NFL
Jan 1, 2026
Highest Paid NFL Coaches - Top Salaries & Who Earns the Most in 2025-26
This guide breaks down the top coaching salaries in the NFL for the 2025–26 season, including Andy Reid, Sean Payton, Mike Tomlin and more. Photo by: The New York Times
Highest Paid NFL Coaches in 2025-26
In today's National Football League, coaching is more than just leading a team; it's a money-making business.
Good head coaches can get million-dollar deals that show how valuable they are in guiding teams, helping quarterbacks grow, and fighting for championships.
Here’s a quick look at the NFL's highest-paid coaches, based on reported yearly salaries for 2025-26.
Top 10 Highest-Paid NFL Coaches (2025-26)
Rank | Coach | Team | Estimated Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Andy Reid | Kansas City Chiefs | $20 million |
2 | Sean Payton | Denver Broncos | $18 million |
3 | Mike Tomlin | Pittsburgh Steelers | $16 million |
4 | Jim Harbaugh | Los Angeles Chargers | $16 million |
5 | Sean McVay | Los Angeles Rams | $15 million |
6 | Kyle Shanahan | San Francisco 49ers | $14 million |
7 | Ben Johnson | Chicago Bears | $13 million |
8 | Kevin O’Connell | Minnesota Vikings | $13 million |
9 | Liam Coen | Jacksonville Jaguars | $12 million |
10 | Others / Emerging High Salaries | Various | ~$11-12M+ |
Source: Reported coaching salaries compiled for 2025-26. Exact terms can vary by bonuses and undisclosed incentives.
1. Andy Reid - NFL’s Highest-Paid Coach
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Salary: ~$20M per year
Andy Reid's contract puts him at the top for NFL coaching pay. He's known for winning a lot and for his Super Bowl rings, so his contract shows his great success and how he keeps the team steady.
2. Sean Payton - Elite Experience Brings Big Pay
Team: Denver Broncos
Salary: ~$18M per year
Payton's back in coaching with the Broncos, and his past success, like winning a Super Bowl with the Saints, helped him score a pretty big coaching deal.
3. Mike Tomlin & Jim Harbaugh - Shared Third Spot
They each make about $16 million a year:
Mike Tomlin (Steelers): A coach who's been around for a while, wins a lot in the regular season, and knows what it takes to win championships.
Jim Harbaugh (Chargers): A well-known coach who has won in both the NFL and college.
4. Sean McVay - Young but Highly Valued
Team: Los Angeles Rams
Salary: ~$15M per year
As one of the youngest coaches at the top, McVay's creative offense and Super Bowl win make him highly valued.
5. Kyle Shanahan - Elite NFC Leader
Team: San Francisco 49ers
Salary: ~$14M per year
Shanahan's offensive play-calling and the 49ers' regular success in the NFC have landed him among the highest-paid coaches in the league.
6. Ben Johnson & Kevin O’Connell - Rising Salaries
Both earn approximately $13M annually:
Ben Johnson (Bears) - The latest head coach will earn a lot in 2025.
Kevin O’Connell (Vikings) - Our team's doing great, so our coach is staying on!
7. Liam Coen - Young High-Paid Coach
Team: Jacksonville Jaguars
Salary: ~$12M per year
This is a good deal for a young head coach, showing teams want fresh ideas for plays and offense.
How Coaching Salaries Work
NFL coaches' pay doesn't count against the salary cap like players' salaries do. So, teams can spend what they want on head coaches.
Pay usually includes:
Yearly salary
Bonuses for good performance (making the playoffs, winning games)
Extra rewards for doing well in the postseason
Typically, the numbers you see are just the basic salary; bonuses are separate, unless noted otherwise.
Why Coaching Salaries Vary So Much
Here's what goes into deciding a coach's salary:
What they've done before (like winning Super Bowls or doing well in playoffs)
How big the team's market is and how much the team wants to win
How long and steady their coaching career has been
If they've worked with the team's leaders before
Experienced coaches, such as Reid and Payton, get paid more because they have a history of winning.
Salary Context: Coaches vs Players
Even as coaches' salaries are high in the NFL, the best-paid ones usually make less than star players, especially quarterbacks, who can earn over $50 million a year.
Coaches are paid for their leadership and management skills, while players' pay depends on how well they play and how the salary cap works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the highest-paid NFL coach right now?
Andy Reid makes around $20 million each year.
Do coordinators earn similar money?
Even the best NFL coordinators typically make less (around a few million each year).
Why don’t coaching salaries count against the cap?
Teams don't have to include coaches' salaries when figuring out the player salary cap. This lets them offer competitive pay to attract top coaching talent.
Final Takeaway
NFL head coaches get paid a lot, making them some of the highest-paid leaders in American sports.
For the 2025-26 season, here’s a look at some of the top earners:
Andy Reid - around $20M
Sean Payton - around $18M
Mike Tomlin & Jim Harbaugh - around $16M
Sean McVay - around $15M
Kyle Shanahan - around $14M
...plus several others making between $12M and $13M.
What they earn isn't just about winning games. It also factors in their leadership skills, how steady they are, and the impact they have on the whole franchise in the intense NFL environment.
