The Top 10 NFL Player Earnings of All-Time

When Kirk Cousins’ release from the Atlanta Falcons is official on the first day of the league year, he will move into the top 4 of NFL player earnings of all-time.  And if he signs elsewhere and earns another multi-year deal, he could move into the top three.  What’s interesting about Cousins, he doesn’t have a Super Bowl ring, and he only has one playoff victory to his name. Let’s take a look at who’s on the list and who could surpass the leaders one day in the future.

1. Matthew Stafford $408,315,802

Matthew Stafford is the only NFL player to top the $408 million mark. Over this career, he made $219.3 million with the Detroit Lions during his 12 seasons and another $189 million with the Rams over the last five years.  The NFL MVP and Super Bowl winner said he isn’t done just yet and plans to return next season.  Stafford has made over $1.6 million for every game he’s played in the NFL, or about 27-thousand bucks for every minute,  

2.  Aaron Rodgers $394,808,010

Aaron Rodgers could reach the $400 million mark if he returns for another season, assuming he gets paid over $5 million.  A closer look at Aaron Rodgers’ career earnings and contract history shows just how remarkable that milestone would be.

Rodgers earned $305.61 million over 18 years in Green Bay, another $75.05 million in two seasons with the Jets, and $14.15 million in his lone season with the Steelers.  Widely regarded as one of the best quarterbacks of his generation, Rodgers only won one Super Bowl with the Packers.

3. Tom Brady $332,962,392 

Tom Brady likely could have been at the top of this list, but he always took a hometown discount with the Patriots so the team could chase Super Bowls.  Brady earned $235.17 million with New England over 20 seasons and another $97.8 million in three seasons with Tampa Bay.  He won 286 total games and 7 Super Bowls over his Hall of Fame career.  What’s interesting is Brady will earn $375 million over the next ten years as a FOX commentator – more than his entire playing career.

4. Kirk Cousins $321,692,254

Kirk Cousins is regarded as one of the best-compensated free agents in NFL history.  The former second-round pick made nearly $300 million between signing with the Vikings and the Falcons over his career.  Minnesota paid him $183.05 million over his six seasons, while Atlanta gave him over $90 million for just two seasons, where he played just 24 games.  Cousins earned $46.64 million in six seasons with Washington.  It wouldn’t be a surprise for another team to scoop up Cousins in the offseason, which likely will boost his earnings even further. 

5. Russell Wilson $316,870,920

Russell Wilson’s play on the field has diminished over the last few years, but his bankroll hasn’t.  In his first four seasons, he earned  $2.99 million on his 4-year rookie deal.  He would go on to win a Super Bowl and earn $182.37 million with the Seahawks before being traded to Denver.  He signed a contract worth $245 million and took $123 million of guaranteed money before being released. Wilson then played with Pittsburgh for a minimum ($1.21M) and then last season earned $10.5 million with the Giants.  Just a side note, his wife, Ciara’s, net worth is listed at just $20 million.

6. Matt Ryan $303,713,631

Matt Ryan retired as one of the highest-earning players in NFL history, with over $303 million in total career earnings over 15 seasons (2008–2023). After going third overall in 2008, Ryan would sign two massive 5-year extensions and earn $267.01 million during his 14 seasons in Atlanta.  He would go on to make another $36.71million in his lone year with the Colts. Ryan has averaged over $20M during his career, higher than some of the QBs listed above. 

7. Dak Prescott $296,335,465

Dak Prescott is the only player in the top 7 to earn all of his money with one team.   Prescott was taken by the Cowboys in the fourth round (135th overall pick) of the 2016 NFL Draft.  His rookie deal earned him $2.7 million over four years.  He then made $31.4 million for one season as a Franchise Tag.  Since then, he’s signed two, four-year deals, which included a record $80M signing bonus.  Prescott is also the first player to ever earn $60M per season.  To date, the Cowboys have paid him nearly $300 million dollars and posted a 2-5 record in the NFL playoffs.

8. Drew Brees $271,539,422

Drew Brees was one of the most prolific passers in NFL history and, during his 20-year career, made more than $271 million.  He was drafted by the Chargers and made about $15 million during five seasons.  But he would sign a 5-year, $100 million contract, which was the largest guaranteed money deal in NFL history at the time. He also signed a 2-year, $50 million extension in 2018 and another 2-year, $50 million deal in 2020. He would earn more than $256 million from the Saints and was announced as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 2026.

9. Ben Roethlisberger $267,286,864

Ben Roethlisberger is the only other player in the top 10 to earn all of his money with one franchise.  He was drafted 11th overall in 2004 and had four total contracts over his career.  About $85 million of his total earnings came from base salaries, while $175 million came in the form of bonuses and another $5.5 million in incentives. 

10. Jared Goff $259,635,888

Jared Goff was the first overall pick in 2016 with the Rams and earned over $82 million with Los Angeles before being traded to Detroit. His career was rejuvenated with the Lions earning him another extension in 2024, 4-years worth $212 million ($170 million guaranteed).  By the end of this deal, he’ll earn another $140 million, assuming he plays, and will move up further on this list.

The Next Generation

Josh Allen is going into his ninth NFL season and has already earned $232,610,993 million.  

He recently signed a 6-year, $330 million contract extension in March 2025 that runs through the 2030 season.  When this deal runs out, he could earn close to half a billion dollars.  And barring injuries, Allen could play another few seasons after.

Patrick Mahomes has earned $232,004,472 with the Chiefs.  He’s won three Super Bowls and two NFL MVP awards and is considered the best quarterback in the league.  Mahomes is currently in the middle of a 10-year, $450 million deal he signed in 2020.  Mahomes could sign another contract after this, and depending on his play and where the salary cap is, Mahomes has the chance of becoming the first NFL player to earn one billion dollars over his playing career.  But that is still a long way to go.

Final Thoughts

As ratings and broadcast rights continue to soar in the NFL, so does the salary cap.  The projected cap for the 2026 season is expected to be between $301.2 million and $305.7 million per team, the first time in history it’s gone over $300 million.  How long before we see a $100 million a year player?  We could see it within the next 5-10 years.  In a decade, when we look back, many of the players on this list may not even make the top 20 of all-time.  The bottom line is the NFL is big business, and for future players, it also means big-time contracts and earnings.