The 10 Most Powerful Athletes

Forbes: The Highest-Paid Coaches In Sports

Forbes ranked the athletes based on how they performed on the court and field, attracted rich sponsors, lenttheir names to sneakers, and built their own businesses. To see who made the list, click here.

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The Highest-Paid... When it comes to coaches that make the big bucks, the big four sports leagues in North America become the big two. The NFL and NBA are where the money is.
(Sources: coacheshotseat.com, insidehoops.com, various published reports)
(Christian Petersen/Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
10. Mike Tomlin Pittsburgh Steelers (NFL)
Annual salary: $5 million
Career record: 43-21 (.642)
Titles: 1

An extension Tomlin signed in the summer of 2010 roughly doubled his previous salary. With two Super Bowl appearances under his belt since replacing Bill Cowher in 2007, Tomlin signed through 2012 with an option for 2013.
(George Gojkovich/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
9. Tom Coughlin New York Giants (NFL)
Annual salary: $5.25 million
Career record: 133-107 (.554)
Titles: 1

Coughlin, a six-time division winner in 15 pro seasons, has one season left on the four-year extension he got after the Giants' 2007-08 Super Bowl season. The club is reportedly set to extend him beyond 2011.
(Win McNamee/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
8. Ken Whisenhun... Arizona Cardinals (NFL)
Annual salary: $5.75 million
Career record: 32-32 (.500)

The former Steelers assistant was rewarded with an extension in February 2010 after two division titles and a Super Bowl appearance in his first three years.
(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
7. Mike D'Antoni... New York Knicks (NBA)
Annual salary: $6 million
Career record: 370-315 (.540)
Titles: 0

Players love his fun, up-tempo style. But D'Antonio's future may come down to what he does with his first full season with Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony in 2011-12.
(Marc Serota/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
6. Lovie Smith Chicago Bears (NFL)
Annual Salary: $6 million
Career record: 63-49 (.563)
Titles: 0

Just got extended as his four-year, $22 million deal was expiring. Smith came within a game of a second Super Bowl appearance last year, losing to Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game.
(Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
5. Gregg Popovic... San Antonio Spurs (NBA)
Annual salary: $6 million
Career record: 797-383 (.675)
Titles: 4

The NBA version of Belichick, Popovich just keeps winning year after year, bagging a few titles along the way.
(AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
4. Pete Carroll Seattle Seahawks (NFL)
Annual salary: $7 million
Career record: 40-40 (.400)
Titles: 0

Building a college power at USC not only earned Carroll another NFL shot after a so-so run in the 1990s with the Jets and Patriots, it made him a hot commodity. He snuck into the playoffs at 7-9 last year.
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
3. Glenn "Doc" R... Boston Celtics (NBA)
Annual salary: $7 million
Career record: 507-406 (.555)
Titles: 1

After much speculation about his future, Rivers just re-upped with Boston on a five-year deal that bumps his salary up from approximately $5.5 million a year.
(Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
2. Mike Shanahan... Washington Redskins
Annual salary: $7 million
Career record: 152-108 (.585)
Titles: 2

Redskins' owner Dan Snyder invested big bucks in Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl winner in Denver, to revitalize his franchise. After a 6-10 inaugural season, it's still a work in progress.
(Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
1. Bill Belichic... New England Patriots (NFL)
Annual salary: $7.5 million
Career record: 162-94 (.633)
Titles: 3

Belichick's Pats haven't taken a Super Bowl title since 2004, but they've still been winning like crazy (72-23) since.
(John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)

More From Forbes:
Baseball’s 10 Most Underpaid Players
The Most Influential Athletes
The NBA’s Most And Least Cost-Efficient Teams

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
The 10 Most Powe... Forbes ranked the athletes based on how they performed on the court and field, attracted rich sponsors, lenttheir names to sneakers, and built their own businesses. To see who made the list, click here.