Tom Brady NFL Salary History and Contracts
Tom Brady earned a reported base salary of 31 million dollars in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Spotrac, a sports contract tracking site Spotrac. That figure made him one of the highest paid quarterbacks in the NFL that season, though not the top earner in the league overall.
During his time with the New England Patriots, Brady signed a two year extension in 2018 worth up to 66 million dollars, with 48 million dollars guaranteed, per OverTheCap OverTheCap. His average annual value in that deal exceeded 33 million dollars, placing him among the top quarterbacks by total contract value at the time.
Highest Paid Quarterback Comparisons in the NFL
In 2021, Patrick Mahomes signed a ten year extension with the Kansas City Chiefs worth up to 450 million dollars, making him the highest paid quarterback by total contract value, according to ESPN ESPN. His average annual value of about 45 million dollars surpassed Brady's earnings in the same period.
Josh Allen signed a six year extension with the Buffalo Bills in 2023 with an average annual value reported near 45 million dollars by Forbes Forbes. That deal pushed Allen above Brady in average annual salary and reflected the rapid rise in quarterback pay across the league.
Was Tom Brady the Highest Paid Quarterback at Any Point
Tom Brady was never the highest paid quarterback by average annual salary after the wave of massive quarterback extensions in the 2020s. Before those deals, he was among the top earners, but players like Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and later Mahomes and Allen surpassed his annual salary in subsequent contracts.
As of the latest available NFL contract data, Brady is not listed as the highest paid quarterback in any single season after 2021. His career earnings remain among the highest in NFL history, but the title of highest paid quarterback belongs to more recent supermax deals signed by Mahomes, Allen, and others Forbes.
Tom Brady Contract Legacy and NFL Financial Landscape
Brady's 2020 contract with Tampa Bay included a 50 million dollar signing bonus and a total value of 100 million dollars over two years, with 70 million dollars guaranteed, per Spotrac Spotrac. While lucrative, the average annual value of that deal was below the top quarterback contracts signed in the same period.
The NFL salary cap and quarterback market have shifted dramatically since Brady's early career, with top QBs now commanding average annual values above 40 million dollars. Brady's legacy as a player remains unmatched, but in terms of pure salary, he was not the highest paid quarterback during the peak of the recent quarterback spending boom OverTheCap.