Offensive and defensive coordinators are the strategic leaders of their units. Their roles are distinct from head , assistant , and position coaches. Coordinators devise game plans, call plays, and manage personnel amongst plant of other things.

Highest Paid Offensive Coordinators

Top NFL offensive coordinators command seven-figure paychecks for their expertise and strategic planning.

Rank	Coach	Team	Estimated Pay
T-1	Todd Monken	Baltimore Ravens	$3 million
T-1	Mike Kafka	New York Giants	$3 million
3	Kellen Moore	Philadelphia Eagles	$2.5 million
4	Ken Dorsey	Cleveland Browns	$2.3 million
5	Nathaniel Hackett	New York Jets	$2.2 million
T-6	Arthur Smith	Pittsburgh Steelers	$2 million
T-6	Shane Waldron	Chicago Bears	$2 million
T-6	Ben Johnson	Detroit Lions	$2 million
9	Joe Brady	Buffalo Bills	$1.8 million
T-10	Bobby Slowik	Houston Texans	$1.5 million
T-10	Jim Bob Cooter	Indianapolis Colts	$1.5 million
T-10	Luke Getsy	Las Vegas Raiders	$1.5 million
T-10	Frank Smith	Miami Dolphins	$1.5 million
T-10	Dan Pitcher	Cincinnati Bengals	$1.5 million
15	Joe Lombardi	Denver Broncos	$1 million

Offensive Coordinator Roles

The offensive coordinator‘s responsibilities include designing offensive schemes and game plans tailored to their team’s strengths. They closely collaborate with the quarterback coach and call the offensive plays during games, making adjustments based on the defense’s strategies.

READ MORE: VIEW THE FUL LIST OF NFL TEAM VALUATIONS

Highest Paid Defensive Coordinators

Rank	Coach	Team	Estimated Pay
1	Vic Fangio	Philadelphia Eagles	$4.5 million
2	Mike Zimmer	Dallas Cowboys	$4 million
3	Steve Spagnuolo	Kansas City Chiefs	$3.5 million
4	Todd Bowles	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	$2.4 million
5	Leslie Frazier	Seattle Seahawks	$2 million
T-6	Ed Donatell	Minnesota Vikings	$1.8 million
T-6	Ejiro Evero	Carolina Panthers	$1.8 million
8	Ryan Nielsen	Jacksonville Jaguars	$1.7 million
9	Jeff Ulbrich	New York Jets	$1.6 million
T-10	Nick Rallis	Arizona Cardinals	$1.5 million
T-10	Lou Anarumo	Cincinnati Bengals	$1.5 million
12	Patrick Graham	Las Vegas Raiders	$1.4 million
13	Vance Joseph	Denver Broncos	$1.2 million
14	Chris Shula	Los Angeles Rams	$1.1 million
T-15	Joe Woods	New Orleans Saints	$1 million
T-15	Eric Washington	Chicago Bears	$1 million
T-15	Anthony Weaver	Miami Dolphins	$1 million

Defensive Coordinator Roles

On the other side, the defensive coordinator devises defensive schemes and strategies aimed at shutting down the opponent’s offense. They call the defensive plays, make in-game adjustments, and oversee position coaches like linebackers and the secondary.

MORE: See which coordinators have risen to head coach after working under Kyle Shanahan.

What Does a NFL Coordinator Do?

On a day-to-day basis, coordinators spend a significant portion of their time studying film, analyzing their own team’s performance as well as scouting upcoming opponents. They lead staff meetings to install game plans and work closely with the head coach to ensure their unit’s strategies align with the overarching team philosophy. During practice sessions, coordinators implement scripted installations and closely monitor execution.

NFL Coordinator Salary Range

The salary range for top NFL coordinators can be lucrative, reflecting their strategic value and significance in maximizing their team’s talent and performance. While the average coordinator earns between $1 million to $1.5 million annually, elite coordinators can command salaries in the $2 million to $3 million range.

Many coordinators, particularly those with head coaching aspirations, may choose to pursue a good opportunity over maximizing salary in the short term.

The highest reported coordinator salaries have reached over $4 million per year similar to the Josh McDaniels contract with the Patriots in 2018. On the other hand, some coordinators, especially those early in their careers, may make less than the $1 million average.