Who are the highest-paid NFL head coaches this season? Let’s examine the sideline generals who are earning the most money annually and how they ended up in this position.
List of Highest-Paid NFL Coaches and Their Salary Estimates
While the NFL Players Association and salary cap websites like Over the Cap and Spotrac track player earnings, it can be challenging to find the salaries of NFL head coaches. Still, reporting from Sportico has gauged what the league’s top head coaches are making.
There is no salary cap for NFL head coaches or their staff. While head coaching salaries are unlikely to keep pace with those of elite players, coaching contracts continue to increase. Let’s run through the top five highest-paid head coaches in the NFL.
1T) Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
- 2026 salary: $20 million
Reid is widely regarded as the best head coach in the NFL, so it is not surprising that he’s also the league’s highest-paid coach.
The Chiefs extended Reid’s contract last April, securing him on a new deal that placed him at the top of this ranking and keeps him under contract through the 2029 season.
Since taking over in Kansas City in 2013, Andy Reid has guided the Chiefs to three Super Bowl championships. While much of that success is often linked to quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Reid had already established himself as one of the league’s elite head coaches well before the star quarterback entered the picture.
When combining regular-season and postseason results, Reid ranks fourth all-time in total wins by an NFL head coach. Reid also sits second on the all-time playoff wins list, trailing only former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.
The only head coach to win 100 games with two franchises, Reid will be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame when he retires (although the 67-year-old has said that he’s open to coaching into his 70s, so he may not be retiring anytime soon).
1T) John Harbaugh, New York Giants
- 2026 salary: $20 million
The Baltimore Ravens fired John Harbaugh after they missed the playoffs in the 2025 NFL season. The 63-year-old head coach immediately became the best candidate available in the coaching cycle, and he accepted the New York Giants’ offer.
According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, Harbaugh’s contract with the Giants will be for five years, worth $100 million. It amounts to an annual salary of $20 million, which ties him with Reid for the highest-paid head coach in the league.
During his 18 seasons with the Ravens, Harbaugh had a record of 180-113 in the regular season, 13-11 in the playoffs, and he also won a Super Bowl. Now, the Giants hope that Harbaugh can bring stability to their franchise and get the best out of Jaxson Dart.
3) Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
- 2026 salary: $18 million
The Broncos needed to make a drastic change after their failed Nathaniel Hackett experiment, and shifting to a future Hall of Fame head coach in Payton certainly qualified as drastic. But keeping up with the Chiefs requires an aggressive mindset.
Denver sent a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-rounder to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for Payton’s rights and a 2024 third-round selection.
In February 2023, NBC Sports’ Peter King reported that Payton signed a five-year contract “in the neighborhood” of $18 million annually. Considering the draft capital and money they gave up, the Broncos clearly expect Payton to turn the team into a perennial contender.
The Broncos invested a first-round pick in Oregon QB Bo Nix, named him the starter for the 2024 season, and honored him as the first rookie captain in 57 years. Payton and Nix have a strong working relationship, and the rookie quarterback has exceeded expectations so far, which has made Denver a legitimate contender for the Super Bowl.
The Broncos have their quarterback of the future and an offensive guru to help him realize his full potential, so they are in excellent shape.
4) Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
- 2026 salary: $16 million
Harbaugh is back in the NFL like he never left. After a nearly decade-long stint as head coach of the Michigan Wolverines, Harbaugh signed a five-year, $80 million deal with the Chargers last offseason.
Upon Harbaugh’s arrival as the Chargers’ head coach, expectations weren’t very high heading into the regular season, with many expecting the team to miss the playoffs. However, Harbaugh led Los Angeles to 11 wins and a playoff berth despite the team offloading several talented offensive players in the offseason.
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The Chargers’ defense has become one of the best units in the league, and they have made the playoffs for a second straight season. Harbaugh brought Jesse Minter with him from Michigan and made him the Chargers’ defensive coordinator, which proved to be a phenomenal decision.
Harbaugh’s career winning percentage is second-best among active head coaches and eighth all-time.
5T) Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
- 2026 salary: $15 million
Sean McVay is often regarded as one of the best head coaches in the league, and he is paid accordingly. At 39 years old, he is already a Super Bowl champion and could add another title to his résumé this year, as the Los Angeles Rams are viewed as one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl.
He is currently in his ninth year as the head coach of the Rams, boasting a 92–57 regular-season record and a 9–5 record in the playoffs.
5T) Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
- 2026 salary: $15 million
While Nick Sirianni has been on the hot seat for much of his tenure with the Philadelphia Eagles, he has delivered results for the franchise. In his five seasons with the Eagles, Sirianni has guided the team to two Super Bowl appearances, winning one, and has made the playoffs in all five years.
The Eagles were recently eliminated in the Wild Card round of the playoffs, and Sirianni will be coaching for his job next season. Another early playoff exit could force the team to make a change, regardless of how strong their head coach’s overall record looks.
Who Is the NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coach?
With Mike Tomlin stepping away from his role as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Andy Reid now stands as the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL.
Reid took over the Kansas City Chiefs in 2013 and has since led the team to a historic run of sustained success. He is widely viewed as one of the greatest head coaches in league history, and his body of work strongly supports that reputation.
MORE: NFL Head Coach All-Time Wins Leaders
During his time in Kansas City, Reid has guided the Chiefs to five Super Bowl appearances, winning three titles, while also capturing nine AFC West division championships. Even though Kansas City missed the playoffs this past season, the league’s perception of the franchise has not shifted much.
With Mahomes expected to return healthy next season, the Chiefs are once again projected to be among the top contenders for the Super Bowl, and Reid remains a big reason for their continued success.
