NFL Needs to Fill Several Coach Positions — How Much Do They Make? (2024)

The NFL is in the midst of its 2023 hiring cycle. Candidates are vying for head coach positions with five teams. How much do NFL coaches get paid?

NFL Needs to Fill Several Coach Positions — How Much Do They Make? (1)

By Danielle Letenyei

Jan. 24 2023, Published 2:42 p.m. ET

NFL Needs to Fill Several Coach Positions — How Much Do They Make? (2)

There are a lot of NFL coaches looking for a job right now. Since October, five NFL head coaches have gotten the boot, and several defensive coordinators, offensive coordinators, and team general managers have also received pink slips.

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The NFL is in the midst of its 2023 hiring cycle, and many candidates are vying for the head coach positions with the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, and Indianapolis Colts.

NFL Needs to Fill Several Coach Positions — How Much Do They Make? (3)

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How much do NFL coaches get paid?

According to Comparably, NFL coaches get paid anywhere between about $412,000 and over $11 million. The average salary for an NFL coach in the U.S. is about $2.2 million, Comparably reports. That figure is likely based on an average of salaries for both NFL head coaches and assistant coaches. It also doesn’t take into account the millions an NFL head coach could earn in endorsem*nts.

Who is the highest-paid NFL coach?

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is the highest-paid NFL coach for the 2022 season, reports NBC Sports. McVay earns between $15 million and $18 million. His boost in salary when he was rewarded a new contract after leading the Rams to win Super Bowl LVI last year.

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McVay’s new contract pushed his salary above New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who has held the top salary spot for years. Belichick is the second highest-paid NFL coach earning a salary of $12.5 million.

NFL Needs to Fill Several Coach Positions — How Much Do They Make? (4)

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Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is one of the lowest paid NFL head coaches, earning about $3.5 million.

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How much do NFL assistant coaches get paid?

Assistant coaches in the NFL earn about $400,000 per season, reports The Stadium Reviews. Meanwhile, the average salary for an NFL offensive or defensive coordinator is about $1 million. Offensive and defensive coordinators are in charge of calling the offensive or defensive plays during the game.

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How do you become a NFL coach?

There are no college degree programs for becoming an NFL coach, but you need at least a bachelor’s degree to get the job. Many NFL coaches have degrees in sports-related fields such as kinesiology or sports medicine.

NFL coaches also must have experience playing football themselves in high school and college. For example, before starting his coaching career, former New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton played football in high school, in college at Eastern Illinois University, and professionally for the Chicago Bears.

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NFL Needs to Fill Several Coach Positions — How Much Do They Make? (5)

Leadership skills are also a top requirement for an NFL coach. An NFL coach needs to know how to lead a team of players who may have different personalities and goals to work together to win the game.

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According to an article on NFL.com, other valuable traits an NFL head coach should have include honesty, open communication, consistency, organization, and loyalty.

“A great coach has the ability to develop a bond with the team, express their love for the game and motivate the guys before every game,” Baltimore Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell tells NFL.com. “A great coach would keep the guys focused on the big picture in all circ*mstances and would never get too emotional after a win, loss or tie.”

NFL Needs to Fill Several Coach Positions — How Much Do They Make? (2024)

FAQs

How much do secondary coaches make in the NFL? ›

According to The Stadium Reviews, assistant coaches in the NFL earn about $400,000 per season [1]. However, it's important to note that this figure can vary depending on factors such as experience, team success, and the specific position being coached.

What is the minimum salary for a coach in the NFL? ›

As of Apr 17, 2024, the average hourly pay for a Nfl Coaches in the United States is $21.69 an hour. While ZipRecruiter is seeing hourly wages as high as $33.89 and as low as $10.58, the majority of Nfl Coaches wages currently range between $18.75 (25th percentile) to $23.08 (75th percentile) across the United States.

How much do NFL running back coaches make? ›

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Running Back Coach Jobs
CityAnnual SalaryMonthly Pay
San Jose, CA$52,516$4,376
Oakland, CA$51,360$4,280
Hayward, CA$51,273$4,272
Ashland, CA$51,268$4,272
6 more rows

Are all the NFL head-coaching jobs filled? ›

Share Video. Link copied! With the 2023 regular season in the rearview mirror, 30 of the NFL's 32 teams are now done for the year. As for the head-coaching carousel, that has stopped spinning after the Seattle Seahawks hired Mike Macdonald and the Washington Commanders brought aboard Dan Quinn this week.

How much do waterboys get paid in the NFL? ›

NFL waterboys actually make a fairly decent salary. Typically speaking individuals earn around $35,000 per year. Those who have been in the game for an extended period of time, however, can earn significantly more, with some even reported to be starting well above $50,000.

Who is the lowest paid NFL player? ›

While Tyrone Swoopes won the reigning title of the lowest-paid NFL player in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners isn't as simple. NFL players face different minimum values that depend on their contract and designation as active or inactive players.

Who is the lowest paid NFL football coach? ›

Who are the lowest paid NFL coaches?
COACHTEAMSALARY
Robert SalehNew York Jets$5 million
Zac TaylorCincinnati Bengals$4.5 million
Mike McCarthyDallas Cowboys$4 million
Kevin StefanskiCleveland Browns$3.5 million
1 more row
Jan 19, 2024

How much does an NFL cheerleader make? ›

NFL: According to various sources, the average salary for an NFL cheerleader ranges from $22,500 to $75,000 per year. However, some reports suggest top earners in the NFL can reach around $100,000 annually.

How much do NFL refs make? ›

Although the official figures are not usually revealed publicly, after the last agreement between the league and the NFL Referees Association it was known that in the 2019 season, referees received earnings of $205,000 on average. This equates to around $12,000 per game, a pretty significant figure.

What is Andy Reid's salary? ›

Reid's new deal is expected to be worth in the neighborhood of $100 million over five years. The contract runs through the 2028 season and expires after the Super Bowl in February 2029.

Who is the highest paid NFL coach? ›

Report: Andy Reid becomes NFL's highest-paid coach in deal that runs through 2029 - NBC Sports.

Who is the highest paid coordinator in the NFL? ›

The Miami Dolphins snagged the most sought-after defensive coordinator candidate, Vic Fangio. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Sunday the Dolphins agreed to terms with Fangio on a three-year contract that makes him the highest-paid coordinator in the NFL, per sources.

Who is Andy Reid's twin brother? ›

What teams still need a coach in the NFL? ›

NFL Coaching Carousel 2024: Which Teams Need Head Coaches?
  • Tennessee Titans. The Tennessee Titans named Brian Callahan as their new head coach.
  • Atlanta Falcons. ...
  • Carolina Panthers. ...
  • Seattle Seahawks. ...
  • Washington Commanders. ...
  • New England Patriots. ...
  • Las Vegas Raiders. ...
  • Los Angeles Chargers.

Will Belichick coach in 2024? ›

Share All sharing options for: Ex-Patriot Bill Belichick will officially not be an NFL head coach in 2024. The writing was already on the wall, but it is now official: Bill Belichick, one of the great coaches in pro football history and a future first-ballot Hall of Famer, will not work as an NFL head coach in 2024.

What does a secondary coach do in football? ›

Secondary coach: The coach who works with the defensive backs. He must have a total understanding of pass offenses. He works on all aspects of pass coverage, from footwork and deep zone drops to how to prepare players for the particular receivers they'll face.

How much does an NFL defensive line coach make? ›

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Defensive Line Coach Jobs
CityAnnual SalaryHourly Wage
San Francisco, CA$50,735$24.39
San Jose, CA$49,057$23.59
Oakland, CA$48,006$23.08
Hayward, CA$47,924$23.04
6 more rows

How much does an NFL offensive line coach make? ›

What are Top 10 Highest Paying Cities for Offensive Line Coach Jobs
CityAnnual SalaryMonthly Pay
San Francisco, CA$47,954$3,996
Beverly Hills, CA$47,286$3,940
San Jose, CA$46,369$3,864
Oakland, CA$45,375$3,781
6 more rows

How much do NFL defensive coaches make? ›

What Is the Average Defensive Coordinator Salary by State
StateAnnual SalaryMonthly Pay
Washington$61,404$5,117
New York$55,282$4,606
Vermont$54,180$4,515
California$52,484$4,373
46 more rows

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