Belichick second on Forbes’ list of highest-paid coaches

Bill Belichick and Robert Kraft on the wake of the 2007 AFC championship win over the Chargers. (AP)

A couple of days after it said the Patriots were the No. 10 most valuable sports team brand in the world, Forbes magazine published its list of the 10 highest-paid coaches in professional sports, and it has Bill Belichick at No. 2 with an annual salary of $7.5 million.

The magazine says: “After a so-so run in Cleveland in the early 1990s, Belichick has reeled off a 112-48 record with New England since 2000, including nine division titles and four Super Bowl appearances.”

Belichick’s contract and salary have been a well-guarded secret over the years. The last time we heard talk about it was back in 2007, when it was reported the coach and franchise agreed to an extension that would keep him with the franchise through at least the 2013 season, according to ESPN. And earlier that year, Belichick made a brief mention about his contract situation.

“I don’t talk about contracts, but I would say I like working here, I like the organization — ownership, coaches, scouts, players, and the guys I work with,” he said in July 2007. “I appreciate the opportunity to work here, and it’s a good situation. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.”

Belichick is the highest-paid NFL coach on Forbes’ list — the only coach who makes more annually is Lakers coach Phil Jackson, whose yearly salary is listed as $10.3 million. (Reportedly, Jackson has been asked to take a pay cut after this season.) Other NFL coaches who made the list include Washington’s Mike Shanahan and Seattle’s Pete Carroll (tied for third overall at $7 million a year) and Tennessee’s Jeff Fisher (ninth at $5.75 million annually). In addition, Celtics coach Doc Rivers is 10th overall at $5.5 million a year.

The story does take note of the fact that when it comes to coaching in the NFL, there has been a lot of turnover — and lots of big new contracts — as of late. Forbes says that’s an indication of “confidence in an improving sports economy.”

“To the extent that coaching offers serve as a barometer of confidence in an improving sports economy, some recent NFL moves are certainly encouraging,” writes Tom Van Riper. “Following a period in which several highly paid veterans (Shanahan, Tony Dungy, Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren) walked away or were let go, replaced by younger, cheaper coaches, spending is picking up in some quarters. After a year off following his dismissal by the Broncos, Shanahan was handed a five-year, $35 million deal by Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, complete with control over the football operation, with marching orders to turn around the franchise.”