Biography & Early Wealth Journey

These are the 25 highest earning NFL players of all time:

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#25. Champ Bailey – $102.8 million

Primary Income Streams & Multi-Million Contracts

Position: Cornerback

Team: Retired, formerly Washington Redskins (1999-20o3), Denver Broncos (2004-2013)

Seasons: 15

Highest Earning Season: $16.5 million in 2010

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Super Bowl Wins: 0

Pro Bowls: 12

#24. Alex Smith – $106.5 million

Position: Quarterback

Wealth Trajectory & Future Earnings Projections

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

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#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

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#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

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#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

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#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