The National Football League (NFL) is the premier professional American football league in North America. It is a multibillion-dollar business and the pinnacle of the professional sports industry. As such, the NFL has an immense draw for fans and viewers, and it commands enviable revenues from its expansive broadcasting deals. Of course, one of the most intriguing aspects of the NFL is the salaries of its players. With such a lucrative business, how much do NFL players make?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the various salary structures of the NFL and what factors influence a player’s salary. We’ll also discuss the differences between contracts, bonuses, and other sources of income that NFL players receive. Through examining these details, we’ll gain a better understanding of the world of professional football and the money that players make.
What affects how much an NFL player makes?
Each of the 32 NFL teams has a salary cap that establishes a maximum amount that can be spent on player salaries. While staying within the salary cap and abiding by the collective bargaining agreement, teams decide how much to pay each player. Because it is based on league revenue, the salary cap for teams changes every year.
In addition to the salary cap, the following factors can influence how much money an NFL player makes while playing for a team:
How much do NFL players make?
For instance, in 2022, a rookie’s pay ranges from $430,000 to $1,120,000 while a player with seven or more credited seasons who is active or inactive will earn $1,120,000. The median wage for all NFL players is $860,000. Additionally, players might be paid more depending on how many games they play.
NFL teams pay their players weekly during the 18-week season. Each of the 32 teams in the league plays 17 games over the course of 18 weeks, with one “bye” week. Typically, salaries include terms that may have an impact on payments, such as whether they miss games due to injury. A season’s worth of strong play often results in bonuses for players, raising their overall compensation.
What other compensation can NFL players earn?
NFL players have additional opportunities to earn money during a season in addition to their base salaries, especially if they perform well. Here are some other ways that players can earn compensation:
Signing bonuses
NFL players who officially sign a contract to play for a team may be given a signing bonus. This may incentivize the player to join the team. An NFL team can decide to pay the signing bonus all at once or spread payments out over a maximum of five years.
Roster bonuses
If a player spends a certain amount of time on a team’s active roster, they may be eligible for roster bonuses. If they are still on the team’s active roster as of the date specified in their contract, players who have a roster bonus earn that money.
Teams may also pay players a per-game roster bonus for being on the active roster during a given week. Each week they are on the active roster with this option, players can receive a bonus. This kind of roster bonus is frequently used by teams to encourage players to stay healthy throughout the season so they can participate as much as possible.
Workout bonuses
Players who participate in a certain number of offseason workouts receive workout bonuses from their teams. A player receives the bonus when they complete the agreed-upon number of workouts. NFL veterans with at least four seasons of experience can miss up to five workouts without losing this bonus.
Option bonuses
Similar to a signing bonus, an option bonus is given to a player after they have already agreed to a contract. Teams typically give players this bonus after they have been under contract for at least a year. Similar to a signing bonus, teams can pay out an option bonus over a maximum of five years.
Incentives
Teams may decide to provide financial incentives to players who reach certain season-long milestones or goals. If the player achieves that goal, they earn those incentives. Teams can indicate whether a player is likely to earn these incentives over the course of the season (LTBE) or is not likely to earn them (NLTBE). While NLTBE incentives are applied to the following year’s salary cap, LTBE incentives are applied to the team’s current salary cap.
Postseason pay
Teams pay players a base salary for the duration of the regular 18-week season, but if they advance to the postseason, they receive additional compensation from the league. In the postseason, each player earns the same amount per playoff game. Regardless of whether their team wins or loses, players on both teams are paid the same amount for divisional and conference championship games. The Super Bowl champions’ players make more money than the final opponent’s players.
Endorsements
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How Much Do NFL Draft Picks Make?
FAQ
Who is the lowest paid NFL player?
- Highest three-year APY.
- Total guaranteed money:
- Signed: March 2022 (contract ends in 2026)
- Here are the salaries of edge rushers:
- Highest three-year APY:
- Here are the salaries of wide receivers:
- Highest three-year APY.
- Here are the salaries for punters:
How much does a good NFL player make?
Tyrone Swoopes is the NFL player with the lowest salary, bringing in $38,000 in 2019. In all seven of his regular-season games from 2017 to 2019, he only managed two receptions for 28 yards on 109 offensive snaps. Before leaving the Hawks after the 2019 season, he was earning $174,706 a year.
