Among NFL coaches, Bill Belichick continues to collect the biggest paycheck in the game.

Sportico has released its newest rankings of the highest coaching salaries  in sports, and like the NFL dominates TV ratings, it also reigns over this list. Bill Belichick easily has the highest salary at $20 million, a full 33 percent better than second-place Pete Carroll ($15 million). Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs ($13 million, No. 4) was the only coach on the list in a sport other than American football.

In addition to six NFL coaches, three college coaches made the top-10 on Sportico’s list. Here’s the full top-10:

Highest-Paid Coaches In Sports

MIAMI, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 15: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on against the Miami Dolphins during the third quarter at Hard Rock Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

1. Bill Belichick, Patriots: $20 million
2. Pete Carroll, Seahawks: $15 million
3. Sean McVay, Rams: $14 million
4. Gregg Popovich, Spurs: $13 million
5. Mike Tomlin, Steelers: $12.5 million
6. Andy Reid, Chiefs: $12 million
7. John Harbaugh, Ravens: $12 million
8. Nick Saban, Alabama: $11.8 million
9. Dabo Swinney, Clemson: $11.5 million
10. Kirby Smart, Georgia: $11.3 million

Belichick obviously earned his league-high salary through lots and lots of winning in New England, mostly paired with Tom Brady. The post-Brady era has been more up-and-down, with the 2022 team sitting at 6-6 and likely needing to pull off an improbable win or two down the stretch in order to make the AFC Playoffs.

With the league’s highest salary comes the highest share of responsibility for his own team. Belichick told Dan Shaughnessy of the Boston Globe shortly before the start of the 2022 season, when asked about the decision to put Matt Patricia and Joe Judge in charge of running the offense: “I think they’re both good coaches. Ultimately, it’s my responsibility, like it always is. So if it doesn’t go well, blame me.”

Thirteen weeks in, the Patriots rank 19th in points per game (20.8), 26th in offensive touchdowns per game (1.8), and last in red zone touchdown percentage (37.5 percent). Their 24-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills at Gillette Stadium felt like a rock-bottom moment for the offense, particularly the coaches, because of their uncharacteristically poor situational awareness and lack of adjustments to the Buffalo defense.

FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – SEPTEMBER 25: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots stands on the sideline with Senior Football Advisor Matt Patricia during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at Gillette Stadium on September 25, 2022 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

In Belichick’s own words, blame him if it doesn’t go well. That’s an easy decision. It’s not necessarily Patricia and Judge’s fault that Belichick deemed them capable of running an NFL offense at a high level, despite their experience mostly being on defense and special teams.

As the highest paid coach in football, it’s Bill Belichick’s responsibility to make up for the lack of coaching skill below him. He hasn’t done enough of that in 2022. And it’ll be on him to turn the operation around, both down the stretch of the current season and in 2023.

It’s likely Belichick isn’t in any sort of real trouble yet, but Robert Kraft did express concern over the Pats’ lack of recent playoff wins entering the season, and now the Pats are in danger of missing the postseason altogether. There are rumblings about discontent from well-connected reporters.

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Regardless, Belichick is likely to get the 2023 season to get the team moving back in a positive direction. And of course, responsibility for that falls on him. That’s why he makes the biggest bucks.

Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.