List of Longest-Tenured Current NFL Head Coaches: Sean McVay, Kyle Shanahan Crack the Top-5

A common joke is that the NFL stands for “Not For Long.” Players have relatively short careers, and head coaches have very little job security.

Which coaches have built enough credibility to feel safe after transforming their franchises into consistent contenders? And which teams have recently rolled the dice on a new leader to spark a turnaround? The list of the NFL’s longest-tenured head coaches offers a valuable perspective on just how fleeting coaching tenures can be in today’s league.

Longest-Tenured NFL Head Coaches

1. Andy Reid, Kansas City Chiefs
   12 years | 2013-Present
2. Sean McVay, Los Angeles Rams
   8 years | 2017-Present
3. Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco 49ers
   8 years | 2017-Present
4. Matt LaFleur, Green Bay Packers
   6 years | 2019-Present
5. Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals
   6 years | 2019-Present
6. Dan Campbell, Detroit Lions
   4 years | 2021-Present
7. Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia Eagles
   4 years | 2021-Present
8. Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota Vikings
   3 years | 2022-Present
9. Todd Bowles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
   3 years | 2022-Present
10. Shane Steichen, Indianapolis Colts
    2 years | 2023-Present
11. DeMeco Ryans, Houston Texans
    2 years | 2023-Present
12. Sean Payton, Denver Broncos
    2 years | 2023-Present
13. Jim Harbaugh, Los Angeles Chargers
    Second year | 2024-Present
14. Dave Canales, Carolina Panthers
    Second year | 2024-Present
15. Dan Quinn, Washington Commanders
    Second year | 2024-Present
16. Mike Macdonald, Seattle Seahawks
    Second year | 2024-Present
17. Mike Vrabel, New England Patriots
    Hired after 2024 NFL season
18. Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears
    Hired after 2024 NFL season
19. Aaron Glenn, New York Jets
    Hired after 2024 NFL season
20. Brian Schottenheimer, Dallas Cowboys
    Hired after 2024 NFL season
21. Liam Coen, Jacksonville Jaguars
    Hired after 2024 NFL season
22. Kellen Moore, New Orleans Saints
    Hired after 2024 NFL season

NOTE:

• The Tennessee Titans fired Brian Callahan after just six games into the head coach’s second season with the franchise.
• The New York Giants fired Brian Daboll after Week 11 of the 2025 NFL season. He finished his tenure with the Giants with a record 20-40-1 in the regular season, and 1-1 in the playoffs.
• The Atlanta Falcons fired Raheem Morris after Week 18 of the 2025 NFL season.
• The Arizona Cardinals moved on from Jonathan Gannon on Black Monday following the end of the 2025 regular season.
• The Cleveland Browns moved on from Kevin Stefanski at the end of the regular season.
• The Baltimore Ravens fired head coach John Harbaugh after he was with the franchise for more than a decade. The decision came after the Ravens failed to make the playoffs.
• The Las Vegas Raiders moved on from Pete Carroll after one season, making him the latest one-and-done head coach.
• The Miami Dolphins moved on from Mike McDaniel after the end of the 2025 NFL season and will be hiring a new head coach to work with their new general manager.
• Mike Tomlin stepped down as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ head coach after his team’s loss in the Wild Card round against the Houston Texans.
• The Buffalo Bills fired Sean McDermott after their loss to the Denver Broncos in the Divisional Round.

Who Is the NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coach?

After Tomlin’s departure from the Steelers, Andy Reid is now the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL. He has won three Super Bowls with the franchise, and with Patrick Mahomes as his quarterback, could add a couple more to his tally before retiring.

Tomlin was just 34 years old when the Pittsburgh Steelers hired him in 2007, younger than the minimum age required to run for President. Before stepping down, he stood as the NFL’s longest-tenured head coach and did not record a losing season.

MORE: NFL Head Coach All-Time Wins Leaders

Notably, Tomlin was only the third head coach to lead Pittsburgh since 1969, underscoring the franchise’s long-standing emphasis on continuity, stability, and sustained success. The franchise will now begin its search for a new head coach.

Tomlin officially became the league’s longest tenured coach after Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots mutually agreed to part ways on January 11, 2024, bringing an end to Belichick’s historic 24-season tenure in Foxborough.

With the Bills firing McDermott after their loss to the Broncos, McVay and Shanahan are officially the second-longest tenured head coaches in the league.

The Bills’ HC opening arguably becomes the best available job in the league immediately. McDermott finishes his career in Buffalo with a record of 98-50 in the regular season and 8-8 in the playoffs.

This year, the Bills had the best chance to win the Super Bowl with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Joe Burrow all missing the playoffs. However, they lost to the Broncos, and the team decided to make the change that many had speculated about.

Who Are the Highest-Paid NFL Coaches?

While the NFL Players Association and salary-cap sites like Over the Cap and Spotrac meticulously track player salaries, head coach contracts remain far more opaque. Still, estimates from Sportico have shed light on what the league’s highest-paid sideline leaders are making. Here’s a look at the top four highest-paid head coaches in the NFL.

1) 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 signed Reid to an extension last April, securing him through 2029 and cementing his status as the NFL’s highest-paid head coach. Since arriving in 2013, Reid has overseen Kansas City’s rise into a true modern dynasty, highlighted by three Super Bowl championships.

Although Patrick Mahomes has played a central role in that run, Reid’s history of offensive innovation and sustained success predates his partnership with the star quarterback.

Factoring in both regular-season and postseason results, Reid stands fourth on the NFL’s all-time wins list and holds a commanding edge over the next closest active coach, Sean Payton. He also ranks second in playoff victories overall, with only Bill Belichick ahead of him.

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 66-year-old has said that he’s open to coaching into his 70s, so he may not be retiring anytime soon).

2) Sean Payton, Denver Broncos

• 2026 salary: $18 million

After the disastrous Nathaniel Hackett experiment, the Broncos knew a bold move was needed, and hiring future Hall of Famer Sean Payton fit the bill. Competing with the Chiefs in the AFC West requires an aggressive mindset, and Denver demonstrated exactly that with its approach.

To acquire Payton’s rights, the Broncos traded a 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-rounder to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for Payton and a 2024 third-round pick.

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 used a first-round pick on Oregon quarterback Bo Nix, named him the starter for the 2024 season, and made him the first rookie captain in 57 years. Payton and Nix quickly built strong chemistry, and the rookie exceeded expectations by guiding Denver to a playoff berth.

With a clear franchise quarterback in place and an offensive-minded head coach capable of developing him further, the Broncos appear well-positioned for long-term success.

3) 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.

The Chargers’ defense has become one of the best units in the league, and they have made the playoffs for a second consecutive 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.