paychecks in pro football

[clydefrand]

I have no idea who makes the most, but I'm sure it in tens of millions.
Also, I have no idea how many hours he actually works.
Most players have college degrees. So, compare their hourly rate against the hourly rate of the
professors who taught them (well, hopefully) make?

[Recursion]

1. The median NFL salary is $750K

The median university full professor salary is $100K.

NFL salaries are actually lower than NBA, MLB, and even NHL salaries, though that probably has more to do with the size of the teams than anything else.

[tazkcmo]

2. How many of each?

I do agree that professional athletes are in general over valued vs education professionals, fewer people have the capacity to be professional athletes than professors and there are fewer job openings. The NFL has 32 teams with an active roster of 53 players and up to 8 practice squad players. So, 64 x 32 = 3392 nation wide. In comparison, there are 118 Division I schools that can hand out up to 85 football scholarships. 118 * 85 = 10030 and 3392/10030 = .338.

As for hours worked they work over 40 hours per week during most of the actual season.

The work, competition and health risks for an NFL player is much more intense than that for a professor.

Again, I want to stress that I agree we have our priorities backward. Entertainers of all stripes make waaaaay more than educators of all stripes in too many cases. If "Children are our greatest resource" then why do we spend so much money on training them to get maimed in sport or war?

[ProfessorGAC]

9. The Career Length Is Highly Limited Too

Somebody could work as an educator in higher education for 40+ years. And, they don't have to be one of the best in the world at it to keep that position for decades. They just need to be good. Not great.

I'm not sure there are many NFL players who ever made it to 20 years, and if they did, they're probably kickers who didn't get the stuffing knocked out of them 30 times per game, or more.

I get the point of the OP, but seems like apples and oranges.

[ScreamingMeemie]

14. "apples and oranges" exactly

I also feel like he should just come right out and say it.

[tazkcmo]

15. Mainly kickers

The longest careers are for kickers, especially in the modern era. One notable exception was QB and kicker, George Blanda.

George Blanda is a legendary figure in pro football – and not just because he became the oldest player in pro football history on January 4, 1976, aged 48 and 109 days (a record that still stands today). Blanda played for 26 seasons and was the all-time leading scorer at the time of his retirement. He is one of only three players to play in four different decades, and has a slew of other records and accolades to his name as well.

As Chefs (not a typo) fan, I hated this man with a Red Passion but like so many other great Raider players, had and still have a lot of respect for his abilities.

Yes, apples to oranges but in agreement with the spirit of the OP.

[Brickbat]

3. To what end?

[GreatGazoo]

4. hope you are not allergic to facts...

Only 41% of NFL players have college degrees. There was a lawsuit 2 years ago against college football that alleged that college football players are legally employees of the schools since they are scheduled by the colleges to work on football related tasks on average 70 hours per week. How anyone could get a degree while working 70 hours a week is impressive.

Professors are not paid by the hour, nor are football players.

Highest paid state employees, not just on colleges but in any position that is paid for by tax payers:
http://sports.usatoday.com/ncaa/salaries/

NFL salaries by age of player:


http://www.businessinsider.com/charts-expose-how-badly-nfl-players-get-paid-2013-9

[Tipperary]

17. I am actually surprised that the percentage with college degrees is that high.

When I was in college years ago, I tutored football players. Many of them barely had elementary school reading, writing, math skills. I was horrified at the time. I would imagine nothing has changed.

[GummyBearz]

18. I like the peyton manning/tom brady spike right there at age 37ish

"Hyyuuuge" drop off from age 35 to 36, then you have brady and manning pulling it back up big time with their massive pay checks

[bluedigger]

42. A good theory, but not proven by the facts.

Peyton and Tom rank 16th and 21st respectively in QB pay. http://overthecap.com/position/quarterback/

[GummyBearz]

44. And who else in the NFL was 37ish in 2013 and making more than them?

I'd like to know...

edit: Just FYI, this isn't about QBs pay, this is about players age pay, they were 37 in 2013, and I don't think anyone else would bring that graph up at age 37

[bluedigger]

45. You know, you may have a point there.

I'm too lazy to get into the statistical analysis necessary to prove/disprove it.

[The2ndWheel]

5. Pro athletes, like actors, can make a lot of money

because a lot of people pay a lot of money to watch them do their job. Want professors and teachers to make more? Sell some ad space in the classroom. The most popular teachers will get the most eyeballs, and they'll get more money.

[ScreamingMeemie]

6. "Tens of millions" go to only the top players.

(Aaron Rodgers will make $22 million this year)

The average NFL player will make nowhere near that much.

Depending on who you ask, the average NFL career is between 3.5 and 6 years.
Compare to the average professor's career.

The average salary for an NFL player makes 1.9 million a year, but there are a ton who make far less and that number is skewed by the ridiculous salaries at the very top.

I know two men who played professional (NFL) football. Both had careers of 5 years. Both couldn't use their college diplomas for much more than kindling once they "retired" (got injured or didn't "make" the team). Take that 1.9 million (although they played in the 80s) and divide it by 5 (or even 6...hell, even 10) years. What do you have?

You could say they were not hired outside of football because they were not really taught anything in college, or because of their appearance. One of my friends is 6'8 and black. Not too many Texas companies appear to be willing to hire him, and he's whip smart. So, he spends his time as a personal trainer to the children of Texas parents who want their children to be the "next big thing" on the gridiron. He is not paid well and drives a beat-up mid-90s Toyota pickup.

Living down here, I'm more concerned with what the average K-12 teacher makes compared to the average oil executive.

[MillennialDem]

7. You say an average career of 3.5 - 6 years as a bad thing. Give me $750k for

3.5 years and I can promise you that I'd never work again.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. I'll tell my friend you said that...

... it is a bad thing. His "best" year, he made far less than that.

[MillennialDem]

12. I was referring to the median earner in 2015 (it was posted up higher in the thread). I would obviou

sly not tax nfl minimum wage for 3.5 years and quit.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. After Taxes

You're a millenial? And 1.5 million after agency fees and taxes would last you the rest of your life? You must be willing to live a more spartan existence than me.

[MillennialDem]

11. I wasn't including agency fees silly bear. But yeah even after taxes. I ran the numbers and that

would give me at least 1 million to save after taxes and expenses while I was working.

1 million = $40,000 a year, relatively low tax (either capital gains or income tax, but no payroll taxes) in perpetuity, with a 3% raise every year.

[A HERETIC I AM]

20. This is a formula I just have to see.

I ran the numbers and that would give me at least 1 million to save after taxes and expenses while I was working.

1 million = $40,000 a year, relatively low tax (either capital gains or income tax, but no payroll taxes) in perpetuity, with a 3% raise every year.

You "ran the numbers" eh? On what? By whom? Down what dusty trail, pray tell.

[MillennialDem]

22. For taxes? This is a rough back of the envelope calculation because I'm running late

Ok roughly 6.2% on first $100,000 (slightly more, meh)

100,000/750,000 = 1/7.5. So 6.2/7.5. We'll call it 1%

Medicare is 1.45%

Ok so we'll call payroll taxes 2.5%

For federal and state income taxes and payroll taxes, it's going to be about 40-45% in total when you factor in less than half of 750k is in the top 39.6% bracket.

So 45% of 2,625,000 = 1,181,250 taken out for taxes.

1,443,750 left for me.

443,750 is more than enough to cover MY expenses for the 3.5 years I'm working, leaving me the million left over. 443,750 is more than enough to cover my expenses and buy a house free and clear.

So after that

7% investment on 1,000,000

Leaves $70,000 a year

Keep 40,000

Reinvest 30,000

$40,000 per year starting in 2019 + a 3% raise every year with no mortgage payment.

[A HERETIC I AM]

24. And what security these days do you think is going to yield 7%? (Edited)

I'll just cut to the chase, OK?

You're being unrealistic and using gains and potential yield numbers that, while not completely unattainable, can not be done these days without significant risk.

If you want a baseline of near zero risk for yield, use the 30 year treasury coupon rate, the most recent of which is 3.0%.

That means $30,000 a year out of your million, not $70,000 and that thirty grand is taxable as ordinary income. If you want to take on more risk and go for potentially higher gains then an equity portfolio is going to be necessary and then you are subject to the whims of the stock market.

here's the edit;

I am not sure where the money that you are using as a starting point is coming from. Is that what is left over after a 3 or 4 year career as a player? Is that income from one year? If I gave you a million dollars after I won the Powerball, and you just stuffed it in your closet and drew out what you wanted till it was gone, you would not have to pay any income or payroll or Medicare or SS taxes on it. It isn't income at that point. But if you wanted to invest it in such a way as to generate income and retain the principle amount, you would be tying it up, so to speak and paying taxes on the interest, but ONLY income taxes.

[MillennialDem]

35. Yes I would be taking significant risk, about 50% stocks 50% bonds. Of course

this is hypothetical because I said not work... but in reality if the market took a shit and I could still work I'd do a crappy mcjob or panhandle or do cash jobs for a year or two until the market recovered. If i was old or disabled I would still have social security (if republicans don't ruin it).

I would of course not draw down the balance, thats silly. never the less 750k x 3.5 is more than most earn in a lifetime.

[tkmorris]

47. Wait. You'd have a million dollars socked away...

But if the market had an off year you'd panhandle? You would literally be a millionaire, asking poor working stiffs to give you THEIR money, on a streetcorner somewhere? You seem to have a severely inflated sense of entitlement going on there friend.

[NobodyHere]

57. Just for kicks

I ran the number through Bankrate's annuity calculator.

He would need to start with $1,020,066.28 to live on $40,000 for 50 years at a 3% growth rate.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Like I Said

Good for you, i'm just not sure my wife and i could live on $40k per year for 40 years or more. As we actually are approaching retirement, we're looking at having around the 1.5 plus SS and at our age, we ain't living another 40+ years. (Or least HIGHLY improbable.) And, there is always the issue of health care and at our age, that would eat up nearly another 60% of that. Now, it's not much of a edge for us.

[MillennialDem]

36. It's $40,000 a year plus a 3% raise every year until the end of time for 1 person, not 2. The

health care issue is the largest potential problem. I plan to retire in europe though, just need to get my german citizenship which I believe is possible (grandfather was a german born holocaust survivor)

[Buzz Clik]

28. Well, okay.

Let's see.... 3.5 years of $750,000 (and we'll pretend you take it all home), that's $2.5 million to last the rest of your life starting at age 26. Spread over 50 years, that's $52,500 per year.

And then there's the reality of taxes, agent fees, and inflated living expenses while playing.

Good luck with that.

[MillennialDem]

38. I'm 35 but will probably live 60+ more years based on family history. almost all grandparents

and great grandparents lived into their mid or late 90s.

That said, 1 million invested at 50% stocks 50% bonds yields about 7% per year on average. Thats $70,000 a year. Keep $40,000 reinvest the other $30,000 gives you a 3% raise every year. Danger would be health care and bad market fluctuations so I'd have to be resist the urge to take extra out in good years. I would also have some social security when I get older, provided repubs don't gut it.

[erpowers]

40. Retirement Pensions

I am not against professional athletes making millions of dollars a year and making more than professors. I realize sports generate millions and billions of dollars and that is why the best or most valuable athletes make so much money. On the other hand college professors do not generate millions and billions of dollars and that is why they are not paid millions of dollars per year. However, do NFL players have pension plans? I thought all the sports leagues had pension plan which gave players a certain amount of money each year after they retired. How many years does a person have to play in the NFL in order to get the pension plan?

Also, I think many here are making things seem worse than they are for the people that play in the NFL. Even if the player only plays for 3.5 years and retires at 26 he does not have to live the rest of his life on the money he made in the NFL. There are a number of things he can do to provide for himself. First, he can go back to college. Even if he only earned $1 million in his career he would have enough money to go to even the best colleges. The New York Times did a story, a few months ago, about a guy who played in the NBA for about ten years. After he retired from the NBA he applied to and was accepted to Columbia University.

So, 2-4 years of college could cost him anywhere from $10,000-$200,000. If he spent $200,000 for college he would still have $800,000 left. After going to college he could make anywhere from $30,000-$200,000 per year. The $30,000 would be for an entry level job. The $200,000 would come after years of work experience, promotions, and pay raises. Even without going to college he could make $20,000+ per year. At 26 he could have 40 years of work life left. As a result he could make a gross of between $800,000-$8,000,000.

Second, he could take up a career in sports broadcast or coaching. Either of those options could provide him with a decent salary. Look at guys like Michael Strahan and Bart Scott. So, his life does not have to be that hard after retirement.

[1StrongBlackMan]

52. Say you make the $750k and your 3.5 to 6 year starts running at age 22 ...

that puts you at 28 yrs old, when your earing stops ... I'd bet you would have to find other work at some point.

[Kaleva]

53. Less then 2% of college football players go on to the pros.

http://www.businessinsider.com/odds-college-athletes-become-professionals-2012-2

The 6 year average you mention is for players who make a club's opening day roster in their rookie season. If you count rooky players who are cut before opening day, then the average drops down to about 3.3 years.

If you are one of the best of the best in a high demand field, you may well make a lot of money in a short period of time.

[HuckleB]

13. This is not an issue that is going to change much of anything in the world.

If you want to do something about it, fight public funding of professional sports stadiums. Don't watch the games. Don't buy any souvenirs. Advocate that your friends do the same.

That is what you can do, other than to simply complain about something is really a tiny part of a much bigger societal problem.

[ileus]

16. I'd figure 50-80 hours a week for the starters.

[dilby]

19. You could not pay me enough to abuse my body like that.

Sorry but I like my brain and even $22 million is not worth the possibility of brain damage. Plus careers outside of football are limited, there are only so many ESPN jobs and more players leaving every year. No retirement and before the ACA no healthcare, no insurance company would touch an NFL player.

[Munificence]

21. A friend of mine

is a former NFL pro.

He's mentioned to me several times that the money made in the NFL is not from the paycheck but from using ones "fame" and monies to take over the drug trade in the towns that they are from. He's mentioned that the $1-$2 million that some make a year in the NFL is not even close to the money made off the streets in the drug trade. He said he's known many that are making $5-$10 million a year just from the drug market. He pretty much pulls no punches and said that most of the "guys originally from the streets" in the NFL are running drug rings back in their home towns.

We've discussed a lot of issues and happenings in the NFL/pro sports and you'd be amazed at the stories and the insight I've gained into a world that most of us know nothing about. I played sports on scholarship at the collegiate level and seen some issues but never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine the "pro" level being like it is.

[alcibiades_mystery]

25. "the drug trade"

Gimme a break.

[Buzz Clik]

26. +1

[NobodyHere]

58. Maybe he knew Bam Morris?

[Buzz Clik]

27. Do tell.

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. Oh look! A bullshit racist old wives tale come to life on DU.

Funny, the two men I know have never mentioned such a thing. They've given me a lot of insight as well. Into the decision to risk it all on a gamble that you'll make it... on what it feels like to be cut... on all number of things. They never did tell me about their takeovers of the drug trade. Funny.

[Munificence]

48. Here's a "racist wife tale" for you

that should hit home and this was just this year.

"Letroy Guion - Green Bay Packers

Arrested in his hometown of Starke, Fla., on felony charges of possession of drugs and firearm possession after a traffic stop turned up 357 grams of marijuana, a 9mm handgun and more than $190,000 in cash."


Yeah you keep on thinking that a guy with over a half lb of weed, a gun, and $190K in cash on him was on his way to church.

Go Packers!

[ScreamingMeemie]

49. Provide a link showing that an overwhelming majority of NFL players

set up drug rings in their neighborhoods. One story or two does not an epidemic make. It makes horseshit racist BS.

Given big money, people across the spectrum will find "unique" ways to increase it. It is not an overwhelming problem in the NFL, and to believe so would be silly... and racist.

Here:

http://www.tmz.com/2009/10/20/big-brother-winner-adam-jasinski-drug-dealer-oxycodone-arrest-dea-video/

Trying to score a point by bringing up the Packers is probably not going to ruffle me that much. But that was a nice try.

[1StrongBlackMan]

56. Come on ... It's not "the majority of NFL players" ...

just the Black ones ... and maybe a few Hispanics.

[NobodyHere]

59. And Jim Irsay

[1StrongBlackMan]

60. Somehow, I don't think the commenter was referring to Irsay. do you? n/t

[LeftyMom]

62. God, could somebody please find Jed York with a couple keys and some pills?

Dead girl. Live boy. Whatever it takes to get Uncle Eddie back in charge.

[Iggo]

31. Famous drug dealers go to prison. (n/t)

[Octafish]

33. Sam Hurd, ex-Chicago Bears

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-14/sports/chi-sam-hurd-sentence-20131113_1_sam-hurd-toby-lujan-prison-sentence

Ask Phil Gramm or Bill Clinton, it takes money to make money.

[KamaAina]

41. Hmmm. That would make a great 30 for 30

unless, of course, it's a crock of crap.

[philosslayer]

46. I'm sorry.. .but this is unmitigated racist crap.

[1StrongBlackMan]

54. I know several current and former Pro Athletes ...

Football, Baseball, Basketball ... I think your friend is living in a fantasy world.

I'm sure there are a few ... just like there are a few stock-brokers that made millions, dealing cocaine in the 90s.

[LeftyMom]

61. The biggest restraunteur in my town financed his little empire selling coke.

It's an open secret in a town where everybody knows everybody else's business, but nobody ever busted him because a) white guy b) with money c) supplying other white people with party drugs.

The cops are sure happy to take somebody's busted old Civic if they catch them selling though. It's almost like powerful people use the law to keep down the competition. Nah, can't be that.

[1StrongBlackMan]

63. Oh ... I have no doubt ...

I also know several mid-level drug dealers, some of them are white and all of them move weight ... but that was no t what the commenters was talking about.

[Buzz Clik]

29. Entertainers of all kinds make lots and lots of money.

But, if we average in those who aspired to play pro ball and never made it...

[A HERETIC I AM]

32. Not to mention the pyramid of potential players.

Think of all the High Schools that have football programs. Over a million kids play the game. How many of those are able (or even want to) play at the college level and how many of THOSE make it to the NFL?

[Buzz Clik]

34. True, but most(!) high schools do not exploit football players the way most(!) colleges do.

College football players are the new gladiators: trained for one purpose, abused, perhaps damaged, and cast aside.

[A HERETIC I AM]

43. The term "Student Athlete" is the largest scam ever perpetrated on college students

I'm of the opinion that college football players are employees and should be compensated as such

[Logical]

37. Fair pay! They are great at their job and generate revenue! They earn it! Nt

[KamaAina]

39. Most players went to college, anyway

Graduation rates at most of the schools with ranked teams are abysmal.

[Starry Messenger]

50. Well, I'm an adjunct, which is low pay. But I'm not courting concussions and other injuries.

I won't have to retire at a young age hoping my brain still works for the rest of my life.

[frylock]

51. I'm always curious to know why actors or musical artists aren't used for these comparisons.

Taylor Swift isn't sacrificing her body every time she gets up on stage, but nobody bats an eye over the jack she's raking in.

[TampaAnimusVortex]

55. Someone doesn't understand supply and demand

Who is in shortest supply? Professors or the top 1% of the top 1% in peak fitness and training?

Not to mention, who generates more revenue for their organizations?