• Loading stock data...
Friday, July 11, 2025

Little-Known NFL Pay System Doles Out Hundreds of Millions in Annual Bonuses

  • Jets lineman John Simpson led all NFL players with a $975,000 bonus.
  • The performance-based pay system is a way to reward players with heavy play time and low salaries.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Taking your team to the Super Bowl as Mr. Irrelevant doesn’t guarantee you’ll also be Mr. PBP. 

The NFL released its list of players who received the most bonuses for performance-based play, and 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy came in 24th, with Jets offensive lineman John Simpson leading the way with almost $975,000 in additional money. Purdy added almost $740,000 despite leading San Francisco to Super Bowl LVIII, where they lost in overtime to the Chiefs. 

For years, the NFL has had a little-known performance-based pay pool, which gives bonuses to players based on playing time and their regular salary. Only the base salary and snap count matter; lower-paid players who play a lot benefit the most.

Take Simpson, for example. In 2023, he earned just over $1 million off a one-year contract with the Ravens after spending the previous season on the practice squad, making roughly $200,000. Simpson’s PBP bonus this year nearly equaled his ’23 salary. Eagles safety Reed Blankenship had a similar bonus as he finished second on the list with a $923,000 bonus after making $985,000 this past season in Philadelphia. Blankenship was undrafted out of Middle Tennessee, which explains why his contract was so low. 

The PBP system was established in 2002 as part of the league’s collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association and has been renewed in three subsequent CBAs. Since its inception, the PBP system has paid out nearly $2.4 billion in player bonuses in the 20-plus years it’s existed. The program started out with a pool of $15 million in bonuses and has grown to $394 million in bonuses for ’23. 

Former NFL cornerback Domonique Foxworth has floated the idea of using the PBP system as a way to fix the running back market, as the once-premium position now earns less than kickers despite taking a beating.

Despite being pretty far down on the bonus list, Purdy, who is due for a contract extension anyway, still got quite the extra paycheck. His bonus was about $740,000, which isn’t far off from his 2023 base salary of $870,000. 

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Feb 5, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell during the NFLPA press conference at the Super Bowl LIX media center at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

NFLPA Head Has Side Hustle With PE Firm That Can Invest in..

The NFLPA’s executive director is embroiled in multiple controversies.

Deion Sanders Rips ‘Bulljunk’ in CFB, Calls for NFL-Style Salary Cap

Coach Prime is frustrated with the new revenue-sharing era.
Jul 9, 2025; Frisco, TX, USA; Head coaches Willie Fritz of Houston, Mike Gundy of Oklahoma State, Rich Rodriguez of West Virginia, Lance Leipold of Kansas, Sonny Dykes of TCU, Kyle Whittingham of Utah, Brent Brennan of Arizona and Deion Sanders of Colorado all sit on stage for a Coaches Roundtable during 2025 Big 12 Football Media Days at The Star.

Big 12 Commish: Conference Is ‘All In’ on International Expansion

The conference had once planned a large initiative in Mexico.

NFL’s Alternate Uniforms Fuel Big Business—and Lots of Nostalgia

The Commanders kick off a run of new NFL helmets and uniforms.

Featured Today

Jun 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh (29) bats during the game between the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners at Globe Life Field.

The Torpedo Bat Business Is Still Going Strong: ‘Here to Stay’

Demand for the oddly shaped bats has stayed strong across the sport.
July 6, 2025

American Celebs Want to Be Sports Owners. Soccer Is Where They Start

As U.S. team prices climb, investors set their sights abroad.
July 5, 2025

Baseball’s Celebrity Row: Behind MLB’s First-Pitch Ritual

Often planned, sometimes spontaneous, the ritual throw is baseball’s celebrity row.
July 4, 2025

3,000 Hot Dogs, $20K in Prizes: Behind the Nathan’s Eating Contest

Nathan’s serves up thousands of hot dogs and $20,000 in prize money.
Stephen Curry celebrates after sinking the winning putt during the final round of the American Century Celebrity Championship golf tournament at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course in Stateline, Nev., Sunday, July 16, 2023.

Golf’s Hottest Celebrity Tournament Keeps Getting More Exclusive

The American Century Championship tees off at Lake Tahoe on Friday.
July 10, 2025

Murphy: Club WC Snags Won’t Derail Biggest Event ‘in Human History’

New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium is the concluding site of both FIFA events.
Bruce Meyer and Tony Clark of the MLBPA
July 10, 2025

MLB, Players’ Union Spar Over Salary Cap As Labor Fight Looms

The MLB Players Association’s No. 2 executive outlines what he sees owners doing.
Sponsored

Game On: Portfolio Players Stories, Brought to You by E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley

Dealmaker Jeffrey Kaplan maps the evolution of sports as an asset class
Crystal Palace FC
July 10, 2025

Crystal Palace’s Europa League Spot in Limbo After Lyon Wins Appeal

The ruling on Olympique Lyonnais was overturned this week on appeal.
July 9, 2025

U.K. Appoints New Soccer Regulator, EPL Matches Stay Behind Paywall

Men’s soccer in England will receive new levels of oversight.
Jul 8, 2025; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Chelsea FC forward Pedro Neto (7) applauds fans after a semifinal match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at MetLife Stadium.
July 9, 2025

Trump to Attend Club World Cup Final

Chelsea will face Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday.
July 8, 2025

Has the WNBA Outgrown the Matinee Madness of Camp Days?

Caitlin Clark will return from injury in a Wednesday noon game.