The 20 Richest NFL Contracts in History

calvin-johnson-catch

While there are concerns over safety issues and the future of football, there’s no denying that it draws more money than any sport in the United States. From Thursday through Monday, sports fans sit around their TV, computers or even mobile devices to try and catch all the action no matter where they are, making sure they’re up-to-date with everything that’s going on with the action. And since these pro athletes risk so much in terms of their health every single day, making sure they’re in tip-top shape, some of them get paid quite handsomely. But who are the top earning players in league history based off their contracts? I dug deep to answer that question. What did I find? Well, besides the fact that it really pays to be a quarterback—literally—there are some other surprises of NFL players who have huge deals, so find out who they are.

Photo: Chris Arace/Flickr

Peyton-Manning

No. 20 – Peyton Manning (2012)

Value: 5 years, $96 million

It was only a matter of time until the best passer in NFL history got one last—possibly—big deal before he calls it quits. After leaving the Indianapolis Colts in 2012, the Denver Broncos wanted to make sure they closed the door on acquiring Peyton Manning, which is why they handed him a five-year, $96 million deal. All Manning has done is take the team to two-straight AFC title games—including a Super Bowl—and has thrown 114 touchdowns to 24 interceptions. Oh yeah, and he just broke the all-time touchdown passes record, too. That’s money well spent.

Photo: Econo Auto Sales/Flickr

jj-watt-texans

No. 19 – J.J. Watt (2016)

Value: 6 years, $100 million

Just recently signed, the Houston Texans believe that their All-Pro defender J.J. Watt is worthy of money that some quarterbacks don’t even have. Proving to be the top defensive player in the league, Watt plays with a passion and smarts of a signal-caller, which is why the team gave him such big money. Locking him up now while they try to build something big in Houston was a good risk worth taking—the guy is a beast.

Photo: nflravens/Flickr

brett-favre-packers

No. 18 – Brett Favre (2001)

Value: 10 years, $100 million

After collecting three league MVPs and taking the his Green Bay Packers to two-straight Super Bowls—winning one—the team decided it was time to reward Brett Favre with a huge contract. That’s why the team shelled out a 10-year, $100 million deal to Favre back in 2001, knowing that they were paying for both what he had already done and, hopefully, what he was about to do. He is a legend, the best passer in team and, until recently, league history and will be in Canton one day, so it was an investment worth taking.

Photo: infacinatorinc/Flickr

albert-haynesworth-redskins

No. 17 – Albert Haynesworth (2009)

Value: 7 years, $100 million

The richest deal ever given to a defensive player, the Washington Redskins shelled out incredibly big bucks for former defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. After getting so much guaranteed money from the team, Big Al became increasingly sensitive and, well, lazy, leading to a rift between him and the coaching staff and an eventual trade after just two seasons in D.C. It may have been a big mistake, but Haynesworth still made out quite nicely.

Photo: LifeThrough_TheLense/Flickr

michael-vick-eagles

No. 16 – Michael Vick (2011)

Value: 6 years, $100 million

Michael Vick might not be the same player he was early on in his career when he showed that scrambling quarterbacks could have great success, but, back in 2011, he proved himself enough to get a big deal from the Philadelphia Eagles. After taking over the team’s starting role, Vick earned monster money in hopes of leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl. He did have some success, but the deal was reconstructed a few years later after he showed signs of decline.

Photo: atlanta falcons/Flickr

drew-brees-saints

No. 15 – Drew Brees (2012)

Value: 5 years, $100 million

One of the most accomplished passers in league history, it’s no surprise that the New Orleans Saints wanted to do everything they could to keep Drew Brees in the Big Easy. That’s why they gave him a deal that, at the time, was one of the richest in league history. While other players have passed him over in guaranteed salary and average pay during a season, Brees has continued to prove himself, airing it out in New Orleans at will.

Photo: samuel.monson/Flickr

ben-roethlisberger-steelers

No. 14 – Ben Roethlisberger (2008)

Value: 8 years, $102 million

With two Super Bowl wins, PIttsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has shown the ability to be one of the best game managers and winners in the NFL. It’s because of those guts that the franchise gave him a hefty deal back in 2008, which actually came right before he won his second ring. He’s tough and a staple to the team, so it seems that Big Ben is a Steeler lifer at this point with this deal.

Photo: blacroc/Flickr

drew-bledsoe-patriots

No. 13 – Drew Bledsoe (2001)

Value: 10 years, $103 million

Before there was Tom Brady, there was Drew Bledsoe—and he was pretty darn good. So good, in fact, that the New England Patriots inked him to a massive deal that was nearly unheard of back in 2001. Of course, it was later that year that Bledsoe went down with a serious injury that led to Brady taking over the reins of the franchise and, well, the rest is history. Somehow it all worked out for everyone involved.

Photo: mrstevens2006/Flickr

matt-ryan-falcons

No. 12 – Matt Ryan (2014)

Value: 5 years, $103.7 million

After seeing a lot of success in the first few years in the league, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has dipped a little in leading his team to victories, but, make no mistake, the guy knows how to play the position. That’s why the team extended him a few years ago that finally came into effect this season. Ryan is getting paid like a future Hall of Famer—which, as of right now, he isn’t—but, like others on this list, when you have a franchise player, you want to overpay to hold onto him.

Photo: Mike Zarrilli/Flickr

tony-romo-cowboys

No. 11 – Tony Romo (2014)

Value: 6 years, $108 million

I know that current Dallas Cowboys signal-caller Tony Romo takes a lot of heat for some of his decision-making and for wilting under pressure, but the guy is a top-10 quarterback in the league right now. In fact, he might even be better than that when considering all of the drama other teams have at the position. Who knows if he’ll ever win a Super Bowl in Big D, but Romo has done enough and proven to be a guy the team wants to build around, so they extended him in a big way last offseason—which, I think, he has earned.

Photo: Paul Moseley/Flickr

aaron-rodgers-sideline

No. 10 – Aaron Rodgers (2015)

Value: 5 years, $110 million

There might not be a better quarterback in the league who’s enjoying a better stretch than the Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers at this moment. Averaging over three touchdown passes in his last four games in 2014, Rodgers has shown to be as elite as they come. That echos his past success, too, as he has won a league MVP and a Super Bowl title for the Pack, which re-upped him with a mega-deal that will pay him handsomely starting next season.

Photo: mike/Flickr

andy-dalton-bengals

No. 9 – Andy Dalton (2015)

Value: 6 years, $115 million

Does a guy who leads his team to three-straight playoff appearances—yet fails to win a postseason game—deserve such a big contract? I don’t know, but that was the question many were asking around the league after current Cincinnati Bengals passer Andy Dalton got his big payday this past summer. Dalton is a leader and a consistent player who has helped keep Cincy in the hunt for a divisional title since coming into the league in 2011, so it seems the team favors wins over outside perception—as they should.

Photo: Nathan Rupert/Flickr

donovan-mcnabb-training-camp

No. 8 – Donovan McNabb (2002)

Value: 12 years, $115 million

For a long time, former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was one of the best players in the NFL, helping the growing trend of mobile quarterbacks in the league succeed. After being booed after the team selected him No. 3 overall in the 1999 draft, Philly fans were quick to forgive McNabb after he led the team to four-straight NFC title games, which included a trip to the Super Bowl. For that reason, the front office wasn’t shy in handing him some serious money.

Photo: Blake Caldwell/Flickr

carson-palmer-bengals

No. 7 – Carson Palmer (2006)

Value: 9 years, $119.7 million

While younger fans might not remember the days that current Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer was at his best, as someone who saw the guy play early in his career with the Cincinnati Bengals, I can tell you that he was, without a doubt, a top-5 signal-caller. With a strong arm and the brains to read defenses and make calls at the line of scrimmage, Palmer earned his big payday by making the Bengals relevant, taking them to a few playoff games while under center.

Photo: ZenzenOK/Flickr

larry-fitzgerald-practice

No. 6 – Larry Fitzgerald (2011)

Value: 8 years, $120 million

One of the most dominant wideouts in football over the past decade, the Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald will, no doubt, wind up with a bust in Canton some day. Putting up consistent numbers and helping revive football in the desert, Fitzgerald has earned every penny of his monster deal that he signed with the Cards back in 2011, acting as an ambassador both on and off the field for the team.

Photo: Tony Franco/Flickr

joe-flacco-ravens

No. 5 – Joe Flacco (2013)

Value: 6 years, $120.6 million

When looking at just stats, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco doesn’t exactly matchup with some of these other guys on the list. But when it comes to winning—which is all teams really care about—Flacco can brag in that category. That’s because he has a 67-36 record in his six-in-a-half seasons in the league, including the one thing every team wants their QB to have, a Super Bowl ring.

Photo: DGA Productions/Flickr

colin-kaepernick-super-bowl

No. 4 – Colin Kaepernick (2014)

Value: 6 years, $126 million

One of the most elusive and agile quarterbacks in NFL history, the San Francisco 49ers’ Colin Kaepernick has revolutionized the position. Blending unique skills of running like a wide receiver and throwing like a starting pitcher in baseball, Kaepernick has guided his 49ers to three-straight NFC title games, which included a trip to the Super Bowl, since taking over the starting gig two seasons ago. For that reason, San Francisco didn’t hesitate in rewarding him.

Photo: nflravens/Flickr

jay-cutler-bears

No. 3 – Jay Cutler (2014)

Value: 7 years, $126.7 million

You might not think it—especially with so many people talking about his shortcomings this past week—but Chicago Bears signal-caller Jay Cutler is actually the highest, current contract of any quarterback in the NFL right now. Seeing how he hasn’t even reached a Super Bowl in his career, it might seem a bit premature, but the Bears believe in the guy, and they’ve shown that with the amount of bills they’re paying him.

Photo: Mike Morbeck/Flickr

michael-vick-falcons

No. 2 – Michael Vick (2005)

Value: 10 years, $130 million

Yep, current New York Jets backup quarterback Michael Vick actually has the distinction of making this list two times! The first time came back in 2005 with the Atlanta Falcons who rewarded their then franchise quarterback with a mega-deal that paid him quite nicely. Of course, Vick went and messed things up a few years later by getting sent to prison for a dog-fighting scandal, but he worked his way back and earned the aforementioned deal from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2011 as their starter.

Photo: nflravens/Flickr

calvin-johnson-diving-catch

No. 1 – Calvin Johnson (2012)

Value: 8 years, $132 million

With the list containing its fair share of Super Bowl winning quarterbacks and future Hall of Famers, it’s the Detroit Lions’ All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson who tops the list of the richest contract in NFL history. The guy is probably going to end up in Canton himself, one day, so it’s probably not too shocking seeing that one of the biggest freak athletes and playmakers in the NFL lands so high.

Photo: john mastrella/Flickr

Written by Nick Dimengo

Graduate of the University of Kentucky. Cleveland sports fan. Frustrated respecter of LeBron James. Influencer of bad ideas. In addition to Worthly/Housely, I'm a regular contributor to Bleacher Report, Scout, Esquire and Maxim, and run or bike way too much for my own good when not writing. The day a Cleveland sports team wins a title is the day I can officially say my life is complete.