Image copyright: Getty Images
The
National Football League (NFL) boasts some of the richest athletes in the world.
Here are the top five richest NFL players according to Forbes in the last year.
Nick Foles
Salary/bonuses: $30.8 million
Endorsements: $2 million
Total earnings: $32.8 million
The Chicago Bears superstar is the first quarterback in NFL history to post a perfect passer rating and throw seven touchdowns in a single game.
Foles signed an $88 million deal (including $50 million guaranteed) with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year, but he was traded to the Bears in 2020.
The 31-year-old player is on a three-year deal with Bears and $24 million is reportedly remaining on his contract, with $21 million still guaranteed.
Foles became the first mainstream athlete endorser of apparel brand Lululemon last year.
"This is ultimately what I thought was best, based on a lot of information from this last season, to were agreeing to a crazy restructure was necessary to allow me to go play for Coach Nagy and the Bears," Foles said on Chicago Tribune ahead of his move to Bears.
“It’s probably not the logistical move if you’re looking at numbers and contracts and moving and all that stuff. But it was necessary based on my heart and a lot of prayer and thinking.”
Tom Brady
Salary/bonuses: $23 million
Endorsements: $12 million
Total earnings: $35 million
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers player is widely considered to be the greatest quarterback of all time by several sports writers, commentators and players.
Brady signed a $72 million contract extension (included $48.5 million in guaranteed money) with New England Patriots in 2010, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL.
Last month, Brady signed with the Buccaneers with the two-year contract worth $50 million in fully guaranteed money, with up to $4.5 million each year in incentives.
Brady signed with online startup Molecule Mattresses in 2018 and received an equity stake in the company. He also has an endorsement deal with luxury Swiss watch brand IWC.
Drew Brees
Salary/bonuses: $23 million
Endorsements: $16 million
Total earnings: $39 million
The New Orleans Saints player is regarded as one of the best pure passers in the NFL's history and has been hailed as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time.
Brees and Saints agreed to a five-year, $100 million deal in 2012. The contract included the largest amount of guaranteed money in NFL history, at $60 million, while $40 million of the deal was paid the first year.
The 41-year-old player signed a two-year $50 million contract extension with the Saints in 2018 and is a veteran having earned more than $220 million in onfield pay across his 18-year career.
Brees owns more than a dozen Jimmy John’s and Dunkin’ franchises and has also invested in the food delivery service Waitr according to Forbes.
Ben Roethlisberger
Salary/bonuses: $45 million
Endorsements: $1 million
Total earnings: $46 million
The Pittsburgh Steelers player has been one of the most efficient passers in NFL history and is currently ranked sixth all-time in NFL career passing yards.
Steelers and Roethlisberger agreed to an eight-year, $102 million contract in 2008 and signed a two-year contract extension with the team worth $68 million with a $37.5 million signing bonus last month.
Roethlisberger, who is known for playing outside the pocket in what he calls "backyard football", has earned $232 million in salary from the Steelers, the fourth highest among active players.
The 38-year-old has endorsements with big companies such as Nike, Sprint, Panini, Fanatics and Upper Deck.
Russel Wilson
Salary/bonuses: $70 million
Endorsements: $9 million
Total earnings: $79 million
The Seattle Seahawks star, who holds the record for most wins by an NFL quarterback through seven seasons, is one of the best players in the competition.
Wilson signed a four-year, $140 million contract extension with the Seahawks, making him the highest-paid player in the NFL last year.
The 31-year-old is married to American singer Ciara, who is reportedly worth $20 million. They joined the ownership group of the Major Soccer League (MLS) side Seattle Sounders last year.
Furthermore, he is also an investor in the Portland Diamond Project, which aims to bring a Major League Baseball (MLB) team to Oregon, USA.
With the latest odds and the most up-to-date markets betting on NFL has never been so easy.
So sign up at Betway and enjoy solid action and heart-racing thrills when you bet on American football.
For all the latest sports news, betting tips and promotions, follow
Betway South Africa on
Facebook,
Twitter,
Instagram,
Google+ and
YouTube.
Download the Betway App.