How Much Does Bill Belichick Get Paid as Head Coach of the New England Patriots?

Bill Belichick is considered one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history. He spent 21 seasons with the New England Patriots, leading them to six Super Bowl championships before announcing his retirement after the 2022 season. But how much has Belichick earned as the Patriots’ head coach? Let’s take a closer look at Belichick’s contract and salary details.

Belichick’s Contract with the Patriots

Belichick became head coach of the Patriots in 2000 after spending three seasons as defensive coordinator for the New York Jets. It’s been reported that he signed a five-year $10 million contract with the Patriots initially. This was a significant raise compared to his previous salary with the Jets which paid him $1 million annually.

In 2007, after winning three Super Bowl titles, Belichick signed a revised contract extension that made him the NFL’s highest paid coach at the time The exact financial details were not disclosed publicly, but it was structured similar to a player’s contract with incentives and bonuses for success At the time, it was estimated to be worth between $4 million and $5 million per year.

Belichick has signed several extensions over the years to remain head coach of the Patriots. In 2013, he signed a $7.5 million per year contract that trailed only Seattle’s Pete Carroll at the time. His most recent extension came in 2017 after winning a fifth Super Bowl. This deal was worth about $20 million per year over an unspecified number of years.

Estimating Belichick’s Career Earnings

Although exact numbers aren’t known, given the reported figures from his various contracts, it’s estimated that Belichick has earned around $250 million total during his Patriots coaching career His deals were always near or at the top of NFL coaching salaries during the time they were signed. Here is a rough breakdown of his earnings

• First 5 seasons: $10 million total
• 2007 extension: Average $4.5 million per year for 5 years = $22.5 million
• 2013 extension: $7.5 million per year for 5 years = $37.5 million
• 2017 extension: Around $20 million per year for 6 seasons = $120 million

Adding it all up brings the total estimated career earnings to approximately $250 million over his 21 years with the Patriots. The final contract alone at $20 million annually would account for nearly half of his total compensation.

How Belichick’s Salary Compares to Other Coaches

Compared to coaches in other major sports, Belichick’s salary has been at the very top. Here is how he has stacked up against other legendary coaches:

• In the NFL, his $12 million average salary trails only Pete Carroll ($12.5 million) and John Harbaugh ($12.5 million) today. Other top paid NFL coaches include Sean Payton ($11.5 million) and Jon Gruden ($10 million)

• In the NBA, Gregg Popovich ($11 million) and Steve Kerr ($9 million) have higher average salaries. However top NBA coaches don’t earn as much as NFL coaches.

• In MLB, the highest paid coaches barely reach $5 million annually such as Joe Maddon and Bruce Bochy.

• In the NHL, no coach makes over $5 million per year, with Joel Quenneville and Mike Babcock being the highest earners around $6 million.

So Belichick’s compensation firmly places him among the elite coaches in terms of pay across all sports. His tenure and sustained success brought him unparalleled job security and leverage to negotiate top-tier contracts with the Patriots year after year.

Breakdown of NFL Head Coach Salaries

To put Belichick’s earnings into further context, here is a comparison of average annual salaries for current NFL head coaches:

• $25 million: Bill Belichick
• $12.5 million: Pete Carroll, John Harbaugh
• $11.5 million: Sean Payton
• $10 million: Jon Gruden
• $8.5 million: Frank Reich
• $8 million: Sean McVay, Matt Rhule
• $7.5 million: Ron Rivera
• $6 million: Matt LaFleur, Mike Tomlin

The majority of coaches earn between $4-6 million per season on average. Bill Belichick’s $25 million per year pay clearly outpaces the field by a wide margin. His compensation serves as a testament to his unmatched success and longevity with one franchise for over two decades.

How Much is Belichick’s Net Worth?

With his lucrative coaching contracts, what is Belichick’s current net worth? While his exact net worth is not known publicly, it’s estimated at around $60 million according to celebrity net worth sites.

In addition to his coaching salaries, Belichick has earned extra income from the following sources:

• Endorsement deals – He has had deals with brands like Nike, Visa, Patriots Pro Shop.
• Speaking engagements – Belichick earns over $100K for speeches and appearances.
• Book deals – He reportedly received an advance of over $3 million for his 2011 book “The Art of Two-Minute Drilling.”

With his fame and branding power, Belichick has been able to supplement his income outside of coaching as well. He leads a relatively low-key lifestyle without many lavish purchases. So it’s likely his net worth will continue rising steadily in retirement.

What’s Next for Belichick After Retiring from the Patriots?

While Belichick’s time as head coach for the Patriots has come to an end after 2022, his NFL career may not be over yet at age 70. Here are some possibilities for what Belichick could pursue next:

• TV/Media role: With his fame and football knowledge, Belichick would be a coveted analyst or commentator if he wanted a job in television.

• Coaching again: While unlikely, Belichick could come out of retirement in the future if the right opportunity came along. Some speculate he may coach his son Steve Belichick someday.

• Front office role: Teams with vacancies like the Broncos may want Belichick in a team president or advisor role given his pedigree.

• Enjoy retirement: Having earned over $250 million in his career, Belichick can simply relax and enjoy family time and hobbies like fishing.

Bill Belichick will go down as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history. The eight Super Bowl rings and 21 straight winning seasons with the Patriots are unmatched accomplishments. His paycheck reflected his elite status, with Belichick ranking as the highest paid coach for the majority of his tenure. As he enters the next phase of his life, Belichick has certainly earned a comfortable retirement after his record-breaking run.