20. Michael Vick
Career Earnings: $115.9 million
Despite a career that was a roller coaster from the jump, Atlanta Falcons legend Michael Vick managed to earn more than $115 million over his 13 seasons in the NFL. The former comeback player of the year saw his tenure split into two halves that are almost dead-even in terms of his earnings. In his first six seasons with Atlanta, from 2001-2006, Vick collected $57.4 million and likely would’ve seen that figure skyrocket if he hadn’t missed two whole seasons after his arrest on dogfighting charges. His improbable comeback saw him earn another $58 million with the Eagles, Jets and Steelers from 2009-2015.
AP Photo/Michael Perez
19. Jay Cutler
Career Earnings: $122.1 million
Ask any NFL fan to describe Jay Cutler’s NFL tenure and they’ll likely muster up a solid, “Meh.” The former starter for the Bears, Broncos and Dolphins managed a single 4,000-yard passing season — which was also his lone All-Star campaign — and a single appearance in the postseason, in which Chicago went 1-1. Despite that lack of prowess, Cutler managed to be a magnet for cash, averaging more than $10 million in NFL earnings a year for 12 seasons.
The most insulting of those years for Bears fans came in 2014-15 and 2015-16, when he collected more than $37 million in paychecks despite the team winning six of his starts or fewer out of each slate.
AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh
18. Cam Newton
Career Earnings: $125.4 million
It’s insane to think that after a career that has included an MVP honor, an offensive rookie of the year title and a Super Bowl appearance, Cam Newton still hasn’t surpassed Sam Bradford’s career earnings. It’s been 10 seasons since he was selected No. 1 overall by the Panthers and spent years being hit more times than any quarterback in the league. Newton made more than $121 million from his deals with Carolina over the course of nine seasons before inking a humbling deal with the Patriots that should see him earn less than $10 million across two seasons, including the 2021-22 slate.
AP Photo/Chuck Burton
17. Tony Romo
Career Earnings: $127.4 million
Another guy who just attracts ungodly paychecks, Tony Romo reportedly gets paid about $18 million per year for his broadcasting gig with CBS, despite already being set for life from his NFL career. In his 14 seasons as the starter for the Cowboys, Romo collected more than $127 million, making him easily the highest-paid undrafted player in league history. His richest year on the field came during the 2013-14 season, when he made $26.5 million, according to Spotrac, which he followed with his final of four Pro Bowl seasons.
AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez
16. Sam Bradford
Career Earnings: $130 million
Remember that thing I said about Jimmy Garoppolo being the biggest head-scratcher on this list? Sam Bradford has something to say about it. The former No. 1 overall pick for the Rams landed a rookie contract that is considered the stuff of legend today, as it will likely be the biggest one ever given to a new NFL player. That $76 million deal and the way he never came close to justifying it brought an end to massive rookie contracts after a new collective bargaining agreement was signed the following year.
Bradford never reached a Pro Bowl or made a playoff appearance before his career ended in 2019 following nine seasons of robbing the league blind.
AP Photo/Jeff Roberson
15. Brett Favre
Career Earnings: $137.8 million
It’s a testament to Brett Favre’s earning prowess that his NFL career began in 1991 and he still ranks among the 20 wealthiest quarterbacks in history. In 2001 — when some players on this list were still playing peewee football — he became the first player in NFL history to sign a contract worth at least $100 million. The Hall of Famer would end up making nearly $138 million in 20 seasons, 16 of which were with the Packers, with whom he won a Super Bowl.
Despite claiming more than $97 million from Green Bay in total, his most lucrative single seasons came in his golden years with the Jets and Vikings. His final season, in Minnesota, saw him bring home a career-best $16 million.
AP Photo/Morry Gash
14. Kirk Cousins
Career Earnings: $140.6 million
While the Vikings were incredibly underwhelming in 2020, Kirk Cousins’ bank statements were anything but. The veteran passer cashed in more than $40 million in checks from the franchise during the 2020-21 season alone and some would say he earned it by having arguably the best all-around year of his career. But even the most understanding fan in the Twin Cities would have a hard time justifying the $94 million the Vikings have paid Cousins in the past three seasons alone, especially since he’s yet to lead them past the divisional round of the playoffs.
AP Photo/Jim Mone
13. Russell Wilson
Career Earnings: $162.3 million
Seahawks veteran Russell Wilson has had three different seasons that have seen him bring home more than $30 million in earnings, which has helped him vault up this list. During the 2020-21 season alone, which saw him throw a career-best 40 touchdowns, Wilson earned $53 million from the franchise that he has helped cement among the elites in the NFL. He’s set to collect at least another $19 million in salary from Seattle during the 2021-22 slate, which will land him just outside the all-time top 10.
12. Joe Flacco
Career Earnings: $167.5 million
Very few guys on this list could be described as journeyman players, but that’s what Joe Flacco has become in recent years. After his legendary performance during the playoffs of the 2012-13 season, which saw him lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl victory, Flacco inked a $120 million contract that put him among the biggest earners in league history. In total, he was paid nearly $150 million over the course of 11 seasons by that franchise before fleecing the Broncos for another $18.5 million for one season of work that saw him start in only eight games.
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
11. Carson Palmer
Career Earnings: $174.1 million
Despite a 1-3 lifetime record as a starter in the playoffs, Carson Palmer did enough during his regular seasons to command top-tier money for years. The former Heisman Trophy winner made the majority of his cash while starting for the Bengals, landing more than $84 million over eight seasons that saw him hovering amidst the league’s top passers regularly. Palmer’s richest single year came in 2014 with the Cardinals, however, when he brought in $19 million, including a $10 million signing bonus.
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez