How much do Practice Squad players make in the NFL?

Find out how much NFL practice squad players make in a season.


How much do Practice Squad players make in the NFL?

NFL practice squad (Image via Twitter)

The National Football League (NFL) is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world, and it is no surprise that people often talk about the high-paying contracts that NFL players receive. The general perception is that athletes in the NFL earn an exorbitant amount of money, and to some extent, this is true.

The top-performing players do indeed earn a significant amount of money, which is commensurate with their skills and talent. However, what many people may not realize is that not all NFL players are paid equally, and there is a significant difference in the salaries of those who make it to the top and those who do not.

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In this article, we will take a closer look at the salaries of NFL practice squad players, who often earn much less than their more high-profile counterparts. While the top players in the NFL can command multi-million dollar contracts, the players on the practice squad often earn just a fraction of that amount.

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This can come as a surprise to many fans who assume that all NFL players are highly paid. We will explore how much practice squad players make, the factors that determine their salaries, and the challenges that they face in trying to make it to the top of the sport.

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How much do Practice Squad players make on a weekly basis?

Players with two or fewer NFL seasons receive a minimum weekly wage of $11,500 on the practice squad. Once a player is on full-time pay status for a minimum of six regular-season games, they accumulate a season.

NFL practice squad (image via Twitter)
NFL practice squad (Image via Twitter)

We can dive into the discussion of how much squad members make over a longer period of time, but first, we must understand who exactly are NFL practice squad players. NFL practice squad consists of players who practice with the team but will not feature in games unless and until they are promoted to the active squad.

Now another question that might arise is what is the need for practice squad players? The NFL season is a long and tedious one which is filled with injuries and the practice players give teams the opportunity to fill in the gaps.

The NFL increased the size of each team’s practice squad to 16 players due to the COVID-19 pandemic, plus teams can also accommodate an international player, which takes the total number to 17.

How much do NFL players make annually?

And for the main question, NFL practice squad players make a minimum of $11,500 on a weekly basis or roughly $207,000 annually. This number is for players with two or fewer accrued NFL seasons ( A player is said to have accrued a season when they are on full-time pay status for at least six regular-season games).

NFL practice squad members can earn more if they promoted
(Image via Sportingnews)

But this number is variable and does increase with time. For example, a player with more than two years under his belt will be making around $15,400 per week or $277,200 in a season. Moreover, if a player is promoted to the active squad, he will earn the minimum salary to his equivalent in the main squad with the same years of experience.

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