Friday, October 9, 2026
  • -
    days
  • -
    hours
  • -
    minutes
  • -
    seconds

Tom Brady Is NFL’s Top Earner for First Time

  • Tom Brady is the NFL’s top earner for the first time.
  • Every member of Forbes’ top 10 list is a quarterback.
Tom Brady
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Want more from Front Office Sports
in your search results?

Add Front Office Sports on Google

It took him 45 years, seven Super Bowl wins, and a brief retirement, but Tom Brady is finally the NFL’s highest-paid player.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ superstar quarterback will earn $75 million this year, including $45 million from off-field endeavors, per Forbes.

In addition to his $30 million salary, Brady has endorsement deals with seven companies, including Hertz and FTX. He has also co-founded two media companies, an NFT company, a clothing line, and a training and nutrition brand.

  • Matthew Stafford ($65.5 million), Aaron Rodgers ($53 million), and Patrick Mahomes ($51.5 million) followed Brady on the list.
  • All top 10 NFL earners were quarterbacks.
  • Collectively, the top 10 will earn $370 million, just missing the $373 million record set in 2018.

The NFL’s salary cap rose $25.7 million from 2021 to 2022, reaching $208.2 million. Last year was the first time the cap fell in a decade, due to pandemic-related revenue losses.

Media Money Incoming

The NFL will be flush with cash for some time thanks to its latest round of media deals, which kick in next year — though Amazon’s exclusive pact for “Thursday Night Football” begins this season.

The league secured more than $110 billion over 11 years from CBS, NBC, Disney, Fox, and Amazon — and that’s before factoring in a future deal for NFL Sunday Ticket that could reach $2.5 billion per season and revenue from the league’s new streaming service, NFL+.

Download the FOS App

The business of sports, in your pocket.

QR code to download the app

Scan the QR code to get the app now.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Sep 27, 2026; Rio De Janeiro, BRA; (Editors Notes: Caption Correction) A view of the NFL logo and the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys during the game at Maracana Stadium.

NFL Urges Supreme Court to Hear Prediction-Markets Case

“It is critical for the Court to act as soon as possible,” a league source says.

Titans Fire Three Business Execs Amid Another Ugly Start

The moves are just the latest high-level exits and shifts in recent years. 
Kenny Albert Fox Sports
First at FOS

Kenny Albert’s Last-Minute NLDS Fill-In Came Mid-Colonoscopy Prep

Albert filled in for Joe Davis, who had lost his voice.
podcast thumbnail mobile
Front Office Sports Today

10/8/26 – Rahm Rejects LIV, Trump’s Stormy Georgia-Alabama Visit, Super Bowl on Disney+

0:00

Featured Today

Oct 3, 2026; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Kalen DeBoer waits to run onto the field prior to the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Who Is Alabama Football in Year 3 Under Kalen DeBoer?

The No. 6 Crimson Tide host No. 2 Georgia on Saturday.
Cubs behind the scenes
October 6, 2026

Hollywood and TikTok: Sports Media’s New ‘Blueprint’

Teams and leagues are pouring money into the quest for fans.
October 2, 2026

How the Baseball Cap Became a ‘Behemoth’

The hat has become essential for athletes, fans, and the sports-agnostic.
Morishita-Sato-homerun-celebration-at-Meiji-Jingu-Baseball-Staidum-2025
September 28, 2026

Japanese Baseball Is Fighting Back Against MLB Talent Drain

Nippon Professional Baseball is reimagining how to be a global juggernaut.
Aug 9, 2026; Bedminster, New Jersey, USA; President Donald Trump walks out of the clubhouse during the final round of the LIV Golf New York tournament at Trump National Bedminster.
September 25, 2026

Trump’s Year of Sports Gets Busier With CFB, Presidents Cup

The impact of Trump’s attendance varies across each sporting event.

Caitlin Clark Wants Mitchell Back With Fever Despite Fan Comments

Mitchell said she has yet to make a decision on her future.
Aug 23, 2026; Westfield, Indiana, USA; Jon Rahm tees off on hole 18 during the final round of the LIV Golf Indianapolis golf tournament at The Club at Chatham Hills.
October 7, 2026

Jon Rahm Will Not Participate in LIV 2.0

Rahm was LIV’s biggest star besides Bryson DeChambeau.
October 7, 2026

Jimmy Rollins: MLB Analytics Gurus Undervalue Team Chemistry

“I went to the college of MLB. Where’d you go?”
Sponsored

Beyond the Scorecard: How Dow Is Putting Purpose at the Center of Women’s Golf

Discover how Dow and the LPGA are building a partnership with lasting impact.
October 7, 2026

Coco Gauff Says Racist Abuse Has Been ‘Draining’ at China Open

Gauff pulled out of the Wuhan Open after the match.
Jun 9, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Justin Martinez (63) throws against the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning at Chase Field.
October 7, 2026

Another Start-Up Is Trying to Sell Shares in Athletes’ Future Earnings

“We are basically building a mini Robinhood,” Agentiq’s cofounder tells FOS.
October 5, 2026

LeBron’s Fanatics Deal Includes Helicopter Use

The helicopter has repeatedly gone between NYC and Philly.
October 5, 2026

Alex Ovechkin Announces Retirement After 22 Seasons

The Capitals superstar said this season will be his last.