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NFL coaching changes and salaries of the highest paid coaches in football

Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid was rewarded for his success in Kansas City while NFL’s new batch of coaches are looking to make their mark in the league

Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid was rewarded for his success in Kansas City while NFL’s new batch of coaches are looking to make their mark in the league
ETHAN MILLER | AFP
Update:

What makes a good head coach in the NFL? That’s the (multi) million dollar question which a number of teams are looking to find the answer to. Get a competent one and they can change the fortunes of a franchise. A dud, on the other hand, can mean millions of dollars down the drain.

Just as players have complicated clauses and bonuses written into their contracts, so do coaches. The main difference is that NFL coaches always have guaranteed contracts. If the team is doing well, the contract could be extended. If the team is doing badly, the coach can be dropped at any time. But the team is still on the hook for his money.

Since the coaching staff are not party to the collective bargaining agreement between teams and players, their salary has no bearing on the salary cap. Great news for those franchises with deep pockets, less so for small-market teams.

What coaches were hired and fired since last season?

2024 NFL fired coaches

  1. Chicago Bears fired Matt Eberflus on Nov. 29
  2. Dallas Cowboys fired Mike McCarthy on Jan. 13
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars fired Doug Pederson on Jan. 6
  4. Las Vegas Raiders fired Antonio Pierce on Jan. 7
  5. New England Patriots fired Jerod Mayo on Jan. 5
  6. New Orleans Saints fired Dennis Allen on Nov. 4
  7. New York Jets fired Robert Saleh on Oct. 8

2025 NFL hired coaches

  1. Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson (former Lions defensive coordinator) as head coach on Jan. 21
  2. Dallas Cowboys hired Brian Schottenheimer (former Cowboys offensive coordinator) as head coach on Jan. 24
  3. Jacksonville Jaguars hired Liam Coen (former Buccaneers offensive coordinator)as head coach  on Jan. 24
  4. Las Vegas Raiders hired Pete Carroll (former Seahawks head coach) as head coach on Jan. 24
  5. New England Patriots hired Mike Vrabel (former Titans head coach) as head coach on Jan. 12
  6. New Orleans Saints hired Kellen Moore (former Eagles offensive coordinator) as head coach on Jan. 28
  7. New York Jets hired Darren Mougey (former Broncos assistant General Manager) as head coach on Jan. 25

Is the highest-paid coach the most successful coach?

Every contract is individual to the coach and the organization, so generalizing isn’t easy. Stock options may be included, as could performance bonuses. Not every franchise publishes financial details of the front office or coaching staff, so a few coaches could fall anywhere along the pay spectrum. But the one thing that (we think that) we know is that the highest-paid coach in the NFL at present is also the most successful in the NFL.

Andy Reid, who coached the Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Kansas City Chiefs, previously faced criticism for his poor record in championship games (he lost four during his time in Philly). However, he has since won three of the last five Super Bowls with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback.

In April 2024, Reid secured a reported five-year, $100 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid coach in the NFL and North American sports leagues. The 66-year-old is also the only NFL coach to reach 100 wins with two different franchises and has led his teams to the playoffs 20 times in 26 seasons.

As a result, Reid has taken over top spot on the list from the new University of Maryland coach and former New England Patriots HC Bill Belichick, who led this list in 2023 with a salary of $20 million.

Top 10 highest-paid NFL coaches

The salaries below include coaches who have been employed during the 2024-25 season. According to Sportico, 10 current coaches earn at least $9 million per year (base pay), “based on conversations with a half-dozen people familiar with NFL coaching contracts.”

COACHTEAMANNUAL SALARY
1. Andy ReidKansas City Chiefs$20 million
2. Sean PaytonDenver Broncos$18 million
3. Mike TomlinPittsburgh Steelers$16 million
3. Jim HarbaughLos Angeles Chargers$16 million
5. Sean McVayLos Angeles Rams$15 million
6. Kyle ShanahanSan Francisco 49ers$14 million
7. John HargbaughBaltimore Ravens$12 million
8. Dan CampbellDetroit Lions$11 million
8. Sean McDermottBuffalo Bills$11 million
10. Mike MacdonaldSeattle Seahawks$9 million

Who are the lowest-paid NFL coaches?

Once again, while these figures have not been officially published, sources close to NFL teams claim these coaches are the lowest paid in the league.

COACHTEAMSALARY
Matt LaFleurGreen Bay Packers$5 million
Zac TaylorCincinnati Bengals$4.5 million
Kevin StefanskiCleveland Browns$3.5 million

The Cleveland Browns’ Kevin Stefanski, who is in his fifth season with the franchise, rounds off the list with an annual salary of “just” $3.5 million, less than five times the amount Reid picks up per season.

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