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- Methodology
- Data Insights
- Quarterbacks With The Highest Annual Salary
- First-String NFL Quarterback Wages per Minute of Game Time in 2020
We all know that many professional athletes live a life of luxury, but how much do they actually make for their time?
On average, each quarterback only plays roughly 11 minutes per game. With each team playing 17 games in a regular season, that’s often just a little over three hours per year of game time for thousands, if not millions, of dollars. Sign us up!
For the second year in a row, the All Home Connections team looked at NFL data to find out how much the top quarterbacks in the league made per minute of game time in 2020—and the results may have you wishing you threw on a set of shoulder pads at a young age.
Methodology
To find the salary breakdown, we calculated the estimated total time played for every professional first-string quarterback for each NFL football team in the 2020 season. We calculated their number of total snaps in the regular season and playoff games and multiplied that by their offense’s average seconds per play. We then divided this by their 2020 earnings to find out how much they made per hour of playing time, which was used to find the per minute rate.
Note: Our data is based on the 2020 NFL rosters. Due to the nature of NFL transactions, select quarterbacks may have switched teams since the data was pulled.
Top 25 Highest Paid NFL Quarterbacks
Additional Salary Facts, Figures, and Statistics
- Although Tom Brady is considered one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, he lands on our list at #21 for income per minute of playing time. He may not be pulling in the most per minute, but he still stands strong as the top NFL earner of all time with pay totaling over $291 million across 22 seasons.
- Jacoby Brissett was the highest ranked quarterback per minute of playing time—after playing only 22 minutes and 20 seconds in 2020, he averaged $956,975 per minute.
- Russell Wilson is the highest paid quarterback on our list, bringing in $31 million in 2020. For his just over eight hours of game time, he made over $3.7 million per hour.
- Last on our list is Joe Burrow at $1,848 per minute. Though he may be in last place, he still pulled in $610,000 in 2020—more than seven times the annual household income of $79,900.
Aaron Rodgers played the most of any NFL quarterback in 2020 with 8 hours and 47 minutes of game time. His 2020 annual income levels out to $41,024 per minute. Even with this impressive salary, he fell from #2 in our 2020 report to #32 in this report.
First-String NFL Quarterback Wages per Minute of Game Time in 2020
| Player | Team | Total Snaps (2.0) | Total Season Play Time (HH:MM:SS) | Team Seconds per Play | 2020 Earnings | Dollars per Minute of Play Time | Dollars per Hour of Play Time | Rank (Highest Paid per Minute of Play Time) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacoby Brissett | IND | Indianapolis Colts | 48 | 0:22:20 | 27.92 | $21,375,000 | $956,975 | $57,418,517 | 1 |
| Easton Stick | LAC | Los Angeles Chargers | 2 | 0:00:53 | 26.53 | $744,391 | $841,754 | $50,505,232 | 2 |
| Matt Schaub | ATL | Atlanta Falcons | 9 | 0:03:57 | 26.32 | $2,375,000 | $601,570 | $36,094,225 | 3 |
| Case Keenum | CLE | Cleveland Browns | 15 | 0:07:06 | 28.4 | $2,833,333 | $399,061 | $23,943,659 | 4 |
| Marcus Mariota | LV | Las Vegas Raiders | 65 | 0:30:43 | 28.35 | $9,125,000 | $297,110 | $17,826,618 | 5 |
| Tyrod Taylor | LAC | Los Angeles Chargers | 75 | 0:33:10 | 26.53 | $7,500,000 | $226,159 | $13,569,544 | 6 |
| Nate Sudfeld | PHI | Philadelphia Eagles | 18 | 0:07:46 | 25.91 | $1,690,000 | $217,419 | $13,045,156 | 7 |
| Joshua Dobbs | PIT | Pittsburgh Steelers | 9 | 0:04:09 | 27.72 | $825,000 | $198,413 | $11,904,762 | 8 |
| Nathan Peterman | LV | Las Vegas Raiders | 11 | 0:05:12 | 28.35 | $1,000,000 | $192,400 | $11,544,012 | 9 |
| Jameis Winston | NO | New Orleans Saints | 54 | 0:24:57 | 27.72 | $2,860,000 | $114,638 | $6,878,307 | 10 |
| Alex Smith | WAS | Washington Football Team | 459 | 3:22:53 | 26.52 | $21,400,000 | $105,482 | $6,328,927 | 11 |
| Geno Smith | SEA | Seattle Seahawks | 18 | 0:08:25 | 28.07 | $887,500 | $105,391 | $6,323,477 | 12 |
| Matt Barkley | BUF | Buffalo Bills | 53 | 0:25:18 | 28.65 | $2,025,000 | $80,016 | $4,800,948 | 13 |
| David Blough | DET | Detroit Lions | 15 | 0:06:35 | 26.32 | $476,472 | $72,412 | $4,344,729 | 14 |
| Drew Brees | NO | New Orleans Saints | 717 | 5:31:15 | 27.72 | $23,650,000 | $71,395 | $4,283,722 | 15 |
| Chase Daniel | DET | Detroit Lions | 65 | 0:28:31 | 26.32 | $2,000,000 | $70,143 | $4,208,557 | 16 |
| Logan Woodside | TEN | Tennessee Titans | 21 | 0:09:06 | 25.99 | $610,000 | $67,059 | $4,023,526 | 17 |
| Tim Boyle | GB | Green Bay Packers | 22 | 0:11:24 | 31.09 | $752,000 | $65,967 | $3,958,010 | 18 |
| Russell Wilson | SEA | Seattle Seahawks | 1047 | 8:09:49 | 28.07 | $31,000,000 | $63,288 | $3,797,302 | 19 |
| Jared Goff | LAR | Los Angeles Rams | 1047 | 8:01:58 | 27.62 | $28,842,682 | $59,843 | $3,590,606 | 20 |
| Tom Brady | TB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 1025 | 7:32:32 | 26.49 | $25,000,000 | $55,244 | $3,314,642 | 21 |
| Carson Wentz | PHI | Philadelphia Eagles | 808 | 5:48:55 | 25.91 | $18,656,536 | $53,469 | $3,208,151 | 22 |
| Philip Rivers | IND | Indianapolis Colts | 1044 | 8:05:48 | 27.92 | $25,000,000 | $51,461 | $3,087,640 | 23 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1010 | 7:46:37 | 27.72 | $23,750,000 | $50,898 | $3,053,877 | 24 |
| Matthew Stafford | DET | Detroit Lions | 969 | 7:05:04 | 26.32 | $21,300,000 | $50,110 | $3,006,578 | 25 |
| Ryan Tannehill | TEN | Tennessee Titans | 1051 | 7:35:15 | 25.99 | $22,500,000 | $49,423 | $2,965,350 | 26 |
| Chris Streveler | ARI | Arizona Cardinals | 30 | 0:12:32 | 25.06 | $610,000 | $48,683 | $2,920,990 | 27 |
| Chad Henne | KC | Kansa City Chiefs | 75 | 0:33:49 | 27.05 | $1,625,000 | $48,059 | $2,883,549 | 28 |
| Derek Carr | LV | Las Vegas Raiders | 1006 | 7:55:20 | 28.35 | $21,500,000 | $45,231 | $2,713,875 | 29 |
| Kirk Cousins | MIN | Minnesota Vikings | 1082 | 8:18:48 | 27.66 | $21,000,000 | $42,101 | $2,526,052 | 30 |
| Aaron Rodgers | GB | Green Bay Packers | 1018 | 8:47:30 | 31.09 | $21,642,000 | $41,028 | $2,461,679 | 31 |
| Blaine Gabbert | TB | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 49 | 0:21:38 | 26.49 | $887,500 | $41,024 | $2,461,460 | 32 |
| Matt Ryan | ATL | Atlanta Falcons | 1113 | 8:08:14 | 26.32 | $18,962,500 | $38,839 | $2,330,328 | 33 |
| Mitchell Trubisky | CHI | Chicago Bears | 570 | 4:18:30 | 27.21 | $9,327,591 | $36,084 | $2,165,053 | 34 |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | MIA | Miami Dolphins | 496 | 3:48:20 | 27.62 | $8,000,000 | $35,038 | $2,102,263 | 35 |
| Jeff Driskel | DEN | Denver Broncos | 115 | 0:50:05 | 26.13 | $1,750,000 | $34,942 | $2,096,541 | 36 |
| Colt McCoy | NYG | New York Giants | 145 | 1:06:22 | 27.46 | $2,250,000 | $33,905 | $2,034,307 | 37 |
| Brian Hoyer | NE | New England Patriots | 50 | 0:24:02 | 28.83 | $750,000 | $31,217 | $1,873,049 | 38 |
| Teddy Bridgewater | CAR | Carolina Panthers | 929 | 7:27:28 | 28.9 | $13,953,125 | $31,182 | $1,870,942 | 39 |
| Nick Foles | CHI | Chicago Bears | 496 | 3:44:56 | 27.21 | $6,666,666 | $29,638 | $1,778,283 | 40 |
| Mason Rudolph | PIT | Pittsburgh Steelers | 79 | 0:36:30 | 27.72 | $1,069,620 | $29,306 | $1,758,376 | 41 |
| Sam Darnold | NYJ | New York Jets | 739 | 5:43:38 | 27.9 | $8,339,374 | $24,268 | $1,456,087 | 42 |
| Deshaun Watson | HOU | Houston Texans | 978 | 7:20:06 | 27 | $9,808,207 | $22,286 | $1,337,179 | 43 |
| Taysom Hill | NO | New Orleans Saints | 472 | 3:38:04 | 27.72 | $4,841,000 | $22,200 | $1,331,994 | 44 |
| Tua Tagovailoa | MIA | Miami Dolphins | 572 | 4:23:19 | 27.62 | $5,504,625 | $20,905 | $1,254,326 | 45 |
| Ryan Finley | CIN | Cincinnati Bengals | 90 | 0:41:54 | 27.93 | $872,414 | $20,824 | $1,249,429 | 46 |
| Jarrett Stidham | NE | New England Patriots | 85 | 0:40:51 | 28.83 | $834,028 | $20,421 | $1,225,235 | 47 |
| John Wolford | LAR | Los Angeles Rams | 73 | 0:33:36 | 27.62 | $685,000 | $20,384 | $1,223,057 | 48 |
| Garrett Gilbert | DAL | Dallas Cowboys | 72 | 0:28:18 | 23.59 | $529,411 | $18,702 | $1,122,109 | 49 |
| Baker Mayfield | CLE | Cleveland Browns | 1046 | 8:15:06 | 28.4 | $9,003,540 | $18,185 | $1,091,103 | 50 |
| Kyler Murray | ARI | Arizona Cardinals | 1103 | 7:40:41 | 25.06 | $8,080,601 | $17,540 | $1,052,421 | 51 |
| Ben DiNucci | DAL | Dallas Cowboys | 94 | 0:36:57 | 23.59 | $633,787 | $17,149 | $1,028,940 | 52 |
| Brett Rypien | DEN | Denver Broncos | 83 | 0:36:09 | 26.13 | $595,590 | $16,477 | $988,627 | 53 |
| Daniel Jones | NYG | New York Giants | 868 | 6:37:15 | 27.46 | $5,922,740 | $14,909 | $894,551 | 54 |
| P.J. Walker | CAR | Carolina Panthers | 107 | 0:51:32 | 28.9 | $685,000 | $13,291 | $797,465 | 55 |
| C.J. Beathard | SF | San Francisco 49ers | 186 | 1:25:56 | 27.72 | $1,122,751 | $13,066 | $783,935 | 56 |
| Andy Dalton | DAL | Dallas Cowboys | 619 | 4:03:22 | 23.59 | $3,000,000 | $12,327 | $739,614 | 57 |
| Taylor Heinicke | WAS | Washington Football Team | 25 | 0:11:03 | 26.52 | $132,354 | $11,978 | $718,664 | 58 |
| Josh Allen | BUF | Buffalo Bills | 1035 | 8:14:13 | 28.65 | $5,867,191 | $11,872 | $712,308 | 59 |
| Patrick Mahomes | KC | Kansa City Chiefs | 1027 | 7:43:00 | 27.05 | $5,346,508 | $11,547 | $692,843 | 60 |
| Joe Flacco | NYJ | New York Jets | 250 | 1:56:15 | 27.9 | $1,275,000 | $10,968 | $658,065 | 61 |
| Justin Herbert | LAC | Los Angeles Chargers | 1096 | 8:04:37 | 26.53 | $4,832,501 | $9,972 | $598,311 | 62 |
| Mike Glennon | JAX | Jaxsonville Jaguars | 288 | 2:05:40 | 26.18 | $1,161,719 | $9,245 | $554,679 | 63 |
| Jake Luton | JAX | Jaxsonville Jaguars | 191 | 1:23:20 | 26.18 | $655,437 | $7,865 | $471,879 | 64 |
| Jalen Hurts | PHI | Philadelphia Eagles | 334 | 2:24:14 | 25.91 | $1,095,486 | $7,595 | $455,717 | 65 |
| Dwayne Haskins | WAS | Washington Football Team | 429 | 3:09:37 | 26.52 | $1,150,301 | $6,066 | $363,985 | 66 |
| Lamar Jackson | BAL | Baltimore Ravens | 917 | 7:31:56 | 29.57 | $2,583,176 | $5,716 | $342,954 | 67 |
| Drew Lock | DEN | Denver Broncos | 834 | 6:03:12 | 26.13 | $1,593,368 | $4,387 | $263,217 | 68 |
| Gardner Minshew II | JAX | Jaxsonville Jaguars | 558 | 4:03:28 | 26.18 | $897,721 | $3,687 | $221,228 | 69 |
| Cam Newton | NE | New England Patriots | 876 | 7:00:55 | 28.83 | $1,137,500 | $2,702 | $162,146 | 70 |
| Brandon Allen | CIN | Cincinnati Bengals | 277 | 2:08:57 | 27.93 | $339,703 | $2,635 | $158,071 | 71 |
| Joe Burrow | CIN | Cincinnati Bengals | 709 | 5:30:02 | 27.93 | $610,000 | $1,848 | $110,896 | 72 |
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