Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

NFL Defensive Coordinator Salary – How Much Do Defensive Coordinators Make in the NFL?

Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

In the NFL, where every play can shift a game’s momentum, a stellar defensive coordinator is essential, serving as the essential strategic backbone against very complex offenses, which is only getting better as the years pass by. With quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, and Josh Allen, powering dynamic and pass-heavy systems, a top defensive coordinator’s ability to craft a complex game plan is extremely critical. They use and blend zone coverages, blitzes, personnel matchup, to disrupt an opponent’s flow and create mistakes. Defensive Coordinators like Vic Fangio and Steve Spagnuolo, are known for their timely pressures, which can dictate the pace of the game, and that is the reason why both the Chiefs and the Eagles have both won the Super Bowl.

Their impact goes beyond tactics as they can help shape a team’s identity by developing raw talent into stars, and also instill discipline. We saw what Vic Fangio did for the rookie Corner Cooper DeJean, who had a pick 6 in the Super Bowl, and played like a potential future star for the years to come. Or how about Zach Baun, who has turned out to be one of the best pass rushers in the league, under Fangio. In a league where a single turnover or red-zone stop can decide playoff outcomes, a great defensive coordinator is a must-have for every team in the NFL. So with that said, let us look at how much a defensive coordinator gets paid in the NFL.

Vic Fangio says Howie Roseman signed Zack Baun as an edge pass rusher and special teamer.

But after just five or six reps, Fangio noticed something in Baun and thought he could excel as an inside linebacker.

Result? First team All-Pro and SB champ. pic.twitter.com/smgvptU3Ui
— SPORTSRADIO 94WIP (@SportsRadioWIP) April 10, 2025

Also Read: Why Is Jets QB Jordan Travis Retiring From the NFL?

NFL Defensive Coordinator Salary

In 2025, all top 10 offensive and defensive coordinators earn at least $1 million, per estimates from ProFootballNetwork, Front Office Sports, and NFL.com. Additionally, at least six defensive coordinators outside the top 10 also command seven-figure salaries ($1 million). Defensive Coordinators like Jeff Ulbrich, for the Atlanta Falcons, is earning $1.6 million in 2025, but because of the prank call that his son made, during the NFL Draft to QB Shedeur Sanders, the NFL handed out a fine of $100,000, which is approximately 6% of his yearly salary.

NFL fined the Falcons $250,000 and defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich $100,000 for “failing to prevent the disclosure of confidential information distributed to the club in advance of the NFL Draft.” pic.twitter.com/WAMLPkFlUh
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 30, 2025

Meanwhile, the top of the top Defensive Coordinators like Vic Fangio, and Steve Spagnuolo, are earning from anywhere between $2 million-$4.5 Million.

Top 5 Highest Paid Defensive Coordinators in the NFL

According to Front Office Sports, here are the highest paid defensive coordinators in the NFL currently;

Rank	Coach	Team	Estimated Salary
1	Vic Fangio	Philadelphia Ealges	$4.5 million
2	Mike Zimmer	Dallas Cowboys	$4 million
3	Steve Spagnuolo	Kansas City Chiefs	$3.5 million
4	Todd Bowles	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	$2.4 million
5	Aden Durde	Seattle Seahawks	$2 million

Also Read: Stephen A. Smith Sounds Off on Shedeur Sanders’ Prank Caller With Some Harsh Words

NFL

Eric Divakaran

nba

nfl

mma

I cover the National Football League and things cannot get better than that. I always dreamed to play football or basketball professionally since I’m built like a Running Back. But now that I can’t, since I’m technically in the “Unc” age, I thought why not pick a career in sports industry? So here I am, doing what I love, and hoping that the Commanders win the Super Bowl. I give love to players when it’s due, but can be critical about their performances at the same time. Enough about me, now let my articles do all the talking.