Saturday, September 19, 2026

Patrick Mahomes Restructures Chiefs Contract for Historic Payday

  • Mahomes’ restructured Chiefs deal will pay him $210.6 million through 2026, the most in NFL history over a four-year span.
  • His $52.6M average annual salary from 2023-2026 ranks second behind Joe Burrow’s $55 million average salary.
Mahomes’ restructured Chiefs deal will pay him $210.6 million through 2026, the most in NFL history over a four-year span.
Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes has agreed to restructure his contract to pay him $210.6 million in guaranteed salary between this season and 2026, the most ever for an NFL player in a four-year span.

Escalators in his restructured deal could increase his total 2023-2026 compensation to $218.1 million, according to Ian Rapoport. The two-time Super Bowl champion and defending MVP signed a 10-year, $450 million extension with the Chiefs in 2020 that keeps him under contract through the 2031 season.

Mahomes’ original contract had incentives that could push his total compensation to $503 million, making it the largest athlete contract in American professional sports history. 

At $210.6 million guaranteed, Mahomes will now make $52.65 million per year for the 2023, 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons. That average annual value ranks him second among NFL players behind Joe Burrow’s $55 million AAV that he’ll get across his five-year, $275 million extension signed earlier this month with the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Mahomes’ 10-year deal originally ranked him eighth among all quarterbacks in average annual salary. His $52.65 million AAV for the next four years makes him one of five active quarterbacks to reach the $50 million per year threshold along with Burrow, the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Hurts ($51M AAV), Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson ($52M AAV), and Los Angeles Chargers’ Justin Herbert ($52.5M).

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 10, 2026; Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay during practice at Marvel Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

McVay’s Australia Gripe Highlights NFL’s Business-Football Divide

The Rams coach is looking to forget the team’s struggles in Australia.
Hot & Social/Mets

Sports Teams Are Playing a New Role: Matchmaker

The latest promotion at the stadium? Love.
Exclusive

Vicious Infighting Is Jeopardizing the Future of Women’s Baseball

The WPBL’s own CEO admits there’s a “power struggle.”
Sep 17, 2026; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Joshua Palmer (5) runs to score a touchdown during the first half against the Detroit Lions at New Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Bills Mafia Steals the Show in $2.2B Highmark Stadium Debut

The new stadium easily transcended its league-low seating capacity.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

NFL Ratings Dip, Steve Belichick Resigns, Knicks Ticket Refunds

0:00

Featured Today

Fantasy Football Drafts Are Turning Into Full-Blown Vacations

Leagues are forgoing solo drafts and replacing them with in-person getaways.
Oct 4, 2025; Tempe, AZ, USA; General action during the first period of the game between the Arizona State Sun Devils and the Penn State Nittany Lions at Mullett Arena
September 10, 2026

How Military-Style Workouts in College Sports Get Dangerous

For elite athletes, high-intensity training can be “very appealing.”
September 6, 2026

Is Carolyn Tisch Blodgett the Future Face of Giants Ownership?

Amid changes at top of Giants ownership, eyes are on Tisch Blodgett.
September 4, 2026

Wild Transfer Window Shows How Premier League Towers Over Soccer

Spending in England vastly outstripped the rest of Europe.
September 3, 2026

Teams Are Spending Millions to Build Luxury Locker Rooms

It’s a recruiting pitch, a retention tool, and a seven-figure line item.
Kylian Mbappe On

Mbappé Leaves Nike for On As Brand Launches Soccer Division

Thierry Henry joins as the company’s new director of football.
asset class
September 16, 2026

Ndamukong Suh Says He Almost Invested in the Seahawks

He also “looked at” the Portland Blazers and Thorns.
Jul 15, 2026; New York, NY, USA; Kevin Hart arrives on the red carpet before the 2026 ESPY Awards at Lincoln Center.
September 17, 2026

LeBron James and Kevin Hart Planning YouTube Golf Collab

Both celebrities recently launched golf content channels.
Sponsored

Drew Weatherford’s Bet on the Youth Sports Economy

Drew Weatherford discusses investing across the youth, college and professional levels.
Aug 28, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) warms up against the Seattle Seahawks prior to a game at Arrowhead Stadium.
September 14, 2026

Mahomes Comeback Kicks Off ESPN ‘MNF’ Coverage

The two-time NFL MVP is completing a remarkable injury recovery.
September 13, 2026

Myles Garrett’s Knee Surgery Adds to Rams’ Early Woes

He’ll miss at least four games on IR.
September 12, 2026

Rybakina Wins First US Open Title, World No. 1, and $5.5M

The 27-year-old will officially become No. 1 in the world on Monday.
September 11, 2026

Taylor Fritz’s Latest Ball Complaint: Retail Ones Are ‘Miserable’

Fritz was knocked out of the US Open in the third round.