Who Gets Paid More: Football or Baseball?

In this post, we compare the average salaries of football and baseball players to see which sport pays its athletes more.

Comparing Salaries

Average NFL salary vs. average MLB salary

While average salaries vary by position, the overall average salary for an NFL player is $2.7 million, while the average for an MLB player is $4 million. Major league baseball players make more money, on average, than football players.

However, there are a few factors to consider when comparing salaries between the two sports. First, NFL teams have 53 players on their roster, while MLB teams have 25. This means that an NFL team has to pay out salaries to twice as many players as an MLB team.

Second, the MLB season is nearly twice as long as the NFL season. An MLB player will typically play 162 games over the course of six months, while an NFL player will play 16 games over the course of four months. This means that MLB players have more opportunities to earn a salary than NFL players.

When considering all of these factors, it’s not surprising that MLB players make more money than NFL players.

Highest-paid NFL player vs. highest-paid MLB player

In 2018, the highest-paid NFL player was Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who earned an annual salary of $33.5 million. In contrast, the highest-paid MLB player was Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout, who earned $34 million.

While both players are among the highest-paid athletes in their respective sports, their salaries are not directly comparable. NFL players are paid a base salary plus bonuses, while MLB players are paid only a base salary. Bonuses make up a significant portion of an NFL player’s earnings, and they can vary widely from year to year. For example, Rodgers’ bonuses in 2018 totaled $6.8 million, while Trout’s bonuses amounted to just $1 million.

In addition, NFL contracts are typically structured to give players large signing bonuses up front and smaller base salaries in subsequent years. MLB contracts, on the other hand, typically have lower signing bonuses and higher base salaries spread out over the length of the deal. As a result, Trout is actually set to earn more total money over the course of his contract than Rodgers is under his current deal.

Revenue

In 2019, the NFL generated $8.1 billion in revenue, while MLB generated $10.7 billion. So, who gets paid more? Football or baseball? The answer is football. In 2019, the average NFL team was worth $2.86 billion, while the average MLB team was worth $1.78 billion. NFL teams generate more revenue than MLB teams, and that is why football players get paid more than baseball players.

NFL revenue vs. MLB revenue

In 2018, the NFL generated about $14 billion in revenue while Major League Baseball generated about $10 billion. While football remains America’s most popular sport, baseball is more popular globally. With that being said, the vast majority of MLB revenue comes from the United States while a large chunk of NFL revenue comes from international markets.

NFL television ratings vs. MLB television ratings

###NFL has steadily outranked MLB in terms of television ratings for the past few years. In 2012, NFL games were watched by an average of 17.6 million viewers, while MLB games averaged 14.9 million. In 2013, those numbers rose to an average of 18.1 million for NFL games and 14.5 million for MLB games. And in 2014, NFL games averaged 17.4 million viewers compared to 14.8 million for MLB games.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the NFL’s higher TV ratings than the MLB. One is the fact that there are simply more NFL games televised than MLB games. There are 32 NFL teams compared to just 30 MLB teams, so there are more NFL game days throughout the year. The NFL also has a shorter season than the MLB, so each game carries more weight and importance. Additionally, the playoffs in the NFL are single elimination, meaning that one bad game can mean the end of a team’s season, while in the MLB playoffs teams compete in a best-of-seven series format which allows for more diverse and interesting matchups.

Popularity

Baseball has been America’s “national pastime” for over a century now. And while football may be the more popular sport today, baseball still commands a large following. But which sport pays its athletes more?

NFL popularity vs. MLB popularity

There is no question that the NFL is more popular than MLB. Football has been the most popular sport in the United States for decades, and it shows no signs of slowing down. In 2018, an estimated 14.9 million people watched the Super Bowl, while only 8.2 million people watched the World Series.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the NFL’s popularity, including its violent nature, its status as a “mobility sport” (i.e., players can be easily moved around on the field), and the fact that it is a team sport with a clear structure (i.e., 11 players on each side). Football also benefits from having a shorter season than baseball, which means there is less time for fans to lose interest.

While baseball may never regain its status as America’s pastime, it remains a popular sport, particularly in cities with Major League teams. In 2018, MLB attendance was up for the sixth consecutive year, and there are no signs of fans’ interest waning anytime soon.

NFL attendance vs. MLB attendance

In recent years, both the NFL and MLB have seen a decline in attendance. In the NFL, attendance has been down since 2007, while MLB attendance hit its low point in 2014. There are a number of reasons for this decline, including the increased cost of tickets, the proliferation of TV and streaming options, and the shift in demographics of sports fans.

Despite the decline in overall attendance, both leagues are still immensely popular. The NFL remains the most popular sport in the US, with an average attendance of 17.6 million in 2017. MLB trails behind with an average attendance of 14.9 million, but is still one of the most popular sports in the country.

There are a number of factors that contribute to the popularity of each league. The NFL has a shorter season than MLB, which makes it more accessible to casual fans. Football also lends itself well to TV viewing, with games being broadcast on Thursdays, Sundays, and Mondays throughout the season. baseball games are often played during the day on weekdays, which can make it more difficult for fans to watch their favorite teams.

The popularity of each league also has an impact on player salaries. In general, NFL players make more money than MLB players. The average NFL salary was $2.1 million in 2017, while the average MLB salary was $4 million. However, there are a number of factors that affect player salaries, including position played, team success, and individual performance.