I’m not arguing that college players would make as much as their NFL counterparts on a free(r) market. Unlike ADs, they don’t have the option of not paying the players. Roughly 230 NFL players made at least that much in total cash last season, according to Spotrac, and that’s with a salary cap.Ĭlearly, NFL team owners believe that top players are more valuable than top coaches. ESPN estimates that the average NFL coach made $8 million to $9 million in 2021. That comes out to nearly three players per team. Last season, about 90 NFL players made $14 million or more in total cash (salary plus prorated bonuses). ![]() The highest-paid coaches without total football authority in 2021 reportedly were Seattle’s Pete Carroll and outgoing Saints coach Sean Payton. He’s also an outlier as the de facto general manager for the Patriots and the winningest Super Bowl coach of all time. New England’s Bill Belichick reportedly was the highest-paid NFL coach in 2021 at $18 million. We know that’s the case because of how the pot of money is distributed among NFL players and coaches. They are getting a disproportionate share of the revenue generated by players, who attract audiences that want to watch them work. Salaries for coaches (and athletics directors) are inflated as part of the NCAA’s cartel system. But that market is distorted in their favor because it doesn’t include players. I don’t begrudge coaches for cashing in on the market. Eventually, a jury found that the NCAA had illegally restricted the salaries of 1,900 assistants and awarded them $66 million. ![]() A series of court losses followed, so the NCAA rescinded the cap. The NCAA imposed a rule in 1992 to cap salaries for some assistant coaches at $12,000 per academic year. NCAA schools aren’t collectively doing anything about it because they can’t. Why are their clients making less than Smart? Why is their pay only about 25% higher than that of Venables, who has yet to win one game as a head coach? On and on it will go for every school that has a football coach they want to keep.Īthletic directors will keep paying big money for them while complaining about costs in their departments. The agents for those coaches will enter negotiations with a strong opening position. Smart’s raise probably will mean more money for Clemson’s Dabo Swinney ($9.5 million, two titles). Once that happens, it surely will lead to a bigger deal for Saban ($9.75 million salary in 2021, seven national titles). UGA soon will give Smart a pay bump that’s expected to push the total value of his deal over $100 million. He earned $1.6 million in bonuses during the team’s run to winning the national championship. The Georgia coach was paid about $7 million for the 2021 season. It will be paying its moderately successful coach nearly as much as Nick Saban earns at Alabama.Īll of this is great news for Kirby Smart. Michigan State is a decent Power Five program. Michigan State gave Mel Tucker a 10-year, $95 million extension. It’s 100% if Kelly wins a national title, which he couldn’t do over 12 seasons at Notre Dame. ![]() The contract buyout for LSU is at least 95% of money owed. Incentives could push it over $100 million. LSU lured Brian Kelly from Notre Dame with a 10-year, $95 million deal. It sounds too preposterous to believe until you look at the contracts that are publicly available. Reports put Riley’s deal at $110 million, with a house and unlimited use of a private jet thrown in. As a private school, USC doesn’t have to release details of his contract. Venables replaced Lincoln Riley, who left for USC. Venables got a six-year deal with a salary that starts at $7 million. The former Clemson defensive coordinator never had been a head coach when Oklahoma hired him for its open position in December. Fickell has a beefier resume than Brent Venables.
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