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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is the highest paid coach in the NFL
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According to online sources, the average NFL head coach salary is $6.7 million
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NFL coach salary figures are often private but many are public knowledge
Player contracts in the NFL are often tricky to understand. With bamboozling clauses and bonuses relating to performance, it is almost impossible to calculate the average NFL player salary.
However, the NFL head coach wage bill is more straightforward. While performance-related bonuses still exist, figures don’t count towards any salary cap and it can be a brutal world if your team has struggled.
If you bet on NFL matches regularly, you’ll know about Jon Gruden’s resignation early in the 2021 season.
The former Las Vegas Raiders head coach was earning $10 million per year, which made him the third highest paid coach in the league.
The average NFL head coach salary is $6.7 million. However, this figure is slightly higher than the median NFL coach wage which is $5.5 million.
That is largely because of Bill Belichick and Pete Carroll on lucrative head coach contracts.
So, how much money do NFL head coaches make per year? Well, sports betting fans – we look at the financial figures and discuss the NFL coach salary situation in 2021.
With millions of dollars at stake, we could see plenty of coaching changes in the coming months…
NFL Head Coach Salaries 2021:
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Bill Belichick – $12 Million
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Pete Carroll – $11 Million
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Sean Payton – $9.8 Million
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John Harbaugh – $9 Million
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Matt Rhule – $8.5 Million
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Sean McVay – $8.5 Million
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Mike Tomlin – $8 Million
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Andy Reid – $8 Million
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Bruce Arians – $8 Million
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Ron Rivera – $7 Million
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Kliff Kingsbury – $5.5 Million
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Robert Saleh – $5 Million
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Joe Judge – $5 Million
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Matt LaFleur – $5 Million
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Vic Fangio – $5 Million
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Frank Reich – $4.5 Million
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Zac Taylor – $4.5 Million
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Mike McCarthy – $4 Million
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Mike Zimmer – $4 Million
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Kevin Stefanski – $3.5 Million
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Kyle Shanahan – $3.5 Million
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Mike Vrabel – $3 Million
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Brian Flores – $3 Million
*Note - unable to obtain NFL head coach salary information for: Sean McDermott, Urban Meyer, Matt Nagy, Brandon Staley, David Culley, Dan Campbell, Nick Sirianni, Arthur Smith and Rich Bisaccia*
NFL Coach Salary vs NFL Player Salary
While Belichick’s $12 million pay check looks modest compared to the money earned by the highest paid NFL players, he is one of only two head coaches to top the $10 million.
In fairness to the New England boss, Belichick is the greatest head coach in NFL history. He is first all-time for playoff wins and has six Super Bowl titles on his resume.
Now, it’s time to look at the 10 highest paid coaches in the National Football League, starting with Washington Football Team head coach Ron Rivera.
Top 10 Highest Paid NFL Coaches:
Ron Rivera – Washington Football Team
‘Riverboat Ron’ committed to a five-year deal with Washington prior to the 2020 season and he led the team to the NFC East title in his first year in the capital.
Previously, Rivera was with the Carolina Panthers for nine seasons and led them to the NFC Championship title back in 2015.
Bruce Arians – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Arians has been a huge hit throughout his coaching career, winning the AP Coach of the Year with the Indianapolis Colts before a successful spell at the Arizona Cardinals.
However, his biggest moment came in 2020 as he teamed up with NFL legend Tom Brady to lead the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to Super Bowl glory.
Andy Reid – Kansas City Chiefs
Reid was regarded as a ‘middle of the road’ head coach before finding Patrick Mahomes but he has adapted his playbook to maximise the Kansas City quarterback’s skillset.
The Chiefs head coach has led the team to three straight AFC Championship games and back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. Write him off at your peril.
Mike Tomlin – Pittsburgh Steelers
Tomlin is now in his 15th year with the Steelers and he has been a roaring success at Heinz Field, leading Pittsburgh to the playoffs in nine of his 14 seasons.
Joining the Super Bowl winners list in his second year as a head coach was some feat but the Pittsburgh faithful are beginning to ponder a switch in the Steelers hot seat.
Sean McVay – Los Angeles Rams
McVay became the youngest ever NFL head coach when the Rams appointed him in 2017 and he has been a revolution since arriving at the helm.
Leading the Rams to the NFC Championship crown in 2018, McVay’s success has convinced other teams to follow suit by appointing younger, offensive-minded coaches to NFL head coach positions.
Matt Rhule – Carolina Panthers
Carolina went all in and splashed the cash to tempt Rhule away from Baylor University last year. And what a decision that could turn out to be…
Having signed a seven-year deal with the team, Rhule is in it for the long haul and a rebuild is already underway with the Panthers moving on from the Cam Newton era.
John Harbaugh – Baltimore Ravens
One of the NFL’s veteran head coaches, Harbaugh was hired by the Baltimore Ravens in 2009 and he has slumped to a sub .500 record just once during that time.
He led the Ravens to Super Bowl glory in 2013 and has since masterminded the offensive switch from pocket passer Joe Flacco to dual threat Lamar Jackson.
Sean Payton – New Orleans Saints
Payton is the second longest-serving head coach in the NFL and he is widely regarded as one of the most creative when it comes to opening up the playbook.
The chemistry with Drew Brees was sublime and the duo led the Saints to a Super Bowl title in 2010. Brees may have gone but Payton remains one of the top NFL head coaches.
Pete Carroll – Seattle Seahawks
Appointed by the Seahawks in 2010, Carroll has led Seattle to the postseason in nine of the last 11 years. That in itself is a phenomenal achievement.
Now the oldest head coach in the league, Carroll has made Seattle a regular feature in NFL picks straight up for over a decade – especially during the ‘Legion of Boom’ era.
Bill Belichick – New England Patriots
Belichick’s list of achievements is endless, with the Patriots head coach winning six Super Bowl titles in a head coaching career spanning more than two decades.
Well worth the top spot when it comes to highest NFL head coach salary, Belichick is one of the game’s great thinkers. He will go down in history as the very best.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
FIRST PUBLISHED: 10th November 2021
