American football is one of the most popular sports in America. The game is originated from Rugby and in United States, the game is recognized as just football. Moreover, in another South American country, Canada, the game is known as ‘Gridiron’. The first match of American football was played long ago in 1869. The match was played between the college teams of Princeton and Rutgers. Since then, the professional football and college football are the most popular sports in United States. In 2012, around 70,000 college athletes and about 1.1 million high school athletes took part in American football.
The National Football League, NFL is a football championship, which has earned very much popularity in America. NFL championship is holding the record of highest average attendance of any sports leagues in the world. NFL is also blessed with some huge amount of income, notably about $10 billion income per year.
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Highest Paid NFL Players 2015:
The NFL players are among the highest paid athletes in the world. The players with their sponsor endorsements and annual team salary, become one of the richest in the world. Today, we have enlisted top 10 highest paid NFL players in 2015.
Let’s have a look at the list. If you want to know who is the highest paid NFL player, it is the perfect list you will be looking for.
10. Ben Roethlisberger
The Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger is at no. 10 in our list of top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015. Before drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2004, he played football for the Miami. The 6 feet 5 inches tall, Ben is currently holding a 6-year contract with Pittsburgh Steelers, which will be valid till 2016. The team contract he signed is presently valued over $87.9 million including the signing bonus of $25.2 million. Now he is earning $14.6 million as an annual team salary in addition with the $33.2 million of guaranteed income.
In the last season of NFL, Ben Roethlisberger bagged a total $18.8 million, which includes $12.1 million basic salary and $6.7 million of restructure bonus. So far, in this year of NFL, his current career earnings have reached over $93.2 million with the release value of $13.5 million.
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9. Ndamukong Suh
Ndamukong Suh is a Detroit Lions defensive tackle, who started football for the Nebraska. Suh was first drafted by the Detroit Lions in 2010 as a 1st round 2nd overall pick. In the NFL, he is heighted about 6 feet 4 inches and weighed 307 pounds. Suh is currently in a 5-year contract with Detroit Lions, which will leave him as a free agent this year. His contract is worth of $64.5 million with the Detroit Lions. He has now managed to earn $12.9 million yearly average salary along with the guaranteed income of $23.2 million.
In the 2014-15 season of NFL, his earnings have reached to a total of $22.4 million including the basic salary of $12.5 million and $6.2 restructure bonus money. With all these huge amount of money, Ndamukong Suh stays at no. 9 in the list of top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015. So far, this year he has earned $51.5 million where his release value being $19.4 million.
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8. Greg Hardy
Greg Hardy is currently playing for Carolina Panthers in NFL as a defensive end. He started his football career playing college football for the Mississippi. Then in 2010 NFL draft, Hardy was picked by the Carolina Panthers as a 6th round 175th overall pick. The 6 feet 4 inches and 290 lb, Greg Hardy has made a 1 year contract with Carolina Panthers and in 2016, he will be a free agent as the contract said. His contract values over $13.1 million and he is earning the amount as an annual income with his team.
In the last season of NFL, he has earned a total cap hit of $13.1 million, which is his basic team salary. In the current NFL season, Greg Hardy’s career earnings have reached to $2.7 million with the release value of $13.1 million. Greg Hardy makes his mark at no. 7 in the list of top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015.
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7. Philip Rivers
The current San Diego Chargers player, Philip Rivers plays as a quarterback in National Football League. Firstly, he played college football for the New York City state. Then in 2004, Philip was drafted by the San Diego Chargers as a 1st round 4th overall NFL pickup. He has a height of 6 feet 5 inches and weight of 228 lb as listed in NFL. Currently, he is playing in a 6-year contract with San Diego Chargers. The signing will last up to 2016, leaving him a free agent.
According to the contract, he will earn a total $91.8 million with his current team, which also includes $19.5 million signing bonus. Currently, he earns approximately $15.3 million as an average annual salary in addition with a total $38 million guaranteed income for his contract signing. In the 2014-15 NFL season, Philip Rivers has managed to earn a total cap hit of $16.6 million including $13.8 million basic salary from the team and a total of $1.6 million restructure bonus. In our list of top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015, Philip Rivers makes it to no. 7 with his net worth. He earns about $106.1 million till date in the current season of NFL.
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6. Sam Bradford
Sam Bradford is now playing for the St. Louis Rams as an efficient quarterback in NFL. He finished his college football career for the Oklahoma City. Then in 2010, Sam was drafted by the Sam Louis Rams as a 1st round 1st overall selection. He has signed a 6-year contract with his team and the term will be valid up to 2016. The contract he signed for the St. Louis Rams is valued over $78 million, including $17.9 million of signing bonus. Currently, Sam Bradford is earning $13 million as an annual salary and he also has a total of $50 million guaranteed income according to his contract. Sam Bradford is at no. 6 position in our list of top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015.
In the last NFL season, Sam has earned a total cap hit of $17.6 million, which includes the basic salary of $14 million and $3 million of signing bonus. In the current season of NFL, he has earned a total $51 million so far in addition with the releasing value of $7.1 million.
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5. Mike Wallace
Mike Wallace started his football career playing for the Mississippi. Currently, he is playing for the Miami Dolphins in the NFL as a wide receiver. The Pittsburgh Steelers’ draftee, Mike Wallace was first picked in the 2009 as a 3rd round 84th overall pick. The 6 feet tall and 200 lb, Mike Wallace is holding the 5-year contract with the Miami Dolphins and the signing will leave him as a free agent in 2018. With around $60 million contract value and $11 million signing bonus, Mike Wallace is at no. 5 in our list of top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015.
According to his contract, he is earning a total of $30 million guaranteed income in addition with $12 million annual team salary. In the 2014/15 season of NFL, he earns a total cap hit of $17.25 million including $15 million basic salary and $2.2 million signing bonus. In the current NFL season, he has earned about $16.6 million so far with the release value of $26.8 million for the Miami Dolphins.
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4. Peyton Manning
Peyton Manning is a NFL quarterback and currently plays for the Denver Broncos. Before drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in 1998, Peyton played college football for the Tennessee. He is about 6 feet 5 inches tall with 230 lb. The NFL team Denver Broncos has signed him a 5 year contract which will make him a free agent in 2017. Peyton’s contract with his current team values a total of $96 million where his current annual income is $19.2 million. He also has a total of $58 million guaranteed income with the Denver Broncos.
In the 2014/15 NFL season, he has managed to earn approximately $17.5 million, which includes $15 million of basic salary and $2.5 million as a restructure bonus. Peyton Manning has been selected for the no. 4 position in the list of top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015. In the current season of NFL, his career earning reached to $242.7 million with the $22.5 million of release value.
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3. Eli Manning
The New York Giant quarterback, Eli Manning is one of the highest paid NFL players 2015 with his no. 3 spot in this list. Eli Manning started his career for Mississippi and was drafted by the New York Giants in 2004 as a 1st round 1st overall pick up. The 6 feet 4 inches tall and 218 lb, Eli is a current contract holder with the New York Giants for 6 years, which will be valid upto 2016. His contract with the New York Giants values about $97.5 million including $13 million of signing bonus.
Eli Manning currently earns $16.2 million per year as an annual team salary and has a total guaranteed income of $35 million according to his contract deal. In the 2014/15 season of NFL, Eli Manning has managed to earn a total cap hit of $20.4 million, which includes $15 million basic salary and another $2.25 million restructure bonus fee. In the current season of NFL, Eli Manning’s earnings have reached to a total $135.1 million with the release value of $7.5 million.
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2. Gerald McCoy
Gerald McCoy is currently playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a defensive tackle in NFL. McCoy started his football career playing college football for the Oklahoma City. The 6 feet 4 inches heighted was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a 1st round 3rd overall pick in the NFL draft of 2010. Gerald McCoy has made a contract for 6 years with his team Tampa Bay Buccaneers which will make him a free agent in 2022. His contract value worth a total of $95.2 million with his current team, which includes $2.5 million of signing bonus. Gerald McCoy is holding the 2nd place in our list of top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015.
He earns $15.8 million as his average annual salary and also has a guaranteed income of $51.5 million for his contract. In the 2014/15 NFL season, McCoy has earned a total cap hit of $20.8 million, which includes the signing bonus of $1.1 million and a basic team salary of $20.8 million. So far, he is earning $44.4 million with the release value of $20.2 million in the current season of NFL.
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1. Jay Cutler
Jay Cutler is a quarterback National Football League player who currently plays for the Chicago Bears. Cutler also played college football for the Vanderbilt University. Denver Broncos drafted him as a 1st round 11th overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. The 6 feet 3 inches and 220 lb weighted, Jay Cutler is one of the influential player in NFL. He is now holding a 7 years contract with Chicago Bears and the contract will be valid till 2021. Cutler has earned a total of $ 126.7 million contract value with Chicago Bears.
Now his yearly salary is $ 18.1 million as well as a total guaranteed income of $ 54 million according to his contract. In the 2014-15 NFL season, Jay Cutler has earned a total of $18.5 million, which include $17.5 million as a basic salary and $1 million as a restructure bonus. In the current season of NFL, his earnings till date are $58.2 million where the release value being about $38 million.
Jay Cutler is the most successful NFL player indeed with his enormous income. He is the highest paid NFL player in our list holding the no. 1 place.
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Our top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015 may be extended by including the NFL stars like Brian Orakpo and Adrian Peterson. Orakpo has earned a total $11.4 million where Peterson has managed $14.4 million in the current season of NFL. Hope you’ve enjoyed our list of top 10 highest paid NFL players 2015. Don’t forget to give us your valuable comment in the box below.
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