaches in 2024鈥攁nd will likely remain so into the future.
3) Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers – $16 million
Jim Harbaugh is a football lifer. His dad, Jack, served in assistant coaching positions at a myriad of schools, including Iowa, Michigan, and Stanford. Jim was an NFL quarterback from 1987 to 2001, becoming a Pro Bowler in 1995, and as soon as his playing career came to an end, he went into coaching. Perhaps best known as the head coach of the University of Michigan, Harbaugh also served as head coach of the University of San Diego and Stanford before taking his first gig as an NFL head coach with the San Francisco 49ers in 2011.
This year marks Harbaugh鈥檚 return to pro ball after almost a decade of coaching at the college level. According to sources, his with the Chargers lasts until 2029 and pays Harbaugh an estimated $16 million per year.
Highest Paid NFL Coaches (Continued)
2) Sean Payton, Denver Broncos – $18 million
Before becoming head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2023, Sean Payton was the long-tenured coach of the New Orleans Saints, where he patrolled the sidelines from 2006 to 2021. His career highlights include a Super Bowl championship鈥攈e led the Saints to their first ever championship in 2010鈥攁nd an AP NFL Coach of the Year Award in 2006.
But Payton鈥檚 career isn鈥檛 without its blemishes. The NFL suspended him for the entire 2012 season as a result of his participation in the ; it was uncovered that the Saints were rewarding their players with so-called 鈥渂ounties鈥� for intentionally injuring players on opposing teams.
Luckily for Payton, his involvement in the scandal wasn鈥檛 completely career-derailing. Last year, he landed the head coaching gig with the Broncos鈥攁 five year deal with a reported APY of $18 million.
1) Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs – $20 million
Andy Reid, the current head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs and formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles, tops the list of the highest paid NFL coaches. Earlier this year, Reid signed a with the Chiefs that will keep him with the team until February 2029. According to reports, Reid鈥檚 new deal is worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 million.
Reid鈥檚 list of accolades is impressive. He鈥檚 won three Super Bowls with the Chiefs (in 2020, 2023, and 2024), and in 2002, as head coach of the Eagles, he took home the AP NFL Coach of the Year Award.
Highest Paid NFL Coaches – Additional Resources
