NFL Quarterbacks Command Major Cash, Philadelphia Eagles Excel in Salary Cap Management
The NFL, a league that has seen exponential growth in revenues, television contracts, and popularity, has also witnessed a significant increase in the salaries of its quarterbacks. While the average salary of NFL quarterbacks in the 1960s and '70s was significantly lower, with exact figures from that era not readily available, it is widely documented that during this time, NFL quarterback salaries were generally in the range of a few thousand to a few tens of thousands of dollars per year, often requiring players to have offseason jobs.
Fast forward to the 2025 season, and the landscape has drastically changed. Recent data from sports and NFL salary reports indicate that starting quarterbacks in the NFL today, including 2025, often earn multi-million dollar salaries annually. Many top QBs are signed to contracts averaging $30 million or more per year, with some of the highest-paid quarterbacks earning more than $50 million per year in salary and bonuses.
| Era | Average QB Salary | |-------------------|--------------------------------| | 1960s–1970s | Tens of thousands of USD/year* | | 2025 Season | Tens of millions USD/year |
*Estimate based on historical salary norms since specific data is not in the search results.
This huge increase in salaries is a reflection of the NFL's economic growth over the past decades. Quarterbacks, once modestly paid, now command some of the most lucrative contracts in professional sports.
The Miami Dolphins of 1972, for instance, were dependent on their running game and their No-Name defense, with quarterback Bob Griese starting only five games in the regular season, and Earl Morrall starting nine. In stark contrast, the salary distribution, not just the amount paid to individual players, is crucial for a team's success today. 14 of the top 20 cap hits in the NFL are for quarterbacks, with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles having a better understanding of salary distribution than most teams.
While quarterbacks are considered the most important players in the NFL, the Eagles' salary distribution strategy is not about which player is paid the most money. For example, Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts has the team's top salary-cap hit at $21.9 million, while running back Saquon Barkley, who had a 2,005-yard rushing performance last season, has a cap hit of only $6.6 million this season.
In the 1970s, Griese threw for 638 yards in a season, a total that Patrick Mahomes or Josh Allen could top in 1 1/2 strong games. Meanwhile, Dak Prescott of the Dallas Cowboys, the highest-paid player in the NFL, has a cap hit of $50.5 million this season.
Taylor Moton, a nine-year veteran from Western Michigan, was a second-round draft pick in 2017. Interestingly, the lowly Carolina Panthers are paying right tackle Taylor Moton a cap hit of $31.3 million, more than some of the highest-paid quarterbacks.
Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders, the highest-paid non-quarterback, has a cap hit of $38.1 million, a stark contrast to the past when NFL quarterbacks were earning tens of thousands of dollars per year.
As the NFL continues to evolve, the salaries of its players, particularly quarterbacks, will undoubtedly continue to rise, reflecting the league's growing financial might and the importance of these key positions.
- In the modern NFL, teams prioritize an effective salary distribution, contrasting the Miami Dolphins' reliance on running game and No-Name defense in the 1970s. Today, 14 of the top 20 cap hits belong to quarterbacks, with the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending Super Bowl champions, leading this strategy.
- The quarterback position, once modestly paid, has become one of the most lucrative in professional sports today. For example, the Philadelphia Eagles' Jalen Hurts, who was the Super Bowl MVP, has the team's highest salary-cap hit at $21.9 million, while Saquon Barkley, despite his impressive 2,005-yard rushing performance last season, only has a cap hit of $6.6 million.
- The evolution of the NFL has significantly changed the landscape of salaries, with many top quarterbacks earning $30 million or more per year, while other high-value players like Taylor Moton, Maxx Crosby, and Dak Prescott also command multi-million dollar salaries, contrasting the $10,000s earned by quarterbacks in the 1960s and '70s.
