NFL special teams coach's salary: How much do they take home on average?

NFL special teams coach's salary: How much do they take home on average?

Ciku Njuguna
April 16, 2024 at 9:34 AM

Special teams are units of American football squads whose members are available for a short portion of the match on the field during kicking plays. The trainers or coordinators lead kickers, punters, kickoff returners, receivers, and other players in kick coverage and returns. This article details the NFL special teams coach's salary.

Thomas McGaughey calls a coverage during a game.
New York Jets special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey (c) calls a coverage against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on August 28, 2014. Photo by Al Pereira/New York Jets.
Source: Getty Images

Table of Сontents:

How much do the special teams' NFL coaches earn per year? Sports Brief strives to provide accurate information on the earnings of NFL special team coaches based on the most up-to-date statistics by Spotrac, ZipRecruiter, and FootballScoop. Scroll down for an in-depth look into the trainers' income.

How much is an NFL special teams coach's salary?

At the time of writing, various sources estimate the coordinators' earnings to be up to six-figure salaries annually. According to Spotrac, the NFL coachs' wages in the 2023/24 season range between $2.6 million and $10.7 million. However, the amount is not broken down to show the coordinator's earnings.

Sources such as FootballScoop report that the highest-paid special teams coaches receive an annual salary between $1.1 million and $275,000. ZipRecruiter reveals that college special teams coach salaries can earn an average of $39,021 annually.

Richard Hightower talks to players.
San Francisco 49ers Richard Hightower (seated) talks to players before a game against the Denver Broncos at Levi's Stadium on December 9, 2018. Photo by Michael Zagaris/San Francisco 49ers.
Source: Getty Images

How much does an NFL special teams coach make monthly?

The highest-paid head coaches, such as Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots, received hefty salaries of up to $22 million. Conversely, the average NFL special teams coach's salary is much lower. Dario AS reports that NFL salaries for special team coordinators remain secret.

Who is the highest-paid special teams coach in the NFL?

Compared to players' and coaches' salaries in college football, squads in the National Football League have not disclosed details of an NFL special teams coach's salary per year. Have a look at this summary of the profiles, career achievements and earnings of the top five special teams coaches in the NFL, according to the NFLPA player survey.

5. Darren Rizzi

Special teams coach's salary
Miami Dolphins' Darren Rizzi pictured during a match against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on October 28, 2012, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Photo by Jim McIsaac.
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Darren Rizzi
  • Date of birth: July 21, 1970
  • Age: 53 years as of April 2024
  • NFL squads: New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins

Rizz has proven himself as one of the best special teams coaches in the NFL. As of January 2024, he helped the New Orleans Saints rank as the second-most successful team with 252 points, as reported by Rick Gosselin. Under his leadership, the Saints finished in the top five in the last six seasons.

While training at the University of Rhode Island in 2008, the Connecticut General Assembly reportedly paid him $227,154. In 2019, he joined the New Orleans Saints, earning one of the highest salaries in his rank, receiving $1.5 million per year, according to Packersnews. Details of his current remuneration remain unknown.

4. Dave Fipp

Philadelphia Eagles' special teams coach Dave Fipp
Philadelphia Eagles' special teams coach Dave Fipp (c) looks on during a game against the Houston Texans on December 23, 2018, at Lincoln Financial Field. Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire.
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Dave Fipp
  • Date of birth: August 8, 1974
  • Age: 49 years as of April 2024
  • NFL squads: Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers

Former Philadelphia Eagles coach Dave Fipp is the special teams coordinator for the Lions as of April 2024. Although he has trained the team since 2021, his contract details and salary are yet to be disclosed. He also served as assistant special teams coach at Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers.

3. Matt Daniels

Minnesota Vikings special teams coach Matt Daniels
Minnesota Vikings special teams coach Matt Daniels pictured during a game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium on October 23, 2023. Photo by Stephen Maturen.
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Matthew Daniels
  • Date of birth: September 27, 1989
  • Age: 34 years as of April 2024
  • NFL squads: Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams

Former American football player Matt Daniels is the special teams coach for the Minnesota Vikings. According to Spotrac, the coordinator who has coached the Vikings since February 2022 received an annual salary of $483,333 as a safety for the St Louis Rams.

While the Minnesota Vikings's roster cap for special teams is reported to be $4,168,332, the coach's salary is not specified.

2. Chris Tabor

Former Carolina Panthers' interim head coach Chris Tabor
Former Carolina Panthers' interim head coach Chris Tabor pictured during a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium on December 31, 2023. Photo by Don Juan Moore.
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: Chris Tabor
  • Date of birth: March 4, 1971
  • Age: 53 years as of April 2024
  • Squads: Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers

Until 2024, former Carolina Panthers coordinator and head coach Chris Tabor shone as the force behind the squad's success in the league. Despite serving in two significant positions on the Panthers, his salary remains undisclosed.

1. John Fassel

Dallas Cowboys' special teams coordinator John Fassel
Dallas Cowboys' special teams coordinator John Fassel pictured during a match against Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 05, 2023. Photo by Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated.
Source: Getty Images
  • Full name: John William Fassel
  • Date of birth: January 10, 1974
  • Age: 50 years as of April 2024
  • Squads: Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders

A 2001 report by the New York Times revealed that John Fassel signed a four-year contract worth $10.75 million with the New York Giants, earning an annual salary of $2.7 million. Since then, the Dallas Cowboys coach has trained the Las Vegas Raiders and the Los Angeles Rams. Details of his remuneration with the Cowboys remain unknown.

Frequently asked questions

Although most NFL special teams' salaries remain unknown to the general public, their role in a football team's success can not be understated. Here are some interesting facts about the position.

Darrin Simmons gives instructions to his team.
Cincinnati Bengals Darrin Simmons gives instructions to his team during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium on December 21, 2020. Photo by Jamie Sabau.
Source: Getty Images

1. What does a special teams coach do in football?

Special teams constitute players who specialise in kickoffs, punting, field goal attempts, and extra-point attempts. The coaches train these players to work alongside defensive and offensive players to increase a team's chances of victory.

2. How much is an NFL assistant special teams coach's salary?

Teams in the NFL do not disclose the salaries of assistant special teams coaches. According to Indeed, the assistant coaches in the NCAA can earn over $35,000 annually.

3. What is the salary for a special teams coordinator in college football?

Despite their importance, special teams coaches' salaries are significantly lower compared to head coaches'. Here is a list of the highest-paid NCAA special team coaches based on FootballScoop's data.

College special units coordinator

College

Salary

Keith Bhonapha

Michigan State University

$525,000

Todd Goebbel

NC State University

$548,000

Jay Boulware

University of Kentucky

$550,000

Mike Ekeler

University of Tennessee

$575,000

Sharrieff Shah

University of Utah

$650,000

Joe Lorig

University of Oregon

$700,000

John Papuchis

Florida State University

$750,000

Joe DeCamillis

University of South Carolina

$800,000

Mike Reed

Clemson University

$900,000

Jeff Banks

University of Texas

$1.15 million

Final word

Details of the NFL special teams coach's salary remain a mystery. However, all indications reveal a lower compensation than head coaches and defensive and offensive coordinators.

READ ALSO: How does the NFL salary cap work? All the details explained

Sports Brief has published an article on the NFL salary cap and how it works. Salaries across various sports, such as baseball, soccer, basketball, and motorsports, typically cost hundreds of millions. Salary caps limit how much teams spend on athlete's wages in a season. Click on the link above for details of the NFL salary cap and how it works.

Authors
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Ciku Njuguna
Ciku Njuguna is a journalist with 3 year’s experience in content creation based in Kenya. She currently covers sports personnel as well as team biographies.
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