The National Football League (NFL) is one of the most popular and profitable sports leagues in the world, attracting millions of fans and generating billions of dollars in revenue every year. The NFL players are among the highest-paid athletes in the world, earning lucrative salaries and endorsements from their teams and sponsors. But who are the richest NFL players of all time? How much have they earned from their football careers and other ventures?
Highest-Paid Players in NFL All Time
In this article, we will rank the top 10 highest-paid players in NFL history and their net worth as of 2023, based on multiple sources. We will also look at some of their career highlights, achievements, and records that made them stand out among their peers.
10. Russell Wilson – $165 Million
Russell Wilson is an American professional football player who plays quarterback for the Denver Broncos. He started his career with the Seattle Seahawks in 2012, where he played for nine seasons and led them to two Super Bowl appearances, winning one in 2014. He moved to the Broncos ahead of the 2022 season after a trade deal. Wilson is known for his mobility, accuracy, and leadership skills on the field. He has been selected to nine Pro Bowls and has won the NFL passing touchdown leader award twice. He is also a philanthropist and a businessman, owning a stake in the Seattle Sounders FC soccer team and launching his own clothing line, Good Man Brand.
9. Steve Young – $200 Million
Steve Young is a retired American football quarterback who played for the San Francisco 49ers for 13 seasons, from 1987 to 1999. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, winning three Super Bowls with the 49ers and being named the Super Bowl MVP twice. He also won two NFL MVP awards and led the league in passer rating six times. He holds several NFL records, including the highest career passer rating (96.8) and the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (43). After retiring from football, Young became a sports analyst for ESPN and a co-founder of HGGC, a private equity firm.
8. Aaron Rodgers – $200 Million
Aaron Rodgers is an American professional football player who plays quarterback for the Green Bay Packers. He was drafted by the Packers in 2005 and has been their starting quarterback since 2008. He is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, winning one Super Bowl with the Packers in 2011 and being named the Super Bowl MVP. He has also won three NFL MVP awards and has led the league in touchdown passes four times. He holds several NFL records, including the lowest career interception percentage (1.3%) and the highest single-season passer rating (122.5). He is also a celebrity endorser for brands like State Farm, Adidas, and Bose.
7. John Madden – $200 Million
John Madden was an American football player, coach, broadcaster, and entrepreneur who had a net worth of $200 million at the time of his death on December 28, 2021. He played as an offensive lineman for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1958 but retired due to a knee injury. He then became a coach for the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, winning one Super Bowl with them in 1977. He was known for his charismatic and passionate coaching style, earning him a reputation as one of the best coaches in NFL history. After retiring from coaching, Madden became a color commentator for various networks, covering NFL games for over three decades. He was famous for his enthusiastic and humorous commentary, as well as his use of a telestrator to illustrate plays on screen. He also lent his name and likeness to EA Sports’ Madden NFL video game series, which became one of the best-selling and most influential sports video games of all time.
6. Peyton Manning – $250 Million
Peyton Manning is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Indianapolis Colts from 1998 to 2011 and the Denver Broncos from 2012 to 2015. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, winning two Super Bowls with two different teams and being named the Super Bowl MVP once. He also won five NFL MVP awards and led the league in passing yards three times and passing touchdowns four times. He holds several NFL records, including the most career passing yards (71,940), passing touchdowns (539), and wins by a quarterback (200). After retiring from football, Manning became a media personality and a spokesperson for brands like Nationwide, Papa John’s, and Buick.
5. Tom Brady – $300 Million
TomBrady is an American professional football player who plays quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He started his career with the New England Patriots in 2000, where he played for 20 seasons and won six Super Bowls, the most by any player in NFL history. He also won four Super Bowl MVP awards and three NFL MVP awards. He is considered the greatest quarterback of all time and one of the most successful athletes in sports history. He holds several NFL records, including the most career wins (230), Super Bowl appearances (10), and Super Bowl touchdowns (21). He joined the Buccaneers in 2020 and led them to their second Super Bowl title in 2021. He is also a businessman and a philanthropist, founding his own lifestyle brand, TB12, and supporting various causes.
4. Brett Favre – $100 Million
Brett Favre is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1992 to 2007, the New York Jets in 2008, and the Minnesota Vikings from 2009 to 2010. He is one of the most durable and prolific quarterbacks in NFL history, starting 297 consecutive games and throwing for 71,838 yards and 508 touchdowns. He won one Super Bowl with the Packers in 1997 and was named the Super Bowl MVP. He also won three NFL MVP awards and led the league in passing touchdowns four times. He holds several NFL records, including the most career interceptions (336), fumbles (166), and sacks (525). After retiring from football, Favre became a sports analyst for SiriusXM and a spokesperson for Wrangler jeans.
3. Drew Brees – $160 Million
Drew Brees is a retired American football quarterback who played for the San Diego Chargers from 2001 to 2005 and the New Orleans Saints from 2006 to 2020. He is one of the most accurate and efficient quarterbacks in NFL history, completing 67.7% of his passes and posting a career passer rating of 98.7. He won one Super Bowl with the Saints in 2010 and was named the Super Bowl MVP. He also led the league in passing yards seven times and passing touchdowns four times. He holds several NFL records, including the most career completions (7,142), passing yards (80,358), and touchdown passes (571). After retiring from football, Brees became a sports analyst for NBC Sports and a co-owner of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.
2. Roger Staubach – $600 Million
Roger Staubach is a retired American football quarterback who played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969 to 1979. He is one of the most decorated and respected quarterbacks in NFL history, winning two Super Bowls with the Cowboys and being named the Super Bowl MVP once. He also won the Heisman Trophy as a college player at Navy in 1963. He was known for his clutch performances, earning him the nickname “Captain Comeback”. He led the league in passer rating four times and was selected to six Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1985. After retiring from football, Staubach became a successful businessman and entrepreneur, founding The Staubach Company, a real estate firm that he sold for $613 million in 2008.
1. Michael Strahan – $65 Million
Michael Strahan is a retired American football player who played defensive end for the New York Giants from 1993 to 2007. He is one of the most dominant and versatile defensive players in NFL history, winning one Super Bowl with the Giants in 2008 and being named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2001. He also holds the NFL record for the most sacks in a single season (22.5) and was selected to seven Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. After retiring from football, Strahan became a media personality and a host for various shows, such as Live! with Kelly and Michael, Good Morning America, The $100,000 Pyramid, and Fox NFL Sunday.
Conclusion
These are the top 10 highest-paid players in NFL history and their net worth as of 2023. They have achieved remarkable feats on and off the field, earning them fame, fortune, and respect from fans and peers alike. They have also inspired generations of aspiring athletes to pursue their dreams and passions.
FAQ
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about this topic:
Q: How are NFL players paid?
A: NFL players are paid through their contracts with their teams, which include base salaries, signing bonuses, roster bonuses, performance incentives, and other benefits. They also earn money from endorsements, appearances, merchandising, licensing, and other ventures.
Q: How are NFL players’ net worth calculated?
A: NFL players’ net worth is calculated by adding up their estimated earnings from their football careers and other sources, and subtracting their estimated expenses, taxes, debts, and liabilities. However, these figures are not official or verified, and may vary depending on the source and method of calculation.
Q: Who is the highest-paid player in the NFL in 2023?
A: According to Spotrac, the highest-paid player in the NFL in 2023 is Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, who has a total contract value of $450 million over 10 years, with an average annual salary of $45 million.
Q: Who is the richest NFL owner in 2023?
A: According to Forbes, the richest NFL owner in 2023 is David Tepper, the owner of the Carolina Panthers, who has a net worth of $14.5 billion as of April 2023. He is followed by Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, who has a net worth of $8.9 billion.
Q: How much does the NFL make in revenue in 2023?
A: According to Statista, the NFL generated $16.6 billion in revenue in 2020, which was a 6.5% decrease from 2019 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the league is expected to recover and grow its revenue in 2021 and beyond, thanks to new media rights deals with various networks and streaming platforms that are worth over $100 billion over 11 years. The exact figure for 2023 is not available yet, but it is estimated to be around $18 billion.
