How Much do NFL Practice Squad Players Make?

A look at how much NFL practice squad players make per week, and how that compares to the salaries of players on active rosters.

Introduction

An NFL practice squad player earns a minimum salary of $8,000 per week during the 17-week regular season, which breaks down to $470 per game. A player on the practice squad may be promoted to the 53-man active roster at any time during the season and would then earn the pro-rated portion of his $8,000 base salary for however many games he’s on the roster.

How Much do NFL Practice Squad Players Make?

The NFL practice squad is a group of players who are signed by NFL teams to their practice squad. These players are not eligible to play in NFL games, but they practice with the team and provide depth in case of injuries. NFL practice squad players make a minimum of $6,900 per week during the season.

Minimum Salary

The minimum salary for NFL practice squad players in 2019 is $8,000 per week, or $136,000 over the 17-week season. Practice squad players are free to sign with any other team, but they cannot be signed to the active roster of their own team.

Per Game Salary

As of the 2019 NFL season, practice squad players are paid $8,000 per week, or $136,000 for the 17-week season. That is almost double the $7,600 that they made in 2018 and the $6,900 they earned in 2017.

End of Season Bonuses

At the end of the season, players on the practice squad are eligible for bonuses. These bonuses are in addition to their weekly salary, and they are paid out based on the number of weeks that a player has been on the practice squad. For example, a player who has been on the practice squad for eight weeks would receive an eight-week bonus. The amount of these bonuses vary depending on the team, but they typically range from $6,000 to $8,000.

How Does This Compare to Other Leagues?

NBA

In the NBA, practice squad players make a minimum of $8,125 per week during the season. They are also paid an additional $1,400 per week during the preseason.

NHL

In the National Hockey League (NHL), the minimum salary for a player on the practice squad is $700 per week during the season, and $5,850 per week in the preseason. For players who have accrued fewer than three seasons of NHL experience, their salaries are determined by a collective bargaining agreement between the league and the NHL Players’ Association. For players with three or more seasons of experience, their salaries are set forth in individual player contracts.

MLB

The minimum salary for a player on an MLB team’s 40-man roster is $545,000 this season. Players on the disabled list do not receive their full salary while they are unavailable to play.

Practice squad players in the MLB earn $4,200 per week during the season. They are free to sign with another team at any time, but they cannot be called up to the major leagues.

What are the Other Benefits of Being on an NFL Practice Squad?

Being on an NFL practice squad has its perks. Not only do you get to practice with the team and travel with them to away games, but you also get a signing bonus and a salary. Let’s take a look at the other benefits of being on an NFL practice squad.

Health Insurance

As of 2020, NFL practice squad players are now eligible for full health insurance benefits, including dental and vision. This is a huge improvement from previous seasons where practice squad players were only eligible for health insurance if they were injured during a game. This new rule change means that players can now focus on their development without having to worry about their long-term health.

Retirement Plan

An NFL practice squad player’s main job is to serve as an emergency back-up for the 53-man roster. In exchange for their services, they receive a weekly salary and are eligible for some benefits, including a retirement plan.

Players on the practice squad are not eligible for post-season play or the Pro Bowl.

Conclusion

NFL practice squad players make a minimum of $8,000 per week during the season. Players on the practice squad are free to sign with any other team at any time, but they cannot leave for another team without permission from their current team.