It shouldn’t surprise you that the best in the business get paid accordingly. But exactly how much do the highest paid coaches in America make? Let’s take a look, with an assist from Sportico.
As player salaries have skyrocketed over the last decade in the NFL and NBA, it only makes sense that sports’ top coaches see a bump as well. That’s especially true considering that more coaches are hiring the same top agencies as their players for representation.
Seven of the 10 highest-paid coaches in U.S. sports, per Sportico, are in the NFL, where head coaches are viewed to have the most impact on wins and losses in pro sports’ shortest season. The majority have decades of coaching experience, with only two coaches under 50 making the list. All but two of the coaches have won championships as a head coach in their respective sport, prioritizing results over everything and rewarding it with hefty paydays.
Without further ado, the 10 highest-paid coaches in U.S. sports:
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10 Highest Paid Coaches in US Sports (per Sportico)
1. Bill Belichick, New England Patriots
Annual Salary: $25 million
Age: 71
First year at current job: 2000
Achievements: A record six Super Bowl titles as head coach with two more as defensive coordinator. His eight total is an NFL record. Most Super Bowl appearances in NFL history. Three-time AP coach of the year. Most playoff wins ever as a head coach (31). Second all-time in total wins (331).
First coaching job: Baltimore Colts special assistant, 1975.
2. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
Annual Salary: $18 million
Age: 59
First year at current job: 2023
Achievements: Super Bowl XLIV champion with New Orleans Saints. 20006 AP coach of the year. Eastern Illinois University Hall of Fame.
First coaching job: San Diego State offensive assistant, 1988.
3. Gregg Popovich, San Antonio Spurs
Annual Salary: $16 million
Age: 74
First year at current job: 1996
Achievements: Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Five-time NBA champion. Three-time NBA coach of the Year. Named one of the top 15 NBA coaches of all time at the NBA’s 75th anniversary celebration.
First coaching job: Air Force assistant coach, 1973.
4. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks
Annual Salary: $15 million
Age: 72
First year at current job: 2010
Achievements: Super Bowl XLVIII champion. Two-time national champion head coach at USC. Seven-time Pac-10 champion. 2003 Home Depot College Coach of the Year.
First coaching job: Pacific graduate assistant, 1973.
5. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
Annual Salary: $15 million
Age: 37
First year at current job: 2017
Achievements: Super Bowl LVI champion. 2017 AP coach of the year. Youngest NFL head coach to reach and win a Super Bowl at ages 33 and 36, respectively.
First coaching job: Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive assistant, 2008.
6. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
Annual Salary: $14 million
Age: 43
First year at current job: 2017
Achievements: 2016 AP assistant coach of the year as Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator.
First coaching job: UCLA graduate assistant, 2003
7. Monty Williams, Detroit Pistons
Annual Salary: $13.1 million
Age: 52
First year at current job: 2023
Achievements: 2022 NBA Coach of the Year. Two-time National Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year. Won a championship as a coaching assistant to Popovich in 2005.
First coaching job: San Antonio Spurs coaching intern, 2004
8. Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers
Annual Salary: $12.5 million
Age: 51
First year at current job: 2007
Achievements: Super Bowl XLIII champion as head coach. Super Bowl XXXVII champion as Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive backs coach. NFL record for most consecutive seasons without a losing record as head coach (16 and counting).
First coaching job: VMI wide receivers coach, 1995
9. John Harbaugh, Baltimore Ravens
Annual Salary: $12 million
Age: 61
First year at current job: 2008
Achievements: Super Bowl XLVII champion. 2019 AP coach of the year. NFL record for most playoff road wins as head coach (8).
First coaching job: Western Michigan running backs and outside linebackers coach, 1984
10. Nick Saban, University of Alabama football
Annual Salary: $11.8 million
Age: 72
First year at current job: 2007
Achievements: Seven national championships. Ten SEC championships. One MAC championship. Two Bear Bryant Awards as top coach. Two AP national coach of the year awards. Five SEC Coach of the Year awards.
First coaching job: Kent State graduate assistant, 1973
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