The earnings of the richest players in NFL history are truly staggering, so let’s take a closer look at them and the players themselves. As you might expect, the highest-earning players in NFL history play the same position.
But we may not know for sure which players are the richest and in what ranking.
According to Over The Cap, these are the highest-earning players in NFL history:
Russell Wilson is the fifth-highest-paid player in NFL history, earning just over $300 million. Wilson’s prime is clearly behind him and he may not be getting paid that much again, but he could soon move up to fourth on this list. Wilson is currently on his third NFL team after being released by the Denver Broncos.
His first team, the Seattle Seahawks, traded him after the 2021 NFL season.
Matt Ryan has made a little over $300 million in his NFL career, with one Super Bowl appearance and one MVP award. Matt Ryan’s future Hall of Fame status is quite interesting, but in my opinion, he should be in the Hall of Fame. Ryan, who played his final year as an NFL player with the Colts, was a true pocket passer and could deliver some very precise passes.
Arguably the greatest athlete of all time, Tom Brady is the third richest player in NFL history with career earnings approaching $320 million. Brady has always accepted less than he should have so that his team could have more money to spend on other players. It’s worked for him, as the seven-time Super Bowl champion won six championships with the New England Patriots and one with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
And the amazing thing is, we all know that Tom Brady can still play as he approaches 50.
The second richest player in NFL history is Matthew Stafford, who played for the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams. He was traded to the Rams after the 2020 NFL season and won the Super Bowl with Sean McVay, Aaron Donald and a star-studded Rams roster in the 2021 NFL season.
Stafford could become the richest player in NFL history depending on how long he stays in the league.
The richest player in NFL history is Aaron Rodgers, who has made nearly $350 million so far in his NFL career playing for the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets. The Jets were unable to see Rodgers’ experience as he tore his Achilles tendon in Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season. With the controversial QB set to return to the lineup, he and his wealth could help lead the team to victory.