Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson was one of the best candidates available to fill a head coach vacancy in the NFL. After interviews with a few teams, Johnson set his sights on the job offered by the Chicago Bears. The contract’s reported price tag was eye-popping for a rookie head coach.
According to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Johnson will be earning $13 million per season. Normally, first-time head coaches are paid under $10 million per season on average, but it seems Johnson’s abilities warranted extra.
UNC Tar Heels GM Backs Ben Johnson’s Handsome Pay From Bears
While some may balk at the hefty price tag, UNC Tar Heels general manager Mike Lombardi has come to the Bears’ defense. He feels there is no salary to justify a great head coach.
“I mean, you know this — as a negotiator, Ben had leverage,” Lombardi said on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
“Ben could ask for it, and the Bears needed to make a statement with their coaching hire. They’ve been through this before, whether it’s been John Fox, Matt Nagy, or whomever. They needed to make a statement.”
Lombardi adds that for the Bears, taking the plunge on Johnson is less of a gamble and more of a strategic investment.
“They’re taking a risk paying him as much as they are for a first-time head coach, but I think Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles, and everyone involved, believe Ben is the right guy for the job. So, they’ve got to go all in,” Lombardi added.
Finally, Lombardi arrived at the point to assert why great coaches can’t be overpaid.
”Here’s what I would say: the same thing applies to players,” Lombardi said. “You can’t overpay a great coach. You just can’t. If you’re hiring Bill Parcells or Bill Belichick, you can’t overpay great coaching. The problem comes when you overpay a good coach — or a good player. That’s when it becomes an issue. But for great coaches or great players, you can. And I think Kevin O’Connell’s great.”
Ben Johnson’s Salary Compared to Other NFL Head Coaches
Johnson’s salary of $13 million is not that far away from the richest head coach contracts in the NFL.
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid earns a reported $20 million per year after consistent performances, including multiple Super Bowl titles. Trailing Reid is Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton at $18 million annually. Payton, a former Super Bowl-winning coach with the New Orleans Saints, commands one of the league’s largest salaries thanks to his proven track record.
The next tier includes Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, both earning $16 million per season.
Sean McVay of the Los Angeles Rams, at $15 million, and Kyle Shanahan of the San Francisco 49ers, at $14 million, round out the top earners ahead of Johnson.