- Super Bowl. Super Bowl 60 Boycott: Fans vow to skip Patriots vs. Seahawks "Brutal" matchup
- Super Bowl. Script revealed? The September image that 'predicted' the Super Bowl LX final
Reaching the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal for every NFL player, not only for the chance to lift the Lombardi Trophy, but also for the financial reward that comes with playing on the league's biggest stage.
As Super Bowl 2026 approaches, fans often wonder how much money players actually earn for making it to the championship game. Beyond sporting glory, the postseason also represents a significant financial injection, although far from the figures seen in other major US leagues.
How much money does a player make in the NFL playoffs?
The NFL's collective bargaining agreement sets postseason payouts through 2030. In the first week of this year's playoffs, players earn between $53,500 and $58,500, depending on their status. Division champions who did not have a bye week receive the highest amount, while wild-card teams and those who rested in the first round earn $53,500 per player
Related:
- Super Bowl 2026: Date, time, location, and everything to know
- Where to watch the Super Bowl 2026? TV channel and streaming
- Super Bowl Halftime Show 2026: Everything about Bad Bunny's performance
- How much do tickets for the Super Bowl cost in 2026?
- Super Bowl Winners List: All teams that have won the Vince Lombardi
In the divisional round, the payout rises to $58,500, while players competing in the conference championships receive $81,000. The Super Bowl pays out $178,000 per player on the winning team and $103,000 for the runners-up, figures that represent an increase of $7,000 over last season.
The maximum a player can accumulate during the entire postseason is $376,000, surpassing the $357,000 the Eagles received after winning the last Super Bowl.
The NFL pays less than the NBA and MLB
The NFL's postseason pool is primarily funded by ticket revenue, although much of it goes to the league's head office. This makes the playoffs less lucrative compared to other leagues.
In the NHL, the champion Florida Panthers handed out close to $250,000 per player. In MLB, the postseason pool reached $128.2 million, with the Dodgers handing out more than $484,000 per player. In the NBA, each Oklahoma City Thunder player earned around $828,000 after the title.
The Super Bowl XL between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots kicks off with millions at stake and one goal in mind: to lift the Lombardi Trophy.