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The Highest-Paid NFL Defensive Coordinators

  • Vic Fangio and Mike Zimmer are the only NFL defensive coordinators earning over $4 million a year.
  • Only the top five highest-paid NFL defensive coordinators earn at least $2 million.
Nov 10, 2024; Munich, Germany; The NFL shield logo at midfield during the 2024 NFL Munich Game at Allianz Arena.
Kirby Lee/Imagn Images

The NFL earns billions of dollars annually selling its media rights. As fans in stadiums and subscribers tune in to catch the action, coaches — even assistants and specialist coaches — are becoming household names.

The highest-paid NFL defensive coordinators earn millions to gameplan against the offensive schemes of their opponents.

While assistant coaching salaries are rarely made public, the following compensation data is estimated from a variety of sources.

Vic Fangio tops the list of the highest-paid NFL defensive coordinators. He earns an estimated $4.5 million to coach the Eagles’ defense.

Fangio was hired in May 2024 to work in Philadelphia after spending 2023 with the Dolphins. He has coached 10 top 10 defensive units in yards allowed and points allowed in his career. 

Mike Zimmer earns an estimated $4 million to come in second. He now works with the Cowboys after serving as a consultant in 2023 with the University of Colorado. Zimmer returns to Dallas where he won a Super Bowl with them as an assistant in 1996.

Third on the list is Steve Spagnuolo of the Chiefs. He makes a reported $3.5 million coaching the defense of the back-to-back Super Bowl champs. Under Spagnulo’s leadership, Kansas City didn’t allow more than 27 points throughout the regular season and playoffs in 2023-2024.

Todd Bowles of the Buccaneers earns $2.4 million in the fourth spot. He serves in a dual role as the head coach and defensive play-caller in Tampa. Bowles was only the defensive coordinator from 2019 to 2021 before taking over as head coach for the retiring Bruce Arians.

Fifth on the list is Aden Durde of the Seahawks. He earns an estimated $2 million annually. 

Durde is in his first full year as a defensive coordinator with the Seahawks. The London native played in the NFL Europe for six seasons. He began his NFL coaching career with the Falcons in 2016 as a coaching intern.

Experience pays best for NFL defensive coordinators.

As America’s most popular sport gears towards more offensive output, teams value experience when selecting defensive coordinators.

The top three highest-paid NFL defensive coordinators have a combined 46 years of experience coaching defenses.

Ranking The NFL’s Highest-Paid Defensive Coordinators

Here is the entire list of the highest-paid NFL defensive coordinators. The list was compiled using reports and estimated data from NBC Sports, ProFootballNetwork, and ESPN UK.

  • Updated: January 18, 2025
RankCoachTeamEstimated Compensation
1Vic FangioPhiladelphia Eagles$4.5 million
2Mike ZimmerDallas Cowboys$4 million
3Steve SpagnuoloKansas City Chiefs$3.5 million
4Todd BowlesTampa Bay Buccaneers$2.4 million
5Aden DurdeSeattle Seahawks$2 million
T-6Brian FloresMinnesota Vikings$1.8 million
T-6Ejiro EveroCarolina Panthers$1.8 million
8Ryan NielsenJacksonville Jaguars$1.7 million
9Jeff UlbrichAtlanta Falcons$1.6 million
10Nick RallisArizona Cardinals$1.5 million
11Patrick GrahamLas Vegas Raiders$1.4 million
12Vance JosephDenver Broncos$1.2 million
13Chris ShulaLos Angeles Rams$1.1 million
T-14Joe WoodsNew Orleans Saints$1 million
T-14Eric WashingtonChicago Bears$1 million
T-14Anthony WeaverMiami Dolphins$1 million

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