Football’s grandest stage, the NFL, isn’t just about the players. As the 2024 season nears, the spotlight intensifies on the coaches leading teams to glory. Their salaries reflect immense responsibility. We examine the highest-paid NFL coaches for 2024.

What Do NFL Head Coaches Do?

1. Game strategy and playcalling
2. Managing the coaching staff
3. Player development and team culture
4. In-game decision making
5. Media relations and public representation
6. Collaboration with team management on personnel decisions
7. Year-round preparation (offseason, preseason, regular season, postseason)
8. Overall team leadership and motivation

NFL head coaches are responsible for the team’s on-field performance and play a crucial role in shaping the organization’s culture and public image. Their diverse skill set and high-pressure position contribute to their typically high salaries in professional football.

READ MORE: FULL LIST OF CURRENT NFL HEAD COACHES

Who Is The Highest Paid Coach in the NFL ?

The Oakland Raiders made Jon Gruden the highest-paid coach in NFL back in 2018.. They signed Gruden to a massive 10-year, $100 million contract, a first for the NFL. Since he’s resignation the coaching landscape has changed significantly.

It’s worth nothing that this list is based off annual salaries. Total career earnings and overall net worth are not being taken into account here. Also, note that the Super Bowl wins are being counted at the head coaching position, not as members of coaching staff.

Andy Reid’s $20 million a year salary is the highest in the league. No coach has earned more on an annual basis since Bill Belichick with the New England Patriots.

Leading the modern NFL’s dynasty garners a hefty paycheck to say the least. Clark Hunt, Chief’s owner, vowed to pay handsomely and he certainly did not disappoint. Reid is the only NFL coach to win 100 games with two franchises, and he has made the playoffs 19 times in 25 seasons coaching the Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. He is one of five coaches to win at least three Super Bowls, and his 284 career wins, including postseason, are fourth all time.

Payton signed a five-year contract with the Denver Broncos in 2023, which keeps him on board through the 2027 season, according to ESPN.

After a coaching hiatus, Sean Payton returns with the Denver Broncos. He boast a solid regular season record of 160-97 ( .623 ) and 9-8 ( .529 ) in the post season. Payton was awarded 2006 NFL Coach of the Year and is responsible for guiding Alvin Kamala , Drew Brees, and Marshon Lattimore to award winning seasons with the New Orleans Saints.

Jim Harbaugh is returning to the NFL as the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. He previously coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014, leading them to three straight NFC Championship games.

Before the NFL, Harbaugh had a successful college coaching career. He won three Big Ten titles and a national championship at Michigan in 2023. Combined with his time at Stanford, Harbaugh has 115 career wins, one of the most among active college coaches since 2007.

Harbaugh’s proven track record of winning at both the pro and college levels makes him an exciting hire for the Chargers. His ability to rebuild struggling programs has Chargers fans hopeful he can elevate their team to new heights.

Sean McVay’s offensive wizardry and player connections make him highly coveted. The Rams secure McVay’s services at $14 million annually adding to his growing net worth.

In his eight seasons with the Rams, McVay’s teams won 70 games and lost 45. His achieved a Super Bowl win in 2021, defeating the Cincinnati Bengals 23-20. He also was the youngest head coach to do so.

McVay has received many honors for his coaching. In 2017, his first season, he won NFL Coach of the Year. He also coached star players like Aaron Donald and Todd Gurley to individual awards during his Rams tenure.

Mike Tomlin’s tenure with the Pittsburgh Steelers has been a model of sustained excellence and consistency. His $12.5 million salary for the 2024 season is a testament to the Steelers’ unwavering belief in his ability to guide the team through adversity and maintain their status as perennial contenders.

In his 16 seasons as Steelers coach, Tomlin has achieved many firsts for the franchise. He ranks among the longest-tenured active NFL head coaches entering 2023.

Under Tomlin, the Steelers have won seven division titles, including 2020. He has led the team to 10 playoff appearances and two Super Bowl trips (XLIII and XLV).

Who is the Lowest-Paid NFL Coach in 2024?

While top coaches command staggering salaries, some coaches are at the mercy of smaller markets. Performance is a factor in lower pay, but some teams simply are not as wealthy as others.

Kevin Stefanski (Browns) and Mike McCarthy (Cowboys) hover around $5 million. The Cowboys are the richest franchise in the NFL, so we could assume that lower pay is attributed to performance in McCarthy’s case.

READ MORE : LIST OF HIGHEST PAID NFL PLAYERS OF ALL TIME

As the 2024 season commences, top-paid coaches take center stage. From Reid’s Chiefs dominance to Payton’s Broncos revival, every decision faces scrutiny. Will Reid cement his legend? Who joins the highest-paid ranks? One certainty remains: the chase for championships and astronomical salaries persists in professional football’s landscape.