As American football has gained more popularity over the years, it led to the formation of the National Football League in 1920 which was then regarded as the American Professional Football Association. Now one of the major professional sports league, it is said that the NFL generated a massive $15.56 billion in revenue as of the time this report was filed. Keeping that in mind, it is easy to see why American footballers are among the most-paid athletes of the world. Who are the rich athletes in NFL for the year 2019? Come with us let’s find out together.
Rich Athletes In NFL
10. Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints – $25 Million)
In March 2018, Drew renewed his contract for another two years for $50 million. He is one of the most iconic players to ever grace the spot. He holds the third spot for highest career passing yards and touchdowns and is well on his way to claiming the all-time spot with only 1500 yards and 51 touchdown passes to go. As a pitcher, he is one of the most efficient the league has ever seen. Drew has secured sponsorship deals with companies like Nike, Wrangler, Microsoft, and PepsiCo which brings in an additional $13 million in earnings annually.
9. Derek Carr (Oakland Raiders – $25.05 Million)
Although the last season wasn’t all that favorable for Carr due to the frequent clashes he had with the Raiders coach, Jon Gruden, he still managed to maintain his status as one of the leading men at the club. Despite the rumors that he might be exiting the team soon, neither Carr nor the Raiders have announced that he is going anywhere. For the moment at least, his position as one of the top earners in the NFL seems safe and secure.
8. Matthew Stafford (Detroit Lions – $27 Million)
Consistency is Stafford’s strongest point, but whenever he is excellent he is usually ruthlessly efficient. His statistics have rightfully placed him amongst the best quarterbacks of the last decade. As far as his team is concerned, he is the greatest quarterback in their history, so his paycheck definitely reflects how much they value and do not want to lose him.
7. Jimmy Garoppolo (San Francisco 49ers – $27.5 Million)
Garoppolo joined the 49ers on trade from the Patriots in midseason and after just five games they decided to bet huge bucks on his future at the club. He signed a lucrative five-year deal worth $137.5 million, which makes him one of the top earners in the NFL. He also secured an endorsement contract from Nike that helps buoy his yearly income. It is still unclear if the quarterback will be worth the value that has been placed on him, but he is already off to a promising start. There is no doubt about this, Jimmy is one of the rich athletes in NFL.
6. Kirk Cousins (Minnesota Vikings – $28 Million)
After three wholesome years spent with the Redskins, Cousins’ rare talent won him a large three-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings worth $84 million, all of which is guaranteed. Although his last season was a tad disappointing, it is expected that he will get back to his exceptional form and help the Vikings take their championship ambitions very far in the new season.
5. DeMarcus Lawrence (Dallas Cowboys- $46.9 Million)
This defensive end picked up a $105 million contract extension for five years, placing him squarely amongst the top earners in the NFL. He doesn’t make a lot of money from endorsements, but that is about to change now that his market value has increased in the league. DeMarcus is about to enter the prime of his career and all things being equal, he is going to play his money’s worth in the games to come.
4. Khalil Mack (Chicago Bears – $55 Million)
When talking about the best defensive players in the NFL, you can’t help but mention Khalil Mack. He joined the Bears in 2018 on a six-year deal which made him the highest-paid defensive end in the history of the league. With his unique talent and the massive salary to inspire him, he will continue to dominate the defensive scene in the NFL for the foreseeable future. You can’t leave him out of this list, he’s among the rich athletes in NFL.
3. Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers – $55.5 Million)
Roethlisberger recently signed a two-year extension deal with the Steelers that will keep him at the club until 2021 for $68 million. Although he is still holding his own and playing impressively, he is drawing closer to retirement. With two Super Bowl titles and his stunning individual statistics, he set to join the NFL Hall of Fame in the years ahead.
2. Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers – $89.3 Million)
Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks the league has ever seen as well as the second-highest top earner in the NFL in 2019. He has set and still holds several records including best season passer ratings and career ratings. He is the highest-paid quarterback in the league and deservedly so. Asides from his salary and bonuses, he took home $9 million from endorsements with brands like Prevea Healthcare, Sharpie, State Farm, Adidas, and Bergstrom Automotive. No one would dare assert he isn’t one of the rich athletes in NFL.
See Also: Rich Athletes In NBA- 10 Top Earners In 2019
1. Russell Wilson (Seattle Seahawks – $89.9 Million)
In a bid to not lose their star athlete, the Seahawks offered Wilson a four-year extension worth $140 million, which helped him rise to the top as the highest-earning player in the NFL. He is one of the finest playmakers the league has ever seen and he has managed to work wonders for his team despite being paired with a terrible offensive lineup.
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