Texas Longhorns’ HC Steve Sarkisian’s Gigantic New Contract Puts Him On Equal Terms With 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan, Reigniting NFL Wage Debate

The salary of coaches is not limited by salary caps. Therefore, if there is one place where owners and general managers can go all out is while hiring coaches. Bill Belichick currently reigns supreme as the highest-paid coach at an annual salary of $25 million. Since Bill Belichick will no longer serve as a coach for the New England Patriots, that position is vacant.

A college football coach is now aiming for that spot. He’s still very far from it, but it wouldn’t be too long before he reaches there. He’s already rubbing shoulders with one of the greats of the NFL.

Steve Sarkisian’s contract details revealed

Texas is poised to approve a new four-year contract extension for head football coach Steve Sarkisian. This will extend his tenure through the 2030 season. The extension, which awaits approval from the University of Texas System Board of Regents, will double Sarkisian’s pay to over $10 million per season. And it will catapult him among the top 10 highest-paid FBS coaches. If green-lit, Sarkisian’s salary will incrementally increase by $100,000 annually, reaching $10.3 million by 2030, a significant jump from his original 2024 salary of $5.8 million.

Additionally, the contract includes various bonuses for Sarkisian, such as a one-time payment of $300,000 from Texas by April 1 and incentives tied to team performance. These incentives encompass perks like 20 hours of private plane use per year. Conference championship and title game bonuses range from $150,000 to $300,000, and significant payouts for postseason achievements, including $1 million for reaching the CFP National Championship game and $1.25 million for clinching a national title win.

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This has reignited the debate surrounding the wages of coaches as he will now earn an annual salary comparable to that of one of the top coaches of the NFL.

Sarkisian’s new salary goes head-to-head with Shanahan’s

Based on estimations by SI’s Albert Breer, it’s believed that 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan is earning approximately $10 million per season from the six-year extension he signed in 2020. This extension, which covers him through the 2025 season, potentially totals $60 million. While specific details of NFL coaching salaries are typically undisclosed, Shanahan’s contract was reported to position him among the top five highest-paid coaches in the league when he signed it, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Shanahan’s tenure with the 49ers, spanning seven seasons since 2017, has been marked by significant success. Under his leadership, the team has reached the playoffs in three consecutive years and secured four postseason appearances in the last five seasons. Moreover, they clinched three NFC West division titles during this period and made it to the NFC championship game in all four postseason runs, including an appearance in Super Bowl 54.

Despite occasional accusations of nepotism, given his background as the son of an NFL coach, Shanahan’s accomplishments speak for themselves. He has proven his worth since assuming the role of head coach for the 49ers, demonstrating his ability to lead the team to consistent success in the competitive landscape of professional football.

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