Eli Manning - Net Worth $160 Million
Eli Manning is a retired football quarterback who played for the New York Giants in the National Football League for 16 years. A member of the Manning family, he is the youngest son of Archie Manning, also a former quarterback who played in the NFL for 13 seasons.
Manning is worth a staggering $160 million, primarily from his salary while playing in the league. His career earnings were $252 million at the time of his retirement, making him one of the highest-paid players. He earned an estimated $10 million annually from endorsement deals with brands such as Toyota, Reebok, Kraft, and Samsung.
Aaron Rodgers - Net Worth $200 Million
Aaron Rodgers is an American quarterback for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League. He began his career at Butte College, then later transferred to the University of California to play for the Golden Bears. The Packers later drafted him in the first round of the 2005 draft.
Rodgers has made quite a name for himself and is considered one of the best quarterbacks in the game. His salary is a whopping $50 million annually, with a net worth of $200 million. After having an offseason, Rodgers decided to return to the Packers in 2022 and renewed his contract for a three-year, $150 million contract.
Ndamukong Suh - Net Worth $80 Million
Ndamukong Suh joined the NFL when the Detroit Lions drafted him in 2010. Since then, he has played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Los Angeles Rams. When he was a senior in college, he became one of the most decorated players in history by winning numerous awards.
Suh is worth an incredible $80 million. During his NFL career, he has earned a total of $170 million in salary alone. When he was first drafted, he signed a five-year contract with the Lions worth $68 million contract that came with a $40 million guarantee.
Cam Newton - Net Worth $75 Million
During the 2010 season, Cam Newton emerged as one of the top college players at the University of Auburn. At that time, he was also awarded one of the most prestigious awards in college football; the Heisman Trophy Award. Newton has played in the NFL for 11 seasons, primarily with the Carolina Panthers.
In his first nine years in the NFL, Newton earned $121 million in base income alone and is worth $75 million. He gets most of his earnings from his salary at the NFL, but he also earns millions off the pitch from endorsement deals with brands such as Beats by Dre, Under Armour, and Gatorade.
Tony Gonzalez - Net Worth $50 Million
One of the most interesting facts about Tony Gonzalez is that he is the NFL's all-time leader in touchdowns and consecutive starts. He is known for his strength and durability and only missed two games in a career of 17 years. He spent 12 of those 17 years with Kansas City after being picked in the first draft in 1997.
Gonzalez is worth an impressive $50 million, with most of his fortune coming from his football career. He is also involved in other businesses, such as the Kansas City cleaning service Extreme Clean 88. Also, In 2009, he confounded All-Pro Science, a sports nutrition company.
Ryan Tannehill - Net Worth $50 Million
Ryan Tannehill was born in Texas, where he attended Big Spring High School, Texas, and played for his football team. After he graduated, he joined Texas A&M University and played for the Aggies football team. He was a talent on the field but was also good at basketball and track.
In 2012, Tannehill was the eighth overall first-round pick in the NFL draft. He joined the Miami Dolphins, and they agreed on a four-year contract. In 2020, he signed another four-year $118 million deal with the Tennessee Titans. As of 2023, Tannehill is worth $50 million, with most of his earnings coming from the NFL.
Michael Strahan - Net Worth $65 Million
Michael Strahan is an American former football player and television personality. He played for the New York Giants while he was in the NFL and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. After he retired, he began working as a television personality and co-hosted ABC's "Live! with Kelly and Michael."
According to various sources, Strahan is worth approximately $65 million, with most of his income coming from the NFL. He has been luckier than most people and has also managed to have a successful career in television. Strahan earns $17 million annually as a co-host on "Good Morning America."
Tony Romo - Net Worth $70 Million
Tony Romo spent the majority of his career in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys. He joined the franchise in 2003 as a free agent, eventually landing a spot on the team's roster. He became one of the most successful quarterbacks with the Cowboys and stayed with them for 14 seasons.
Romo has a net worth of $70 million. He retired from the NFL in 2017, and in 2020, CBS made him one of the highest-paid broadcasters on television. He signed a $180 million contract with the network with an annual salary of $17 million, making him one of the highest-paid sports anchors in history.
Kirk Cousins - Net Worth $70 Million
Kirk Cousins is an American football player who was drafted by the NFL in 2012 by the team known back then as Washington Redskins, now known as the Washington Commanders. In 2018, he was traded to a three-year $84 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings, which at the time, was one of the highest-paying contracts in the NFL.
Cousins later became one of the highest-paid players on the planet when he signed another contract between June 2019 and June 2020 worth $66 million that came with a $30 million signing bonus. Between salary and endorsements, he is worth an incredible $70 million.
Phillip Rivers - Net Worth $100 Million
Phillip Rivers retired from the NFL in 2020 after 17 seasons. Rivers played with several teams, including New York Giants, Indiana Colts, and San Diego Chargers, where he stayed successfully for 16 seasons. Although he was a reliable and consistent quarterback, he never appeared in the Super Bowl.
In 2009, he signed a six-year $92 million deal with the San Diego Chargers, and in 2015 he signed a four-year contract extension worth $84 million. He is said to be worth $100 million and has earned $243 million in NFL salary alone. For his retirement plan, Rivers has said he wants to become a football coach just like his father.
Julio Jones - Net Worth $50 Million
Julio Jones is an American professional football player considered one of this generation's best wide receivers. He played college football at Alabama University and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft.
His 2019 contract with the Atlanta Falcons made him one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, and it came with a $25 million signing bonus that was fully guaranteed. This is the highest amount in a contract ever made with a wide receiver. Jones is said to be worth $50 million, making him one of the wealthiest pro athletes in the world.
Ray Lewis - Net Worth $30 Million
Ray Lewis is a retired American pro football player who spent his entire career with the Baltimore Ravens of the NFL. Lewis grew up in Florida, where he was a member of his high school football team and was an All-American linebacker. In addition to football, he also wrestled in his school's wrestling team.
During his entire career, Lewis earned a total of $95 million in salary alone and is said to be worth $30 million. Aside from football, he is involved in other business ventures. He opened his restaurant, the Ray Lewis Full Moon Bar-B-Que, in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2005.
Tom Brady - Net Worth $250 Million
Tom Brady is one of the most celebrated football athletes of his generation. He has appeared in nine Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, winning six of them, which is more than any other football player in the history of the NFL. He has also won a record Super Bowl MVP award over the course of a decade.
Brady is worth a staggering $250 million, with most of his earnings coming from his salary with the NFL and endorsements deals. In 2022, he signed a ten-year $375 million deal to join the Fox Sports broadcasting booth for NFL games when he retires.
Russell Wilson - Net Worth $165 Million
Some people may know Russell Wilson from being married to musician Ciara, but he is more known as one of the most popular and highest-paid NFL players. Wilson played for the Seattle Seahawks from 2012 to 2021, later moving to the Broncos ahead of the 2022 season.
He is one of the top-paid athletes in the world, with an annual salary of approximately $35 million. In 2018 and 2019, he earned an incredible $90 million from various endeavors. Wilson also receives income from various endorsements and deals with brands such as Duracell, Bose, Amazon, American Family Insurance, Mercedes Benz, and Nike.
Drew Brees - Net Worth $160 Million
Drew Brees is a former American professional football player who first made an impact in college football. He played college football at Perdue, where he set the Big Ten Conference records for completions, attempts, and yards. Before his retirement, he was a quarterback with the New Orleans Saints, and many consider him to be one of the best quarterbacks of all time.
Brees has a net worth of $160 million, with most of his income coming from his NFL salary and endorsement deals. In 2006, he signed a $60-million contract with the Saints which included almost $22 million in bonuses.
Joe Montana - Net Worth $150 Million
Joe Montana is considered to be one of the best professional athletes by most people. According to news reports, he was known for bringing his team calmly back to victory from the brink of defeat. He led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl victories and was named the Super Bowl’s MVP three times.
His net worth is just as impressive as his career. According to online sources, Montana is worth a whopping $150 million that has accumulated over the years. He has earned significantly more money in retirement through investments and endorsement deals than he earned during his career.
Brett Favre - Net Worth $100 Million
Brett Favre is a retired American football player known for having one of the most successful NFL career. He grew up in Mississippi, where his father was the head coach of the high school football team. He received a football scholarship to attend Southern Mississippi University when he graduated.
In 1991, Favre was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round and signed a three-year, $1.4 million contract. He would later move to the Green Bay Packers, where he spent most of his career. His net worth is $100 million, and he earned a total of $140 million during his NFL career.
Alex Smith - Net Worth $95 Million
Alex Smith played in the NFL for 16 seasons. He began his career playing college football at the University of Utah. In 2005, he was selected as the first overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers. His rookie season was riddled with injuries, but in 2011, Smith led the 49ers to their first division title and playoff win since 2002.
Between June 2017 and June 2018, he made $41 million in salary and endorsements. In September 2018, he earned an astounding $106.5 million from the NFL, which was enough to make him one of the highest-earning NFL players in history.
Jalen Ramsey - Net Worth $50 Million
Jalen Ramsey is an American professional football player known for his speed, incredible catches, and ability to make big plays. His father also used to play college football which must have influenced him to join the NFL. Ramsey is known for having unfiltered opinions about the game, and in 2017, he got into an altercation with A.J. Green.
In 2016, he signed a four-year deal for $23.35 million with the Los Angeles Rams, with $22.9 million guaranteed as well as a $15.18 million signing bonus. In 2020, he signed a five-year extension with the Rams worth a staggering $105 million.
Vincent Jackson - Net Worth $50 Million
Vincent Jackson is an American professional football player who played as a wide receiver for 12 seasons in the National Football League. He began his career in college football playing for Northern Colorado and was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft.
Jackson is worth $50 million, with most of his fortune coming from his salary at the NFL. An excellent wide receiver, he was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and exceeded 1,000 receiving yards six times in his career. He announced his retirement in 2018, stating he wanted to pursue other passions.
Arian Foster - Net Worth $50 Million
Arian Foster was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and has excelled in football throughout his school years. During high school, he relocated to San Diego to live with his father, and he went on to be named the San Diego Union-Tribune All-San Diego Western League Player of the Year.
His net worth is estimated to be at $50 million, with the majority of his earnings coming from his NFL career. However, he has made other investments, including buying a minority stake in a health bar company called Health Warrior. In 2018, it was reported that Pepsi had acquired Health Warrior.
Sam Bradford - Net Worth $70 Million
Sam Bradford is an American quarterback who played for multiple teams during his NFL career. He began playing sports in high school, including golf and basketball. He later attended Oklahoma University on a Football scholarship. In 2010, he was drafted by the St. Louis Rams with the first overall NFL draft selection.
Bradford has also played for Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinal, and Minnesota Vikings. He earned $65 million with the Rams between 2010 and 2014. During that time, he also earned $25 million in endorsement deals. He retired after only nine seasons and had earned over $130 million, making him one of the world's highest-earning athletes.
Patrick Mahomes - Net Worth: $50 Million
Patrick Mahomes played football and baseball at Texas Tech before he quit baseball to focus solely on football. He is the son of Major League Baseball's former pitcher Pat Mahomes. After a successful college football career, Patrick was drafted in 2017 by the Kansas City Chiefs.
Patrick managed an impressive 50 touchdown passes and 5,000 yards in his rookie season in a single season. He then won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Most Valuable Player awards. In 2020, he signed a ten-year extension contract with the Chiefs that was worth a staggering $400 million in total.
Steve Young - Net Worth $200 Million
Steve Young is a former American football quarterback, sports commentator, and investor. He played in the NFL for 15 seasons, primarily with the San Francisco 49ers. He began his professional football in college, playing for Brigham Young University and was the runners-up for the Heisman trophy in 1983.
Young has proven to be somewhat of a rarity in the sports world by having a strong instinct for investing, allowing him to build on his success. Due to his interest in finance, he co-founded an equity firm with billionaire Jon Huntsman and Robert C. Gay in 2007. He is said to be worth an astounding $200 million.
Ben Roethlisberger - Net Worth: $100 Million
Ben Roethlisberger is an American football quarterback best known for playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2004. During his first season, he was named Offensive Rookie of the Year. In 2006, at only 26 years old, he became the youngest NFL-winning quarterback.
Roethlisberger is known for his extremely efficient passing and impressive passing completion rate. He was drafted to the NFL in 2004 by the Steelers, signing a $22.26 million contract with $17.73 million in incentives. He signed a new $102-million contract with the Steelers in 2008 and said he planned to retire. His net worth is said to be $100 million.
Joe Flacco - Net Worth $85 Million
By the time he retired from the NFL, Joe Flacco had been with the New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens, and Philadelphia Eagles. After playing college football, he was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft, where he remained until 2018.
Flacco is worth a net of $85 million and is one of the wealthiest professional football players in America. In 2013, Joe Flacco renewed his deal with the Ravens, which was worth $120.6 million over the next six years. This means Flacco will earn $20 million per year over that period.
Peyton Manning - Net Worth: $250 Million
Peyton Manning is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time. He was in the NFL for 18 seasons, 14 of which were spent with the Indianapolis Colts and four with the Denver Broncos. Peyton was selected first overall in 1998, and he helped transform the Colts from a struggling franchise to consistent playoff contenders.
A member of the Manning dynasty, his father is Archie Manning, and he is the older brother of former NFL quarterback Eli Manning. He is worth a staggering $250 million that he has earned throughout a successful career. He has lucrative endorsement deals with brands such as Sony, Reebok, and MasterCard.
John Elway - Net Worth $145 Million
John Elway is a former professional football player and the president of football operations for the Denver Broncos of the NFL. Like many professional football players, he began his career in college, where he played for Stanford University. He was an extremely successful quarterback during his career before his retirement in 1999.
According to reports, Elway had the opportunity to own a stake with the Broncos, but he declined the offer. This was a bad financial decision as he could have greatly benefited from such an investment. Despite this, he is still worth $145 million, proof that he must have made some good financial decisions.
Jerry Rice - Net Worth $50 Million
Jerry Rice is primarily known for his stay at the San Francisco 49ers, where he won three championships. He was nicknamed "World" for his excellent catching abilities, numerous records, and many accomplishments. According to many, he is the greatest wide receiver in NFL history.
During his 20 seasons stay at the NFL, Rice earned a total of over $20 million. In 2000, he reached his salary peak when he earned $2.5 million during his final season with the 49ers. His net worth has improved quite a bit after his career with the NFL ended—probably a result of wise investments.
Larry Fitzgerald - Net Worth $50 Million
Larry Fitzgerald is an American professional football player who played in the NFL for 17 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He began his career in college football playing for the University of Pittsburgh. In 2004, Fitzgerald was drafted by the Cardinals with the third overall pick.
He is considered by fans, coaches, and his peers to be one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history. In 2011, he signed an eight-year $120 million contract with the Cardinals making him one of the highest-paid NFL wide receivers. He retired in 2022 but never officially stated his plans for phasing out.
Aeneas Williams - Net Worth $50 Million
Aeneas Williams played in the NFL for 14 seasons, mainly with the Arizona Cardinals. He was drafted in 1991 by the Cardinals, where he stayed for ten seasons. Williams spent his final four seasons with the St. Louis Rams.
He attended Southern University, where he intended to earn a degree in Accounting. However, he began playing football in his junior year, where he was a four-year starter and a two-time All-American. He only began playing after being encouraged by a former high school roommate. His performance was impressive enough to get him drafted into the NFL, where he earned most of his income.
Drew Bledsoe - Net Worth $35 Million
Drew Bledsoe is a former quarterback and professional football player who played in the NFL for 14 seasons, primarily with the New England Patriots. He began his football career at Washington State and was drafted by the Patriots first overall in the 1993 NFL Draft.
He was widely considered the face of the team during his nine-year stint with the Patriots. After a nearly fatal injury in 2001, Bledsoe went on to finish his career with the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. His net worth is said to be $35 million, most of which is his career earnings at the NFL.
Jim Brown - Net Worth $30 Million
Jim Brown is a former professional football player who played for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League from 1957 to 1965. He is considered one the greatest running backs of all time and one of the greatest pro football players in NFL history.
Brown began his pro ball career at Syracuse University, where he set school records for the highest season rush average and most rushing touchdowns in a single game. He was also a multisport athlete. In addition to football, he also excelled in track, basketball, and lacrosse. He is reportedly worth an impressive $30 million, most of which is from his salary from the NFL.
Roland 'Champ' Bailey - Net Worth $45 Million
Roland Bailey is a retired American football player who played as a cornerback in the NFL. He played football in college and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the 1999 overall first-round draft. In 2004, he was traded to the Denver Broncos, where he stayed for ten seasons until his departure in 2014.
When he was a Redskin, he enjoyed a reputation for being one of the league's best defensive backs. Bailey's net worth is $45 million from his contracts with the NFL. During his time in the league, he earned a total of $109 million in salary alone.
Fran Tarkenton - Net Worth $300 Million
Fran Tarkenton was a former American football player who primarily played with the Minnesota Vikings for 18 seasons. He started his career in the '60s, and by the time he stopped playing professional football, he had earned a total of $1.2 million, the same as around $8 million today.
He was a great quarterback by all standards, and some football critics have said he is highly underrated. By the time he retired, he had owned every major quarterback record. It is not surprising that he has one of the highest net worths on our list. Aside from being an outfield player, Tarkenton is also a television personality.
John Madden - Net Worth $200 Million
John Madden was an American football coach and sports commentator in the NFL. He is one of the best-known American football personalities. Apart from being a coach and playing the sport, he also lent his name to a series of video games, "Madden NFL," that became a cultural sensation.
By 2012, Madden was worth $200 million. He was one of the first broadcasters to earn over $1 million annual salary, and he was also one of the first to earn that same amount in endorsement deals. However, most of his fortune came from the video game franchise with his name.
Matt Ryan - Net Worth $70 Million
Matt Ryan is an American football player who is best known for playing for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL. He was drafted into the league after having a successful college football career at Boston College. Ryan has always been a leader, and while he was in high school, he was captain of the basketball, football, and baseball teams.
In 2008, Ryan signed a $72-million six-year contract after he was drafted. His contract was so high, even before he had played a single game that it sparked a debate about whether rookies were being paid too much by the NFL.
Troy Aikman - Net Worth $65 Million
Troy Aikman has had one of the most successful careers in the NFL. He was drafted into the league in 1989 by the Dallas Cowboys, and he developed to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. While he was with the Cowboys, the team had three Super Bowl wins.
After his retirement in 2000, Aikman went on to have a successful career in broadcasting. He spent a few years with Fox, then went to ESPN later on. He is worth $65 million, and in 1993, he was the highest-paid player in the NFL thanks to an eight-year, $50 million contract that included an $11 million signing bonus.
Marcus Trufant - Net Worth $50 Million
Marcus Trufant was drafted into the NFL in 2003 by the Seattle Seahawks. He had previously played college football at Washington State, where he was a Second-team All-American. Trufant spent his entire ten-season career with the Seahawks. He was a cornerback while in high school and was recruited to Washington by then-coach Mike Price.
Trufant was signed by the Seahawks on a one-year contract at a $9.465 million deal, which was later extended to a new six-year, $50.2 million deal with a $10 million signing bonus. After being out for the full 2013 football season, it was clear that he wanted to retire.
Calvin Johnson - Net Worth $45 Million
Calvin Johnson played for nine seasons with the Detroit Lions. He began his football career at Georgia Tech, receiving first-team All-American honors twice. Johnson was drafted in 2007 by the Lions in the second overall draft. Johnson was noted for having a rare combination of size, catching ability, speed, and body control.
With all these skills, it is not surprising that he is regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time. He is worth an impressive $45 million, with most of his income coming from his salary in the NFL. He retired in 2016 after nine seasons with the NFL.
Carson Wentz - Net Worth $45 Million
Carson Wentz is an American professional football player probably best known for playing for the Washington Commanders as a quarterback. Like many players on our list, he also played college football for North Dakota State, where he won two consecutive NCAA FCS national championships as the team's starter.
Wentz was selected second overall draft by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2016, where he signed a four-year fully guaranteed contract worth $26.67 million. Later, he extended it for an astounding $128 million, which was to keep him in Philadelphia until 2024, and the new deal came with a $66 million signing bonus.
Albert Haynesworth - Net Worth $45 Million
Albert Haynesworth played in the NFL for ten seasons after college football at the University of Tennessee. The Tennessee Titans then selected him in the first round of the 2002 season draft. While with the Titans, he established himself as one of the league's top defensive tackles between 2007 and 2008.
He became a highly coveted free agent in the 2008 season, which led to him signing a seven-year $100 million contract with the Washington Redskins. He ended up playing only 20 games in two seasons with the Redskins, and his signing became widely regarded as the worst free agent signing at the time.
Roger Goodell - Net Worth $200 Million
Roger Goodell is a member of the NFL, but not as an athlete like many on our list; he serves as the Commissioner of the National Football League. Goodell's net worth stands at a staggering $200 million. As a commissioner, he earns a salary of $50 million annually, and sometimes it surpasses that mark and stands at $60 million.
During high school, Goodell played baseball, basketball, and football. He also served as captain of all these teams and was set to play college football. However, injuries prevented him from doing this, and he entered the NFL as an unpaid administrative intern and worked his way through the ranks.
Roger Staubach - Net Worth $600 Million
Roger Staubach is a former quarterback with the NFL who played with the Dallas Cowboys for 11 seasons. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, where he won the 1963 Heisman Trophy, and after graduation, he served in the U.S. Navy. He also won the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Memorial Trophy and was featured on the cover of Time Magazine in 1963.
Staubach is worth $600 million majority of which is from a commercial real estate business, The Staubach Company, that he started with his partner in 1977. In 2008, the company was sold to Jones Lang LaSalle for $613 million.
Edgerrin James - Net Worth $40 Million
Edgerrin James is a former professional football player who retired after 11 seasons with the NFL. James was drafted in 1999 after playing college football at the University of Miami for the Miami Hurricanes. The Indianapolis Colts drafted him, but he also played for the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks.
When he was drafted, he signed an incredibly lucrative rookie deal with the Colts for $49 million. He soon proved his worth and was named the 1999 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year by the Associated Press, and he also won the NFL rushing title in his first two seasons.