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Working as a coach in the National Football League is a demanding and stressful occupation. Head coaches are typically workaholics who frequently sleep in their offices during the season. Life is not much easier for assistant coaches who routinely log 70-hour weeks.
NFL coaches are well-rewarded for their efforts. Head coaches earn an average salary of $3 million to $4 million annually. Assistant coaches generally make less than $1 million per year.
Job security for NFL coaches is fleeting because of the overwhelming pressure to win at all costs. The average tenure of a NFL coach is about 4 years. Due to stress that accompanies the position, many NFL coaches also must deal with health problems such as heart attacks. -
During the 16-game NFL regular season, most coaches arrive early in the morning at the team's practice facility. For instance, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach Jon Gruden gets up at 3:11 a.m. daily. A NFL coach's workday consists of exhaustive review of game films, strategy sessions and overseeing grueling practices. In addition to overseeing a staff of assistants and massaging the egos of highly paid players, head coaches must also make time to meet with the team's general manager and the media.
The stress reaches its apex on game-day. Coaches must try to motivate players, choose the correct plays to call and make critical split-second decisions that can range from whether to challenge a referee's call to using time-outs to manage the game clock. - NFL coaches begin preparing for the upcoming season only a few weeks after the Super Bowl is played. Coaches must evaluate collegiate talent at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis in late February, which is followed by NFL draft in April. They also have to consult with the team's management about releasing players and signing free agents. The real work starts again during a series of mini-camps in May and June, followed by the start of full training camp in late July and the first preseason games in August.
