This article lists the highest paid football players measured by 2011 salaries, according to data variously culled from Yahoo! Sports and spotrac. Monies earned from endorsements are not included in each player’s earnings.
The median 2011 salary, age, and experience of these players are $10,000,000, 28-years-old, and 7 years, respectively.
By position, eight of the highest paid players are quarterbacks, six are defensive ends, four are offensive tackles, four are cornerbacks, three are wide-receivers, one is a running back, one is a tight end, and one is a defensive tackle.
After reading “Highest Paid Football Players (2011),” return to these links to read “Highest Paid Baseball Players (2011),” “Highest Paid Basketball Players (2011),” and “Highest Paid Hockey Players (2011).”
1. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Larry Fitzgerald
NFL Team: Arizona Cardinals
Position: WR
Age: 28
Experience: 8 years
2011 salary: $20,000,000
2. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Richard Seymour
NFL Team: Oakland Raiders
Position: DT
Age: 31
Experience: 11 years
2011 salary: $15,000,000
3. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Mark Sanchez
NFL Team: New York Jets
Position: QB
Age: 24
Experience: 3 years
2011 salary: $14,750,000
4. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Elvis Dumervil
NFL Team: Denver Broncos
Position: DE
Age: 27
Experience: 6 years
2011 salary: $14,000,000
5. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Mario Williams
NFL Team: Houston Texans
Position: DE
Age: 26
Experience: 6 years
2011 salary: $13,800,000
6. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Michael Vick
NFL Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Position: QB
Age: 31
Experience: 10 years
2011 salary: $13,000,000
7. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Paul Soliai
NFL Team: Miami Dolphins
Position: DE
Age: 27
Experience: 5 years
2011 salary: $12,381,000
8. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Matt Cassel
NFL Team: Kansas City Chiefs
Position: QB
Age: 29
Experience: 7 years
2011 salary: $12,250,000
9. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Ben Roethlisberger
NFL Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
Position: QB
Age: 29
Experience: 8 years
2011 salary: $11,600,000
10. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Dwight Feeney
NFL Team: Indianapolis Colts
Position: DE
Age: 31
Experience: 10 years
2011 salary: $11,420,000
11. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Matt Ryan
NFL Team: Atlanta Falcons
Position: QB
Age: 26
Experience: 4 years
2011 salary: $11,250,000
12. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Jake Long
NFL Team: Miami Dolphins
Position: T
Age: 26
Experience: 4 years
2011 salary: $11,200,000
13. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Adrian Peterson
NFL Team: Minnesota Vikings
Position: RB
Age: 26
Experience: 5 years
2011 salary: $10,720,000
14. (tie) Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Marcus McNeil
NFL Team: San Diego Chargers
Position: T
Age: 27
Experience: 6 years
2011 salary: $10,000,000
Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Stanford Routt
NFL Team: Oakland Raiders
Position: CB
Age: 28
Experience: 7 years
2011 salary: $10,000,000
15. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Tony Romo
NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: QB
Age: 31
Experience: 9 years
2011 salary: $9,000,000
Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Matthew Stafford
NFL Team: Detroit Lions
Position: QB
Age: 23
Experience: 3 years
2011 salary: $9,000,000
16. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Jared Allen
NFL Team: Minnesota Vikings
Position: DE
Age: 29
Experience: 8 years
2011 salary: $8,979,438
17. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Calvin Johnson
NFL Team: Detroit Lions
Position: WR
Age: 26
Experience: 5 years
2011 salary: $8,875,000
18. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Miles Austin
NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: WR
Age: 27
Experience: 6 years
2011 salary: $8,540,000
19. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Eli Manning
NFL Team: New York Giants
Position: QB
Age: 30
Experience: 8 years
2011 salary: $8,500,000
Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Jason Smith
NFL Team: St. Louis Rams
Position: T
Age: 25
Experience: 3 years
2011 salary: $8,500,000
20. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Philip Rivers
NFL Team: San Diego Chargers
Position: QB
Age: 29
Experience: 8 years
2011 salary: $8,400,000
21. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Kellen Winslow
NFL Team: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position: TE
Age: 28
Experience: 8 years
2011 salary: $8,290,000
22. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Brian Urlacher
NFL Team: Chicago Bears
Position: LB
Age: 33
Experience: 12 years
2011 salary: $8,025,000
23. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): John Abraham
NFL Team: Atlanta Falcons
Position: DE
Age: 33
Experience: 12 years
2011 salary: $8,000,000
Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Terence Newman
NFL Team: Dallas Cowboys
Position: CB
Age: 33
Experience: 9 years
2011 salary: $8,000,000
24. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Trent Williams
NFL Team: Washington Redskins
Position: T
Age: 23
Experience: 2 years
2011 salary: $7,852,000
25. Highest Paid Football Players (2011): Charles Woodson
NFL Team: Green Bay Packers
Position: CB
Age: 34
Experience: 14 years
2011 salary: $7,850,000
Source(s):
“NFL Team Rosters,” Yahoo! Sports
“Top Base Salaries,” spotrac
