Being an NFL head coach is a lucrative business. It is no surprise that, after leading the Kansas City Chiefs to their third Super Bowl win in just the last five years, head coach Andy Reid got a huge salary bump this offseason that will run through the 2029 season.
After the huge raise in his salary, where does Reid rank amongst the highest paid head coaches in the NFL? Here are the top 5 highest paid coaches for this year. (numbers via ONE37PM)
5. Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin – $12.5 Million
While Mike Tomlin was subject to disrespect after this past season, he has gone 17 years straight now without a losing season! Tomlin is a Super Bowl champion as well as reaching two AFC Championship games.
While some fans have been getting tired of Tomlin as his teams have been just above average since losing Ben Roethlisberger, Tomlin is clearly one of the best coaches in the league and very deserving to be on this list. However, it does seem that Tomlins first losing season may be his last with the team.
Tomlin has the least job security of any coach on this list.
4. Los Angeles Rams, Sean McVay – $14 Million
Sean McVay is known as one of, if not the best, offensive mind in the league. At just 38 years old, McVay is much closer in age to the players than he is to most of the coaches around the NFL. While McVay is always subject to rumors of retirement, it does not seem like he is going anywhere any time soon.
McVay is a Super Bowl Champion and has won over 60% of his games as the Rams head coach. He led his team to two Super Bowls with two different quarterbacks, and would unanimously be accepted to be on this list of coaches.
3. Los Angeles Chargers, Jim Harbaugh – $16 Million
Jim Harbaugh has been away from NFL for almost a decade, but as he returns he jumped almost all the coaches in salary. There is good reason for that, as Harbaugh makes his return after becoming a National Champion with Michigan.
Harbaugh will have an elite quarterback in his return to league with Justin Herbert. Interestingly, Harbaugh is the only coach on this list to not win a Super Bowl. However, in his time with the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh went to 3 NFC Championships and went to a Super Bowl with Colin Kaepernick. Not to mention, he is a National Champion.
Harbaugh has proven he can make magic before with many quarterbacks, and now he has the opportunity to do that with the best he has ever had. It would not be surprising if in the next few years the Chargers become legitimate contenders.
2. Denver Broncos, Sean Payton – $18 Million
Sean Payton has not been able to recapture the Super Bowl trophy in over a decade and half. He won is all back with Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints.
While it has been sometime since then, Payton has proven that he is one of the best coaches the game has ever seen with his otter dominance with the Saints. The Broncos were trending in the very wrong direction before Payton got there, and while it has been up and down, he is in the process of turning the organization around.
Even if he doesn’t, his past speaks for itself. Sometimes you get paid the big bucks because you have proven your worth. It interesting however that Peyton sits at this 2 spot while Bill Belichick has not been able to get a job. If it just based on the past, than Belichick should of course be number 1 on this list.
After coming out of a brief retirement to coach the Broncos in 2023, Payton’s first year in Denver was a mixed bag that was marred by awful quarterback play and countless injuries. He’s in it for the long haul, but 2024 might be his toughest challenge yet.
1. Kansas City Chiefs, Andy Reid – $18+ Million
The public has not been informed on the exact number of three time winning Super Bowl head coach Andy Reid, but we do know that it is above second place.
Every reporter and insider has confirmed that Reid’s new deal is the highest-paid in the NFL today. This cannot be argued as Reid is the head coach of the most successful team of the last half decade. Per The Spun:
His 11 straight winning seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs give him the longest active streak in the NFL, as does his eight straight AFC West titles. He also cemented his bust in the Hall of Fame through his last two Super Bowl wins, including the rare back-to-back titles this past year.
Who is the most surprising coach on this list, and who do you think will be the first to go? Are there any other coaches that we will see on this list next year?