Tom Brady, who has 7 Super Bowl wins, isn’t the highest-paid player in NFL history

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady ranks third with $332 million earned during his career with the Patriots and Buccaneers.

Tom Brady, who has 7 Super Bowl wins, isn’t the highest-paid player in NFL history

Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady (Image via AP/X)

According to data curated by Spotrac, former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady isn’t the highest-paid NFL athlete of all time. The seven-time-winning Brady is actually third on the list.

Aaron Rodgers, four-time regular season MVP and ex-Green Bay Packers and New York Jets quarterback, leads the list with a whopping $380 million total earnings. Rodgers began his NFL career in 2005 with the Packers before being traded to the Jets in 2023. Over the years, he has established himself as a highly accomplished yet sometimes controversial figure.

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His success has also translated into significant financial gains. While his exact net worth remains undisclosed, he has consistently ranked among Forbes’ top 50 highest-paid athletes globally and the 10 highest-paid NFL players.

While Brady too ranks amongst the top 10 highest paid NFL players, his team-friendly contracts saw him earn less overall as compared to his rivals in terms of on-field earnings. It will a long time for someone to break Tom Brady’s stats, but on the monetary fronts, many have already surpassed him.

The 2009 first-overall Matthew Stafford, of the Los Angeles Rams, is second on the list with $364 million. The list is led by quarterbacks, with Trent Williams being the first non-quarterback at the 14th spot. The list is as follows:

NameTeamsOn-Field Earnings
Aaron RodgersGreen Bay Packers, New York Jets$380m
Matthew StaffordDetroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams$364m
Tom BradyNew England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers $332m
Russell WilsonSeattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers$305m
Matt RyanAtlanta Falcons, Indianapolis Colts$303m

Kirk Cousins, who played for three different teams, follows Matt Ryan in sixth spot. Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Eli Manning, and Peyton Manning complete the top ten. Among the recently drafted, Dak Prescott and Jared Goff of the 2016 Draft Class stand on 11th and 13th, respectively.

Matt Ryan is the only non-Super Bowl-winning quarterback in the Top Five

Despite never winning a Super Bowl, Matt Ryan has earned a higher career salary than many championship-winning quarterbacks, including Drew Brees and the Manning brothers. This is largely due to his consistent performance, longevity, and the timing of his contracts.

Matt Ryan (Image via ESPN)

Ryan holds nearly every major passing record in Atlanta Falcons’ history, including passing yards, touchdowns, completions, and wins. His immediate impact in the NFL, earning Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2008, set the stage for a highly lucrative career. Over 14 seasons with the Falcons, he led the team to six playoff appearances and was a four-time Pro Bowler.

His peak came in 2016 when he won the league MVP award and guided Atlanta to Super Bowl LI. However, they went down to the New England Patriots 34-28 at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Quarterback contracts have inflated over time, meaning Ryan’s deals benefited from a rising salary cap. In 2018, he signed a five-year, $150 million contract, making him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time.

Comparatively, Brees and the Mannings signed major contracts in earlier eras when top salaries were lower. While championships influence earnings, Ryan’s durability, records, and strategic contract negotiations have contributed to his higher career earnings.

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