NFL players sign some enormous contracts. However, unlike in other professional sports, those deals are hardly ever guaranteed, and few players go on to actually make all the money in their deal. Part of that is because the average career of an NFL player is less than four years. However, there are a handful of truly stand out football players that return to the gridiron season after season and do go on to collect all the many millions in their contracts as well as sign new contracts. Those players go on to earn $100 million or more over their span of their careers in the NFL.
The following 25 players have all made more than $100 million in their NFL careers. The list includes 17 current players, eight retired players, 17 quarterbacks, a pair of brothers, and nine Super Bowl winners. The top eight highest paid players are all quarterbacks.
These are the 25 highest earning NFL players of all time:
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
#25. Champ Bailey – $102.8 million
Position: Cornerback
Team: Retired, formerly Washington Redskins (1999-20o3), Denver Broncos (2004-2013)
Seasons: 15
Highest Earning Season: $16.5 million in 2010
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 12
#24. Alex Smith – $106.5 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Seasons: 12
Highest Earning Season: $19 million in 2014, which included an $18 million signing bonus
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 2
#23. Calvin Johnson – $113.8 million
Position: Wide Receiver
Team: Retired, Detroit Lions (2007-2015)
Seasons: 9
Highest Earning Season: $25 million in 2013
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 6
#22. Sam Bradford – $114.1 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Minnesota Vikings
Seasons: 7
Highest Earning Season: $26.8 million in 2011, which included an $18 million signing bonus
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls:0
#21. Joe Thomas – $119.9 million
Position: Left Tackle
Team: Cleveland Browns
Seasons: 11
Highest Earning Season: $19.1 million in 2011, which includes a $6 million signing bonus
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 10
Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
#20. Mario Williams – $120.4 million
Position: Defensive End
Team: Miami Dolphins
Seasons: 11
Highest Earning Season: $25 million in 2012, which includes a $19 million signing bonus
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 4
#19. Jay Cutler – $122.2 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Miami Dolphins
Seasons: 11
Highest Earning Season: $20.5 million in 2015
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 1
#18. Darrelle Revis – $124.2 million
Position: Cornerback
Team: New York Jets
Seasons: 10
Highest Earning Season: $25 million in 2011
Super Bowl Wins: 1 (with the New England Patriots)
Pro Bowls: 7
#17. Ndamukong Suh – $124.2 million
Position: Defensive Tackle
Team: Miami Dolphins
Seasons: 8
Highest Earning Season: $26.5 million in 2015, $25.5 of that was his signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 4
#16. Michael Vick – $124.8 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Retired, formerly Atlanta Falcons (2001-2008), Philadelphia Eagles (2009-2013), New York Jets (2014), Pittsburgh Steelers (2015)
Seasons: 13
Highest Earning Season: $27.5 million in 2005
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 4
Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images
#15. Tony Romo – $127.4 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Retired, formerly Dallas Cowboys
Seasons: 13
Highest Earning Season: $26.5 million in 2013, $25 million of which was a signing bonus
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 4
#14. Joe Flacco – $135.8 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Baltimore Ravens
Seasons: 10
Highest Earning Season: $30 million in 2013, $20 million of that was a signing bonus
Super Bowl Wins: 1
Pro Bowls: 0
#13. Aaron Rodgers – $137.5 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Green Bay Packers
Seasons: 13
Highest Earning Season: $38.3 million in 2013. $33 million was a signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 1
Pro Bowls: 6
#12. Brett Favre – $137.8 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Retired, formerly Atlanta Falcons (1991), Green Bay Packers (1992-2007), New York Jets (2008), Minnesota Vikings (2009-2010)
Seasons: 20
Highest Earning Season: $16 million in 2010, $4.4 million was signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 1 (with Green Bay)
Pro Bowls: 11
#11. Matt Ryan – $149.5 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Atlanta Falcons
Seasons: 10
Highest Earning Season: $36.5 million in 2015, $15 million was a signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 4
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
#10. Larry Fitzgerald– $151.3 million
Position: Wide Receiver
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Seasons: 13
Highest Earning Season: $26.3 million in 2013
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 10
#9. Julius Peppers – $159.5 million
Position: Linebacker
Team: Carolina Panthers
Seasons: 16
Highest Earning Season: $20.2 million in 2010, $6.5 million was signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 9
#8. Matthew Stafford – $161.8 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Detroit Lions
Seasons: 9
Highest Earning Season: $51.1 million in 2017, $50 million of which is a signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 1
#7. Ben Roethlisberger – $170.3 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Seasons: 14
Highest Earning Season: $35.3 million in 2015, $31 million of that is a signing bonus
Super Bowl Wins: 2
Pro Bowls: 5
#6. Carson Palmer – $174.1 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Arizona Cardinals
Seasons: 14
Highest Earning Season: $19 million in 2014, $10 million is signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 3
Donald Miralle/Getty Images
#5. Philip Rivers – $187.9 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Los Angeles Chargers
Seasons: 14
Highest Earning Season: $32 million in 2015, $15 million is signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 0
Pro Bowls: 6
#4. Drew Brees – $194.7 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: New Orleans Saints
Seasons: 17
Highest Earning Season: $40 million in 2012, $37 million of which is a signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 1
Pro Bowls: 10
#3. Tom Brady – $197.2 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: New England Patriots
Seasons: 18
Highest Earning Season: $28.8 million in 2016, $18 million of which is signing bonus
Super Bowl Wins: 5
Pro Bowls: 12
#2. Eli Manning – $219.3 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: New York Giants
Seasons: 14
Highest Earning Season: $37 million in 2015, $31 million was signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 2
Pro Bowls: 4
#1. Peyton Manning – $248.7 million
Position: Quarterback
Team: Retired, Indianapolis Colts (1998-2011), Denver Broncos (2012-2015)
Seasons: 18
Highest Earning Season: $35 million in 2014, $34.5 was signing bonus.
Super Bowl Wins: 2
Pro Bowls: 14
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