With eight of the top ten spots, the NFL “dominates the list [of] highest-paid coaches in the land,” according to Tom Van Riper of FORBES. Topping the list is Patriots coach BILL BELICHICK who “makes more than any coach in America," at $7.5M. The list is “without the Saints’ SEAN PAYTON," who will forfeit his $7M+ salary this year while suspended by the NFL. NFL Giants coach TOM COUGHLIN, “who doesn’t quite crack the top ten" despite an estimated $5.25M annually, "will probably cash in with one more long term contract before he’s done.” The NBA accounted for “more spots a couple of years ago," but the retirement of former Lakers coach PHIL JACKSON and the resignation of former Knicks coach MIKE D'ANTONI "has left just Boston’s DOC RIVERS and San Antonio’s GREGG POPOVICH among the elite ten” (FORBES.com, 5/15).
|
RANK
|
COACH |
TEAM |
ANNUAL SALARY
|
|
1
|
Bill Belichick |
Patriots |
$7.5M
|
|
2
|
Mike Shanahan |
Redskins |
$7.0M
|
|
3
|
Doc Rivers |
Celtics |
$7.0M
|
|
4
|
Jeff Fisher |
Rams |
$7.0M
|
|
5
|
Pete Carroll |
Seahawks |
$7.0M
|
|
6
|
Gregg Popovich |
Spurs |
$6.0M
|
|
7
|
Lovie Smith |
Bears |
$6.0M
|
|
8
|
Ken Whisenhunt |
Cardinals |
$5.75M
|
|
9
|
Mike Tomlin |
Steelers |
$5.75M
|
|
10
|
Andy Reid |
Eagles |
$5.5M
|
