The game of football has come a long way from the old days where guys ran up and down the field with comical looking leather helmets and practically zero padding. (That was before football teams had multimillion dollar budgets and billion dollar valuations). The game has truly become an industry now, and as with any industry, the top achievers are being well rewarded for their work. After all, it is the players, managers and coaches that lead to successful teams — who in turn garner top dollars from marketers looking to reach their immense audiences.
Many football players are handsomely compensated for their work, and here we’ve compiled a list of the top twenty earners in the game right now. Though some of these salaries might sound outrageous in comparison to the average Joe’s paycheck, these guys are the stars who put fans in the seats.
1. Chicago Bears QB – Jay Cutler is the new top money man on the field. He recently signed a seven-year contract valued at over $126 million.
2. NY Giants QB – Eli Manning has a six-year contract valued at just under $100 million.
3. Denver Broncos QB – Peyton Manning is under a five-year contract that will gross him $96M.
4. Miami Dolphins Wide Receiver – Mike Wallace has a five-year contract that pays out $15 million per year.
5. Rams QB – Sam Bradford earns $14 million per year under his six-year contract.
6. San Diego Chargers QB – Philip Rivers rakes in just under $14 million per year as part of his six-year contract.
7. Rams Defensive End – Chris Long has a four-year contract in place that pays out just over $13 million per year.
8. Carolina Panthers Defensive End – Greg Hardy will take in $13.1 million on his one-year contract with the team.
9. Tampa Bay Defensive Tackle – Gerald McCoy is under a five-year contract that will pay him just under $13 million a year.
10. Lions Defensive Tackle – Ndamuknog Suh has a contract that will pay him roughly $12.6 million dollars a year for five years.
11. Steelers QB – Ben Roethlisberger is nearing the end of his six-year contract that has paid him just over $12 million per year.
12. Minnesota Vikings Running Back – Adrian Peterson currently earns $11.8 million per year.
13. Redskins Linebacker – Brian Orakpo is under a single year contract – earning $11.5 million.
14. Seahawks Wide Receiver – Percy Harvin earns $11 million a year as part of his six-year contract.
15. Houston Texans Defensive End – J.J. Watt collects $10.9 million per year under his six-year contract.
16. Cleveland Browns Offensive Tackle – Joe Thomas has a seven-year contract worth just over $80 million.
17. Saints QB – Drew Brees makes $10.8 million per year under his contract totaling $100 million over five years.
18. Texans Wide Receiver – Andre Johnson garnered a $67 plus million contract that has two years remaining.
19. Tampa Bay Wide Receiver – Vincent Jackson is currently under a five-year contract valued at $55.6 million.
20. Rams Linebacker – James Laurinaitis’ five-year contract pays him $10 million per year.
