Ben Johnson did not make the NFC North swap for cheap, as the new head coach of the Chicago Bears instantly becomes one of the NFL’s highest-paid leaders at $13million annually.
The baker’s-dozen million would place Johnson, the now-former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, at No 7 of the highest-earning NFL head coaches per year, per NBC Sports.
The $13million figure also sets the record for the highest annual salary for a first time NFL head coach, smashing the record set last year when the Seattle Seahawks hired Mike Macdonald for $9million per year.
Johnson is the highest-earning coach to have never won a Super Bowl in the NFL, except for 49ers’ leader Kyle Shanahan, who earns $14million annually and is No 6 in league salary per year.
Johnson is two spots ahead of his former boss, Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who makes $11million per year.
Each of the top-10 highest earning coaches now makes $11million per year, with Bills head coach Sean McDermott making the same annual salary as Campbell.
Ben Johnson will reportedly make $13million in his new role as the Chicago Bears head coach
The huge salary to lead Caleb Williams and his teammates is the seventh largest in the league
Ben Johnson has arrived at Halas Hall and gave a quick speech to Bears employees 🐻(via @jacobinfante24)https://t.co/zI6uJaPFwd
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) January 21, 2025
Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski is the lowest-paid head coach in the NFL, making $3.5million per season.
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That is nearly what Johnson is set to make in Chicago per quarter.
Johnson had been Detroit’s offensive coordinator during the rise of the team from mediocrity to one of the NFL’s best over the last three seasons.
He arrived in Chicago to begin his tenure as Bears head coach on Tuesday, three days after the Lions were eliminated from the NFL playoffs by the Washington Commanders.
Johnson will have to stay familiar with the Lions as he’ll face off against his former boss and team twice each season.
If his salary is any indicator of what’s to come, Johnson is about to be the game-changer in the Windy City.
