Jonathan Vilma Saints Career and Contract Details
Jonathan Vilma was a linebacker for the New Orleans Saints from 2008 to 2012, signing a five-year contract extension in 2011 that included a total value of roughly $36 million with $16 million guaranteed, according to reports from ESPN and Spotrac. He started 62 regular-season games for the Saints, recording 440 tackles, 7.5 sacks, and two interceptions, while anchoring a defense that led the NFL in points allowed during the 2009 season and helped the Saints win Super Bowl XLIV.
In 2012, Vilma was suspended for the entire season by the NFL as part of the Saints bounty scandal, a decision later modified on appeal, and he was released by New Orleans that same year. His base salary in the final guaranteed year of his Saints deal was reported at $3 million, with cap hits that made him one of the highest-paid linebackers on the roster before the suspension, as detailed in salary-cap analyses by Spotrac and OverTheCap.
Post-Saints Earnings and Business Activities
After leaving the Saints, Vilma played for the New York Jets in 2013 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014 before retiring, with career earnings across the NFL estimated to exceed $40 million in base salary and bonuses, per data from Spotrac and OverTheCap. He later worked as an analyst for ESPN and Fox Sports, contributing to coverage of NFL games and offseason programs while building a public profile tied to his Saints tenure and defensive leadership.
Vilma has focused on business and media roles, including real estate and brand partnerships, while maintaining involvement in NFL alumni events and youth football clinics in South Florida and New Orleans. He has also appeared in content tied to sports betting and fantasy football platforms, where his Saints defensive statistics and playoff performance are frequently cited in guides and analyses.
Legacy and Current Status in NFL and Business
Vilma remains a recognizable figure in Saints history, with his 2009 defensive unit frequently ranked among the best in franchise records, and his career stats are tracked on NFL.com and Pro-Football-Reference alongside other top linebackers of his era. He is listed among notable former Saints players in media retrospectives, and his post-career path reflects a shift from on-field play to media and business roles that leverage his NFL experience.
Current public records show Vilma active in media and business ventures, with no full-time coaching or front-office role reported as of the latest NFL roster and news updates. His financial profile is shaped by NFL contracts, media work, and investments, with details on earnings and assets often referenced in sports finance coverage and salary-cap databases.
For salary and contract data, see Spotrac. For career stats and Saints defensive records, see Pro-Football-Reference. For NFL salary-cap and contract analysis, see OverTheCap. For career earnings and contract breakdowns, see ESPN.