The NFL commands tens of billions of dollars for the media rights to stream games. A huge part of its sustained success has been the NFL’s evolution of offense.
As offenses continue to innovate and score more points, offensive coordinators are charged with drawing up plays that will result in points on the board.
Although they aren’t making as much as head coaches, the highest-paid NFL offensive coordinators earn millions to maximize their team’s offense.
While assistant coaching salaries are rarely made public, the following compensation data is estimated based on a variety of sources.
Chip Kelly is the highest-paid offensive coordinator, earning $6 million annually. Kelly returns to the NFL after a six-year stint in college.
He was the offensive coordinator of the national champions Ohio State this past season before being lured back to the NFL by the Raiders.
Two coaches are tied in second. Both Todd Monken of the Ravens and Mike Kafka of the Giants earn an estimated $3 million annually.
Monken finished his second season directing Baltimore’s offense. He spent the previous three years as the offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia.
The Ravens were fifth in the NFL with 55 offensive TDs scored in Monken’s first season.
Kafka has been with New York since 2022. He began his NFL coaching career with the Chiefs, starting as their offensive quality control coach in 2017 before becoming their quarterbacks coach in 2018.
Patrick Mahomes received his first Pro Bowl selection and won MVP the same year.
Fourth on the list is Kellen Moore of the Eagles earning an estimated $2.5 million. Philadelphia hired Moore last February to improve their offense.
The 35-year-old is one of the youngest offensive coordinators in the NFL and is being linked as the next head coach of the Saints. He led the Eagles to their second Super Bowl win in franchise history in his first season there.
Coming in fifth is Arthur Smith of the Steelers. He makes a projected $2 million annually.
Smith was hired by the Steelers in February 2024 after three seasons as the Falcons’ head coach.
It pays to have experience under center.
Four of the top five highest-paid offensive coordinators played quarterback through college, and two went on to play in the NFL before transitioning to the sidelines.
Ranking The NFL’s Highest-Paid Offensive Coordinators
Here is the entire list of the highest-paid NFL offensive coordinators. The list was compiled using reports and estimated data from ProFootballNetwork and NFL.com.
- Updated: February 10, 2025
Rank | Coach | Team | Estimated Compensation |
1 | Chip Kelly | Las Vegas Raiders | $6 million |
T-2 | Todd Monken | Baltimore Ravens | $3 million |
T-2 | Mike Kafka | New York Giants | $3 million |
4 | Kellen Moore | Philadelphia Eagles | $2.5 million |
5 | Arthur Smith | Pittsburgh Steelers | $2 million |
6 | Joe Brady | Buffalo Bills | $1.8 million |
T-7 | Jim Bob Cooter | Indianapolis Colts | $1.5 million |
T-7 | Frank Smith | Miami Dolphins | $1.5 million |
T-7 | Dan Pitcher | Cincinnati Bengals | $1.5 million |
10 | Joe Lombardi | Denver Broncos | $1 million |
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