who is the highest paid nfl player

There are now 53 NFL players who have made at least $100 million in their careers.

The list is loaded with quarterbacks, with Tom Brady recently taking over the top spot.

NEXT SLIDE are the 10 highest-paid players in NFL history, heading into the 2022 season and updated with the help of data 

10. Alex Smith, QB — $189.7 million Seasons: 16 Highest single-season earnings: $40.0 million (2018; includes $27 million signing bonus) Championships: 0 Pro Bowls: 3 First-team All-Pro: 0

10. Alex Smith, QB — $189.7 million One thing to know: Often referred to by the pejorative "game manager," Smith has led his team to the playoffs five times in seven years. But his career was put in jeopardy during the 2018 season when he suffered a gruesome broken leg. After returning to action briefly in 2020, Smith won Comeback Player of the Year before retiring in the 2021 off-season.

9. Matthew Stafford, QB — $239.3 million Seasons: 13 Highest single-season earnings: $51.1 million (2017; includes $50 million signing bonus) Championships: 1 Pro Bowls: 1 First-team All-Pro: 0

9. Matthew Stafford, QB — $239.3 million One thing to know: Stafford's move to the Rams in 2021 resulted in a Super Bowl win. You get what you pay for.

8. Philip Rivers, QB — $243.9 million Seasons: 17 Highest single-season earnings: $32 million (2015; includes $17 million signing bonus) Championships: 0 Pro Bowls: 8

8. Philip Rivers, QB — $243.9 million First-team All-Pro: 0 One thing to know: Rivers announced his retirement from the NFL after a single season with the Colts.

7. Peyton Manning, QB — $248.7 million Seasons: 18 Highest single-season earnings: $35 million (2004; includes $34.5 million signing bonus) Championships: 2 Pro Bowls: 14

7. Peyton Manning, QB — $248.7 million First-team All-Pro: 7 One thing to know: Manning's final paycheck in the NFL was a $4 million bonus for winning the Super Bowl in 2015. He had one year and $19 million remaining on his Broncos contract when he retired.

6. Eli Manning, QB — $252.3 millionSeasons: 16 Highest single-season earnings: $37 million (2015; includes $31 million signing bonus) Championships: 2 Pro Bowls: 4 First-team All-Pro: 0

6. Eli Manning, QB — $252.3 millionSeasons: 16 One thing to know: Manning retired from the NFL after 16 seasons and two Super Bowl wins. In his final season, the Giants paid him $17 million, which made him the highest-paid player in NFL history at the time. Not bad for being maybe just the third-best quarterback in his family.

5. Aaron Rodgers, QB — $263.6 million Seasons: 17 Highest single-season earnings: $66.9 million (2018; includes $57.5 million signing bonus) Championships: 1 Pro Bowls: 10 First-team All-Pro: 4

5. Aaron Rodgers, QB — $263.6 million One thing to know: Rodgers' back-to-back MVP awards are nice, but he'd undoubtedly prefer another Lombardi in his trophy case. After his most recent extension, it's likely he'll finish his career in Green Bay after a somewhat contentious off-season.

4. Matt Ryan, QB — $267.0 million Seasons: 14 Highest single-season earnings: $44.8 million (2019; includes $42 million in various bonuses) Championships: 0 Pro Bowls: 4 First-team All-Pro: 1

4. Matt Ryan, QB — $267.0 million \One thing to know: Ryan's five-year, $103.8 million extension was set to expire after the 2018 season. He then signed a five-year, $150 million extension with a $46.5 million signing bonus. The $100 million total guarantee in the deal was the largest ever for an NFL contract at the time.

3. Ben Roethlisberger, QB — $267.3 millionSeasons: 18 Highest single-season earnings: $35.3 million (2015; includes $31 million signing bonus) Championships: 2 Pro Bowls: 6 First-team All-Pro: 0

3. Ben Roethlisberger, QB — $267.3 millionSeasons: 18 One thing to know: The 2021 season was Big Ben's final year in the NFL, with Roethlisberger making clear before the start of the season that he was willing to do whatever was necessary with his contract to make it happen. 

2. Drew Brees, QB — $269.7 million Seasons: 20 Highest single-season earnings: $40 million (2012; includes $37 million signing bonus) Championships: 1 Pro Bowls: 13 First-team All-Pro: 1

2. Drew Brees, QB — $269.7 million One thing to know: Before retiring from the NFL, Brees held the top spot on the highest-paid list over Tom Brady, but Brady's longevity eventually saw him surpass his former rival.

1. Tom Brady, QB — $303.0 million Seasons: 22 Highest single-season earnings: $39.4 million (2021; includes $35 million signing bonus) Championships: 7 Pro Bowls: 15 First-team All-Pro: 3

1. Tom Brady, QB — $303.0 million One thing to know: Brady sacrificed at least $60 million in his career by signing discounted contracts when he was with the Patriots. 

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