Deion Sanders’ tenure at Colorado in the 2023 college football season has been quite a transformation. When he initially signed a five-year, $29.5 million contract with the Buffs, there were doubts if he’ll be able to justify his salary, that too with a 1-11 team. However, after just 6 games into the season, Deion’s contract is looking like a bargain, especially when compared to Nick Saban’s hefty contract with Alabama.
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In the recent release by Boardroom, the list of highest-paid college football coaches revealed a notable contrast. Nick Saban’s annual earnings exceeded Deion Sanders’ by nearly $6,000,000, leaving football fans surprised. Alabama Crimson Tide is boasting a 5-1 record in the current season, whereas Colorado Buffaloes sit at 4-2. Nonetheless, the disparity in recruiting capabilities between the two coaches at the start of this season is evident. This $6 million gap in earnings has left fans intrigued.
Exploring the Difference Between Nick Saban and Deion Sanders’ Contract
Nick Saban is considered one of the greatest college football coaches in the history of the sport. His contract with Alabama is set to continue until the 2029 season, concluding in February 2030, per on3. The contract has a staggering total worth of at least $93.6 million. In 2022, under the new deal, Alabama paid Nick Saban $10.7 million. By 2029, his annual earnings will rise to a minimum of $12.7 million, per annum.
On the other hand, Deion Sanders’ contract with Colorado spans five years and is valued at up to $29.5 million, excluding bonuses. After three years, the contract allows renegotiations. In his first year as head coach, he earns around $5.5 million, ranking him in the 31st position as per the Boardroom list.
Deion Sanders’ contract comprises of a $500,000 base pay. Moreover, additional compensation is also included, which is tied to media, promotions, and student-athlete development. The contract escalates by $200,000 annually, reaching $6.3 million by 2027.
Coach Prime’s Colorado contract included bonuses, offering $450,000 for a New Year’s 6 bowl game invitation and $750,000 for a national championship win. However, despite all this, Nick Saban, who is the highest-paid head coach in the NCAA, trumps Coach Prime in annual earnings by a huge margin.
Second on the list of highest paid coaches is Dabo Swinney of Clemson who has a $10.88 million annual contract, followed by Kirby Smart of Georgia at $10.7 million. Ryan Day of Ohio State at 10.27 million, Mel Tucker of Michigan State at $10.01 million annually, and Brian Kelly of LSU with a $9.97 million contract per year, stand as the next three highest-paid coaches after the Top Three.
How Much is Nick Saban Earning in Comparison to NFL coaches?
In the realm of coaching salaries for the year 2023, Nick Saban’s college football earnings are eclipsed by only seven NFL coaches. Bill Belichick leads the NFL with a substantial $20 million contract, per Sportsnaut. He is followed by Sean Payton at $18 million. Then Pete Carroll comes in at $15 million. After him, Sean McVay at $14 million gets the next spot. He is followed by Mike Tomlin at $12.5 million, Andy Reid and John Harbaugh at $12 million.
Notably, Bill Belichick stands as one of the greatest NFL coaches. He boasts six Super Bowl victories, three AP Coach of the Year awards, and an all-time record for coaching wins. His legacy is synonymous with the Patriots’ dominant era from 2001 to 2019. Led by the iconic Tom Brady-Bill Belichick partnership.
Not many NFL coaches are trumping Saban’s annual payout. This proves that college football is gaining new heights every passing day.
