21 NFL stars made Sportico's 2025 highest-paid athletes list, as Travis Kelce leads just six non-quarterbacks among the top earners.
The NFL remains a financial powerhouse in global sport, with 21 players featuring in Sportico's 2025 list of the world's 100 highest-paid athletes.
The figures reinforce the league's earning hierarchy, where quarterbacks dominate the top positions — but a select few players outside that role have built immense value both on and off the field.
Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images
According to Sportico's global rankings, NFL players combined to earn well over $900 million in 2025. Patrick Mahomes once again leads all NFL names, but Travis Kelce headlines the group of non-quarterbacks breaking through football's financial ceiling.
Here's the full list of NFL players who made Sportico's 2025 Top 100 Highest-Paid Athletes:
Patrick Mahomes— 17th — $80.3 million — Kansas City Chiefs
Josh Allen — 19th — $73.2 million — Buffalo Bills
Justin Herbert — 20th — $71.1 million — Los Angeles Chargers
Dak Prescott — 35th — $57.8 million — Dallas Cowboys
Tua Tagovailoa — 43rd — $54 million — Miami Dolphins
Brock Purdy — 50th — $50.1 million — San Francisco 49ers
Travis Kelce— 54th — $49.6 million — Kansas City Chiefs
Micah Parsons — 55th — $49.3 million — Green Bay Packers
Jalen Hurts — 57th — $48.9 million — Philadelphia Eagles
Matthew Stafford — 58th — $48.1 million — Los Angeles Rams
Trevor Lawrence — 59th — $48 million — Jacksonville Jaguars
Deshaun Watson — 66th — $46.8 million — Cleveland Browns
Lamar Jackson — 67th — $46.4 million — Baltimore Ravens
T.J. Watt — 68th — $46.1 million — Pittsburgh Steelers
Ja'Marr Chase— 71st — $44.4 million — Cincinnati Bengals
Geno Smith — 78th — $41.5 million — Las Vegas Raiders
Justin Jefferson — 86th (T) — $39.5 million — Minnesota Vikings
Sam Darnold — 86th (T) — $39.5 million — Seattle Seahawks
Baker Mayfield — 90th — $39.4 million — Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Rashawn Slater — 94th — $38.1 million — Los Angeles Chargers
Cam Ward — 96th — $38 million — Tennessee Titans
Quarterbacks dominate once again, with 15 of the 21 NFL representatives playing under center. Patrick Mahomes headlines the group with $80.3 million in earnings, followed closely by Josh Allen and Justin Herbert, both of whom surpassed $70 million for the year.
Outside of the quarterback ranks, Travis Kelce remains the highest-paid non-QB, earning $49.6 million through a mix of on-field success and commercial reach.
He leads a select group of six non-quarterbacks who made the 2025 list, proving that elite positional play can rival football's biggest earners.
The six non-QBs who appeared in Sportico's Top 100 are:
Travis Kelce— 54th — $49.6 million — Kansas City Chiefs
Micah Parsons— 55th — $49.3 million — Green Bay Packers
T.J. Watt— 68th — $46.1 million — Pittsburgh Steelers
Ja'Marr Chase— 71st — $44.4 million — Cincinnati Bengals
Justin Jefferson— 86th (T) — $39.5 million — Minnesota Vikings
Rashawn Slater— 94th — $38.1 million — Los Angeles Chargers
Travis Kelce continues to set the standard for tight ends, while Parsons and Watt lead the defensive field through dominant play and growing endorsement value.
Wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson highlight the new commercial appeal of skill positions, while Rashawn Slater's inclusion reflects the growing financial recognition of elite offensive linemen.
Although quarterbacks remain the sport's most lucrative position, the presence of six non-QBs in the global top 100 proves that standout talent across positions now commands global recognition — and paydays to match.
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