Who Has Made the Most Money in the NFL?

A look at the NFL players who have made the most money in their careers.

Peyton Manning

Peyton Manning, who played for the Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos, is the NFL’s all-time leader in career earnings. With a total of $248 million in earnings, he is ahead of second-place Drew Brees by more than $60 million. Manning also holds the record for most career touchdown passes, with 539.

NFL career earnings

Peyton Manning is a retired American football quarterback who played 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Indianapolis Colts. He is considered to be one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. During his time with the Colts, Manning helped the team win Super Bowl XLI and was named Super Bowl MVP. He also holds many NFL records, including most passing yards in a career (71,940) and most passing touchdowns in a career (539).

Since his retirement from football in 2016, Manning has made numerous appearances on television, including as a host and guest on various talk shows. He has also been working as an analyst for NFL games on ESPN. In March 2018, it was announced that Manning would be joining NBC Sports as a contributor for their Thursday Night Football pre-game show.

Since 2016, Peyton Manning’s career earnings are estimated to be $250 million.

Endorsements

In May 2016, Forbes estimated that Manning had made $150 million in on-field salary and off-field endorsements in his 18 years as a professional football player. In 2012, he replaced Tiger Woods as the athlete with the most lucrative endorsement contract in history, signing a five-year contract with Nike that was worth $10 million per year. Forbes estimated that Manning’s other contracts with Gatorade, Reebok, DirecTV, Papa John’s Pizza, and Nationwide Insurance brought his total earnings from endorsements to $12 million per year.

Tom Brady

Tom Brady has made the most money in the NFL. He is a quarterback for the New England Patriots. He has played in ten Super Bowls, winning seven of them. He is also a three-time NFL MVP and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection.

NFL career earnings

Tom Brady has earned an estimated $239.7 million in salary during his NFL career, which began in 2000. That total does not include the roughly $8 million he has earned in bonuses, or the estimated $12 million he has earned in endorsements over the years.

In comparison, the average NFL career lasts just three-and-a-half years, and the average player earns $2.7 million during that time. Even among NFL quarterbacks, Brady’s earnings are extraordinary. The median salary for an NFL quarterback is $4 million per year, and only a handful of quarterbacks earn more than $20 million per year.

Endorsements

Brady has been an Elite athlete his entire life. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 18th round of the 1995 MLB draft, but he did not sign with the team. Instead, Brady attended the University of Michigan, where he played college football for the Michigan Wolverines. After winning several awards during his collegiate career, including the Heisman Trophy in 1999, Brady was selected by the New England Patriots with the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL draft.

During his 20 NFL seasons as of 2019, Brady has earned about $235 million in salary from the Patriots, and an estimated $180 million from endorsements. In 2010, he became only the second NFL player after Peyton Manning to be namedAssociated Press Male Athlete of the Year more than once, winning it again in 2017. In 2016 and 2017, Forbes listed Brady as world’s highest-paid athlete with earnings of $88 million and $53 million respectively. In 2019 and 2020, he regained that title as he earned $70 million and $59 million respectively.

Drew Brees

Drew Brees has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL over the last decade. He has led the New Orleans Saints to nine playoff appearances and a Super Bowl victory. He has also been named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year three times. In 2012, he signed a five-year, $100 million contract with the Saints, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.

NFL career earnings

As of the 2019 season, Brees has earned a total of $253.7 million in salary from the Saints and Chargers, as well as $60 million in endorsements, for a grand total of $313.7 million. That puts him sixth on the all-time list for career earnings, behind only Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Bledsoe, and John Elway.

Endorsements

Drew Brees has had a very successful career, not just in football, but in marketing and advertising as well. He has had many different endorsement deals throughout his career, making him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world.

Some of his most notable endorsements have been with Nike, Verizon, Microsoft, and Procter & Gamble. He has also done commercials for Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, Mississippi Tourism Board, Puma SE, and Rootstein mannequins. In 2013, he was ranked the sixth most powerful athlete in the world by Forbes magazine. In 2012, he was ranked the second most powerful athlete in the world by ESPN.

Aaron Rodgers

In 2013, Aaron Rodgers became the NFL’s highest-paid player, signing a five-year, $110 million contract extension with the Green Bay Packers. This made him the first NFL player to sign a contract worth over $100 million. Rodgers’ base salary is $15 million per year, and he also has a $5 million signing bonus. In total, he will earn an estimated $180 million over the course of his career.

NFL career earnings

Rodgers is currently in his 13th NFL season and has earned $196.7 million in salary so far, per Spotrac. That includes the $134 million signing bonus he received when he agreed to a four-year, $134 million extension with the Packers in 2018. That deal made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.

In 2020, Rodgers will earn a base salary of $1 million with a roster bonus of $6.8 million and a workout bonus of $500,000, per Spotrac. The total maximum value of his contract is now $180 million with $103 million guaranteed, making him once again one of the highest-paid players in the league.

Endorsements

Rodgers has a number of significant endorsement deals, which have contributed to his status as one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. He is currently an endorser for Nike, Sharpie, State Farm Insurance, andPrecision Time. In 2013, he became the spokesperson for RenewLife Probiotics. He also has deals with Dunkin’ Donuts, panties maker Jockey International, pizza chain Papa John’s Pizza, meatstick company Slim Jim, and discount brokerage firm Edward Jones Investments. Rodgers’ deal with Nike is worth an estimated $5 million per year.

Matt Ryan

Matt Ryan, who is the current quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons, is the highest-paid player in the NFL. As of September 2018, Ryan has made $150 million in his career. This includes his signing bonus, base salary, and other bonuses.

NFL career earnings

Matt Ryan is an American football quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Falcons third overall in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Boston College.
In 2013, Ryan was the NFL’s offensive player of the year.
As of 2019, Ryan has earned over $150 million in his NFL career, which ranks him as the sixth highest-paid NFL player.

Endorsements

Matt Ryan is the current NFL MVP and has been endorsed by Nike, Gatorade, Prilosec OTC, DirecTV, and ZymaDerm. He has also been on the cover of Madden NFL 17.