Biggest NFL Contracts: Highest Paid NFL Players of All Time
Check out the Top Earners and the Jaw-Dropping Contracts That Made Them Millionaires
Money Printing Machine
The NFL remains the United States’ highest-grossing sport, generating around $19 billion per year currently. With this sport being a money-printing machine for so many years, we have seen lucrative contracts and big-time names make life-changing money through the NFL.
How much do NFL players make? The average NFL salary as of 2024 is $2.8 million, which is still not bad for playing a sport for a living, but it doesn’t come even close to the highest-paid NFL player ever. Check out who ranks in the top 10 all-time in earnings in the NFL.
And don’t forget to check out the NFL odds tonight according to BetUS to see how your favorite team stacks up.
NFL’s Top Earners
10. Peyton Manning: $248.7 Million
The Manning brothers hold down the ninth and tenth spot amongst the highest-paid NFL players of all time. Peyton holds more accolades and had the arguably better overall career but made slightly less than his brother did.
Peyton is the only player on this list to leave on a high note, retiring in 2016 after winning the Super Bowl. Peyton won two Super Bowls in his career and was also a 14-time Pro Bowl selection.
9. Eli Manning: $252.2 Million
Eli Manning had a notorious career due to his biggest feat of beating Tom Brady twice in the Super Bowl. He was the anti-cheat to the Patriots in the big game, winning both of his Super Bowls against them.
Manning had a lengthy, 16-year career with the New York Giants, remaining faithful to the team his entire career. While he never had the flashiest NFL stats, Eli got it done when it mattered and will go down as one of the all-time greats, along with his brother, who rounds the list out.
8. Ben Roethlisberger: $267.2 Million
Big Ben is just behind Drew Brees in all-time career earnings. Roethlisberger exploded out of the gates in his career, earning the title of Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2004 and winning his first Super Bowl the following year.
Big Ben would go on to win the Super Bowl twice in his first five seasons. Ben had a massive pocket presence and was a mountain of a quarterback, hence his nickname. Ben spent all 18 years of his career in Pittsburgh, and watching him retire in 2022 was one of the saddest sports memories for me.
7. Drew Brees: $269.7 Million
Drew Brees may be the best quarterback to only win one Super Bowl all-time. Brees had 13 Pro Bowl selections and has 80,358 career passing yards. Drew Brees will likely have statues erected in New Orleans because of his legendary status and what he means to the city.
Brees absolutely earned every cent he made in his career, as he always left it all on the field and was one of the most explosive passers from the pocket we have seen.
6. Kirk Cousins: $294.1 Million
Well, if Falcon’s fans are upset Matt Ryan never won a Super Bowl, at least they can say he made it to one. Kirk Cousins is officially the highest-paid NFL player of all time to have never even MADE it to the Super Bowl. In fact, Cousins has one playoff win in his entire career.
Cousins spent six seasons in Washington, D.C., before heading to Minnesota for six seasons, eventually ending up in Atlanta this year. While Kirk Cousins could prove doubters wrong and still win a championship, it’s safe to say he’s the least-accomplished quarterback on this list. Oh, and also, Cousins’ agent is the best agent of all time, no doubt.
5. Matt Ryan: $303.7 Million
While Matt Ryan will probably always be known for the Falcon’s 28-3 blown lead in Super Bowl LI, he still had a long and successful career in Atlanta. Still, Ryan is the highest-paid NFL player of all time without a Super Bowl victory, which makes his success controversial, especially to Falcon’s fans. Ryan spent 14 seasons in Atlanta, making the postseason multiple times, but he never quite made it all the way.
4. Russell Wilson: $306.5 Million
Look away, Broncos fans. Given how Russell Wilson has performed over the last few seasons, it can be hard to imagine he’s one of the highest-paid QBs ever. Nonetheless, he makes the list at number four with a staggering $300 million in career earnings.
Wilson’s majority of success came early in his career, winning his only Super Bowl (Just RUN the BALL) in his second season in 2013, but Wilson’s time in Seattle was a run we will never forget.
3. Tom Brady: $332.9 Million
The greatest NFL player of all time, with little debate otherwise. Brady has too many accolades to even name, but the most impressive, seven-time Super Bowl champion, may never be beat.
Brady used to be number one on this list, but he isn’t an active player, and he is the highest retired player on the list. Of course, his numbers could and should be even higher, but Brady was well-known and loved by the New England Patriots for taking multiple team-friendly contracts at lower prices to help the team out with cap space so they could sign and keep better talent.
No one will ever have the composure, grit, competitiveness, and talent at the quarterback position like Tom Brady ever again. Patrick Mahomes may make a case by the end of his career, but it’s too speculative at the moment to compare the two.
2. Matthew Stafford: $359.3 Million
Matthew Stafford, like Aaron Rodgers, made a major career move by signing with the Los Angeles Rams after a long career with his original team, the Detroit Lions. Stafford made an immediate impression with his new team, winning the Super Bowl in 2022.
Stafford is in his 16th season in the NFL and is currently in the middle of a four-year, $160 million contract. Stafford is the all-time NFL leader with 45 game-winning drives in his career.
1. Aaron Rodgers: $380.6 Million
Who’s the highest-paid NFL player ever? None other than “Discount Doublecheck” Aaron Rodgers himself. While Patrick Mahomes holds the record for the biggest contract in NFL history (10 years, $450 million), Aaron Rodgers is now the highest-paid NFL player ever in terms of cumulative earnings.
Rodgers is signed with the Jets through 2025, and it’s safe to say he will go down as one of the all-time greats. Although he only has won one Super Bowl in his career, he is a four-time MVP and ten-time Pro Bowler. Rodgers is one of the greatest minds and most accurate arms the sport has ever seen.
