I’ve been around the NFL since I was a kid and I’m often asked how much money do you make in the NFL. Well, it depends on where you play and how long you’ve been in the league. But overall, there’s a lot of money to be made in this sport.
When I first joined the New York Giants, I was ecstatic. As an undrafted free agent, I didn’t expect to make much, but I was wrong. My rookie season I earned a modest salary of $400,000. That’s a lot of money to make playing a game you love!
Of course, as I got more experienced my salary increased as well. I remember when I signed my first high-paying extension and it felt like winning the lottery. I got a five-year, $25 million contract that was the largest one for a defensive end in my era. When I retired, I was making over $10 million per season.
But the real money doesn’t come from your salary. It comes from endorsements. Many NFL players make even more money from promoting products than they do from playing the game. I knew a lot of guys who had lucrative deals with major brands and they were earning millions of dollars a year.
If you’re thinking about going into the NFL, don’t expect to become an overnight star. You’ll have to work hard to earn your money and it’s important to understand the financial side of the game. But if you do it right, there’s definitely the potential to make a lot of money.
You can also make some extra money by making investments. There are many professional athletes who know how to manage their financial portfolios so they can make the most of their earnings. And of course, there are always opportunities to get involved in other businesses. I’ve seen players invest in businesses ranging from tech startups to real estate to restaurants.
Of course, it’s harder to make money in the NFL than it’s portrayed in movies and on television. The average professional football player today makes around $2.7 million a year, and that goes to stars like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. But the money an average NFL player can make can still provide for a comfortable lifestyle.
When it comes to money, there are no guarantees in the NFL. You have to work hard and take advantage of all the opportunities that come your way if you want to make it big in this business. And even then, you never know how far your luck will take you. But if you put your mind to it and take calculated risks, there’s no doubt that you can make a lot of money.