How Much Do NFL Players Make in the Super Bowl?
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How much money do NFL players make for playing in the Super Bowl? We take a look at the numbers and explain how the distribution works.
Salaries of NFL Players
It is no secret that professional athletes are some of the highest-paid people in the world. The average NFL player salary is $2.1 million, but the players on the winning team of the Super Bowl will earn an extra $102,000 each. That may not seem like much, but it is a significant raise for a one-time game.
NFL Player’s Salaries by Position
NFL players’ salaries vary by position, experience, and performance. The average salary for all NFL players is $2 million, but some players make much more. The highest-paid NFL player is quarterback Russell Wilson, who makes $35 million per year. The lowest-paid NFL player is a rookie who makes the minimum salary of $480,000.
Here is a breakdown of NFL player salaries by position:
Quarterbacks: $2.7 million
Running backs: $1.6 million
Wide receivers: $1.4 million
Tight ends: $1 million
Offensive linemen: $950,000
Defensive linemen: $950,000
Linebackers: $ 950,000
Defensive backs: $ 950,000
Super Bowl Bonuses for NFL Players
Players on the winning team in the Super Bowl earn a $74,000 bonus, while players on the losing team earn a $38,000 bonus, according to Business Insider. In addition to their base salary, NFL players are paid bonuses for making the playoffs and performing well during the regular season. These bonuses can add up to tens of thousands of dollars per player.
The NFL also provides players with a pension plan and health insurance. After they retire, players receive annual payments from the league’s pension fund. The amount of these payments depends on how long they played in the NFL and their age when they retire. Players who retire at age 55 or older receive the maximum pension benefit, which is currently $110,000 per year.
How Much Do NFL Players Make in the Super Bowl?
The NFL has a salary cap that all teams must adhere to. In 2019, the salary cap is set at $188.2 million per team. The salary cap ensures that no team can spend an unlimited amount of money on their players. So, how much do NFL players make in the Super Bowl?
Super Bowl Winning Bonus
In addition to their salary, NFL players receive a generous signing bonus when they are drafted. For example, the first overall pick in the NFL draft will receive a signing bonus around $40 million. However, only a fraction of that money is guaranteed; the rest can be taken away by the team if the player is released before their contract expires.
Super Bowl winning players also receive a significant bonus. Each member of the winning team receives an extra $200,000, while members of the losing team receive an extra $100,000. These bonuses are in addition to any salaries or signing bonuses that the players may have already earned.
Super Bowl Losing Bonus
Though Super Bowl winners take home the coveted Lombardi Trophy and bragging rights for life, each player on the winning team also receives a pretty sweet financial bonus: $102,000 to be exact. As if that weren’t enough, they also get an extra $56,000 for playing in the conference championship game leading up to the big day. But what about the losing team? Do they get anything?
As it turns out, they do get a consolation prize of sorts. Each player on the losing team in the Super Bowl takes home a check for $51,000. That’s not quite as much as the winners, but it’s still a pretty hefty sum for playing in one game. And remember, these are just bonuses on top of their regular salaries. For many players, this can mean an extra $100,000 or more in earnings for the year.
Of course, not everyone is a winner in the Super Bowl. The coaches of both teams don’t get any bonuses at all. In fact, they actually have to pay for their own tickets to attend the game!
How Much Do NFL Players Make in the Super Bowl?
NFL players make a lot of money. In fact, they are some of the highest-paid athletes in the world. But how much do they make? And how does this compare to other professional athletes? Let’s take a look.
Super Bowl Winning Bonus
Players on the winning team receive an extra $74,000, while players on the losing team get an extra $37,000. In addition to their base salary, players receive a per-game active roster bonus during the regular season. That bonus goes up for playoff games. So, for instance, a player who was active for all 16 regular season games and three playoff games would earn a total of $31,250 in bonuses in addition to their salary.
Super Bowl Losing Bonus
Players on the losing team each receive $56,000, while players on the winning team each receive $102,000, according to Sportrac. That’s a difference of $46,000 between the two teams. The losing team’s bonus is equal to what the winners of the AFC and NFC Championship game receive — $56,000. The conference champions each get an extra $46,000 for playing in the Super Bowl.