Highest-Paid NFL Coaches in 2025: Ranking the top 10 salaries

Big offseason signings of NFL coaches in 2025 — such as Ben Johnson with the Chicago Bears and Liam Coen with the Jacksonville Jaguars — have put a spotlight on the rapid rise in NFL coaches’ salaries. As top player contracts soar past the $50 million mark annually, franchises are also paying record sums for their head coaches.

Salary figures, however, tell only part of the story. Many contracts include incentives tied to performance, while the surge in media rights money has pushed average player and coach salaries higher over the past decade.

NFL teams are not required to make contract terms public, so reported figures can vary by source. (This list excludes the Raiders' Pete Carroll and the Eagles' Nick Sirianni, whose contracts have not been disclosed.)

Top 10 Highest-Paid NFL Coaches

No. 10: Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars

Salary:$12 million

Contract details: Signed a five-year deal in 2025.

Past performances: 2024 Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator; offense averaged 29 points per game, tied for second in the NFC with Philadelphia.

The Jaguars took a gamble by making Coen one of the league’s 10 highest-paid coaches before he had ever led an NFL team. Jacksonville is betting that his offensive expertise, proven in Tampa Bay, can maximize Trevor Lawrence’s prime years.

T-No. 8: Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears

Salary:$13 million

Contract details: Signed a five-year, $65 million deal in 2025.

Past performances: Detroit Lions offensive coordinator from 2022-2024; Lions led the NFL with 33.1 points per game in 2024.

Johnson’s work in Detroit made him the most sought-after coaching candidate of the 2025 cycle. The Bears paid a premium to secure him, hoping he can maximize Caleb Williams’ potential as he did with Jared Goff.

T-No. 8: Kevin O'Connell, Minnesota Vikings

Salary:$13 million

Contract details: Signed a five-year extension in 2025.

Past performances: 2024 AP NFL Coach of the Year; has won 13-plus games in two of his first three seasons with Minnesota; Super Bowl LVI champion as an assistant coach.

O'Connell has risen from a young hire to one of the league's most respected leaders. He has won with Kirk Cousins, Sam Darnold and practically any other quarterback placed on his roster.

No. 7: Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers

Salary:$14 million

Contract details: Not released.

Past performances: Guided San Francisco to two Super Bowl appearances and four trips to the NFC Championship Game.

Shanahan has been one of the most consistent winners in the NFC, though he still has not won a Super Bowl. Similar to O'Connell, he has found success with multiple quarterbacks, making Super Bowl appearances with both Jimmy Garoppolo and Brock Purdy.

No. 6: Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams

Salary:$15 million

Contract details: Signed a four-year deal in 2022.

Past performances: Super Bowl LVI champion; Super Bowl LIII appearance; 2017 AP NFL Coach of the Year.

McVay’s innovative offensive schemes made him the youngest head coach to win a Super Bowl at 36 years and 20 days. The Rams locked him up in 2022, keeping him in L.A. despite rumored TV opportunities.

T-No. 4: Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers

Salary:$16 million

Contract details: Signed five-year, $80 million deal in 2024.

Past performances: Won 2023 national championship with Michigan; 2021 AP College Football Coach of the Year and 2011 AP NFL Coach of the Year.

Harbaugh's return to the NFL came with one of the richest deals in league history. The Chargers are confident that his old-school toughness can finally turn Justin Herbert's talent into playoff wins.

T-No. 4: Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers

Salary:$16 million

Contract details: Signed a three-year, $50 million extension in 2024.

Past performances: Won Super Bowl XLIII as head coach and Super Bowl XXXVII as an assistant coach; 18 consecutive seasons at .500 or better, most all time to begin a coaching career.

In nearly two decades, Tomlin has never posted a losing season, a record that alone justifies his place among the NFL’s highest-paid coaches.

No. 3: John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens

Salary:Reportedly more than $16 million

Contract details: Signed a three-year extension in 2025.

Past performances: Super Bowl XLVII champion; 2019 AP NFL Coach of the Year; won 10-plus games six times between 2018-2024.

The elder Harbaugh reportedly makes more than his young brother, Jim, after signing an extension in 2025. With Harbaugh at the helm and Lamar Jackson leading the offense, the Ravens remain perennial Super Bowl contenders, and Baltimore rewarded him accordingly.

No. 2: Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

Salary:$18 million

Contract details: Signed a five-year contract in 2023.

Past performances: Super Bowl XLIV champion; 2006 AP Coach of the Year; won NFC South four straight years (2017-2020) as New Orleans Saints head coach.

Denver paid a premium to bring Payton back from TV to the sidelines. His first season was rocky, but after drafting Bo Nix, he has demonstrated why he is considered one of the NFL’s top play-callers.

No. 1: Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs

Salary:$20 million

Contract details: Signed a five-year, $100 million extension in 2024.

Past performances: Won three Super Bowls as head coach and one as an assistant coach; 2002 AP NFL Coach of the Year.

Reid has solidified his legacy as one of the NFL’s greatest coaches, winning three Lombardi Trophies with Kansas City. It’s no surprise the Chiefs have compensated him accordingly.

FAQs: Highest-Paid NFL Coaches

Who is the highest-paid NFL coach?

Andy Reid, head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs, reportedly earns $20 million per year, following a five-year, $100 million extension signed in 2024. He has led Kansas City to three Super Bowl victories and seven consecutive appearances in the AFC Championship Game.

What are the top NFL coach salaries?

The top NFL head coaches command salaries ranging from $12 million to $20 million annually. Younger hires like Ben Johnson ($13 million) and Liam Coen ($12 million) have joined the upper tier, thanks in part to salaries rising as a whole, while proven vets such as Sean Payton ($18 million) and Andy Reid ($20 million) sit at the very top.

How do NFL coaching salaries compare to player salaries?

Coaches earn far less than star players. The highest-paid NFL players make over $50 million per year, while the richest coaching deals top out at $20 million. Unlike player contracts, coaches' pay is not tied to the salary cap, so teams can spend freely on staff.

How are NFL coach contracts structured?

Coach contracts usually include a base salary plus performance incentives, such as wins, playoff appearances or Super Bowls. Unlike player contracts, they are fully guaranteed, meaning coaches are paid even if fired. Teams are not required to disclose exact terms, so reported numbers may vary slightly.