Richest NFL players have not only made a name for themselves on the field, but they have also built impressive fortunes through various business ventures and endorsements. The wealthiest NFL players have proven that football can be a lucrative career path, with some players earning hundreds of millions of dollars throughout their careers. In this article, we’ll take a look at the top richest NFL players of all time.

Top 10 Richest NFL Players

Starting with the 10th richest NFL player ever, Russell Wilson has a net worth of $165 million. The Denver Broncos’ quarterback has a five-year contract worth $242,588,236, along with endorsement deals with Nike and Amazon.

Eli Manning ranks as the 9th richest NFL player ever, with a net worth of $170 million. He spent his entire career with the New York Giants, winning two Super Bowls and earning $252.3 million from his football salary alone. Since retiring, Manning has continued to make millions through broadcasting contracts with top companies such as ESPN.

Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers quarterback, ranks 8th on the list with a net worth of $200 million. His current annual salary of $50,271,667 is an NFL record, and he earns even more through endorsements with brands such as Adidas and State Farm. He even owns a small percentage of NBA franchise The Milwaukee Bucks.

Steve Young, another quarterback, played 15 seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, winning the Super Bowl three times. While he made millions on the pitch, most of his wealth came during retirement when he co-founded a private equity firm called Huntsman Gay Global Capital. The firm has nearly $7 billion in cumulative capital commitments and since 2005 has completed transactions with a total value of over $68 billion.

John Madden, one of the most famous football coaches of all time, ranks 6th on the list with a net worth of $200 million. While Madden earned a lot of money as a coach, he made most of his fortune through his association with the hit game franchise “Madden” from EA Sports. His yearly earnings from the game were reported at being around $14 million.

Peyton Manning, the two-time Super Bowl winner and 14-time Pro Bowl player, ranks 5th on the list with a net worth of $250 million. He spent most of his career as quarterback at the Indianapolis Colts, before spending a few years playing with the Denver Broncos. Manning loves endorsements and has earned money from a huge number of companies, including ESPN and MasterCard.

Tom Brady, the GOAT, spent 19 seasons with the New England Patriots, winning six Super Bowls before a blockbuster trade took him to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he won another Super Bowl, taking him to an incredible total of seven. Forbes calculated that in 2022 alone Brady made $75 million thanks to his incredible salary and huge off-pitch earnings, with endorsements from brands like Aston Martin, Under Armour, and Tag Heuer.

Fran Tarkenton was a quarterback in the NFL for 18 seasons and is the 3rd richest NFL player of all time with a net worth of $300 million. He played most of these seasons for the Minnesota Vikings and went to the Super Bowl three times with them, losing all three to different opponents.

Other Wealthy NFL Players and Their Fortunes

Fran Tarkenton, a former quarterback, was known for his ability to pass and scramble. However, it was his software company, Tarkenton Ware, that earned him most of his fortune. He’s also written books, is a major shareholder in Apple, and owns a financial-planning business.

Roger Staubach, another former quarterback, made most of his money from The Staubach Company, a real estate business he was a partner in. The company sold for $613 million in 2008, and he also earned money from advertisements and color commentary.

Jerry Richardson, the former owner of the Carolina Panthers, was a halfback who played in the late 1950s. He became rich from owning 50% of Hardee’s, as well as having interests in many other businesses. By 1993, he was rich enough to establish the Carolina Panthers, the NFL’s 29th franchise.

Average NFL Player Salaries

The average NFL player earns around $2.7 million per year, but some, like Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady, earn tens of millions a year. Rookies are paid the league minimum, which for the 2022/23 season is $750,000. Quarterbacks earn the most by far, with an average salary of over $7 million, followed by wide receivers who earn an average of $2.8 million.

While NFL players have huge salaries, they do not have the highest average salaries of sports players in the world or even in America. NBA players have a much higher average wage of around $8 million. However, NFL players can earn a similar amount to the world’s best soccer players, champion boxers, and even the top Formula 1 drivers.

In conclusion, the NFL has produced some of the world’s wealthiest athletes, with former players like Fran Tarkenton, Roger Staubach, and Jerry Richardson earning billions of dollars through their businesses. Richest NFL players have huge salaries, but they can also earn a similar amount to other top athletes in different sports.