While every NFL team has high hopes of making it to the Super Bowl each year, those who play in the Super Bowl can cash in big thanks to recent developments with NFL players’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
The Sporting News reported that the CBA for players on teams that win the Super Bowl means each player automatically receives a $171,000 bonus. For the Super Bowl LIX champions, every player on the Philadelphia Eagles squad will take home such a bonus. Despite their loss, each player for the Kansas City Chiefs will still earn an extra $96,000 for the team’s Super Bowl appearance.
Besides these overall bonuses, players can also negotiate another type of Super Bowl bonus called a contract incentive. As The Sporting News explained, “When players negotiate with teams, conditions could be put into the contract that, if the player meets, would net them more money. These conditions usually involve winning the big game or being named Super Bowl MVP, with the extra money often being tacked on to their yearly salary.” At other times, these bonuses, referred to as escalators, could help with the payout for the season played and additional seasons left on a contract.
For example, before signing with the Eagles as a free agent, Saquon Barkley had three separate incentives put into his contract. Each incentive was an escalator, giving him a payout for that season and any others remaining on his contract.
During the regular season, Barkley was named First-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler, and he collected at least 1,500 scrimmage yards and attained at least 2,000 scrimmage yards. Barkley secured all four milestones during the regular season, earning him $1.25 million. He also hit 1,000 rushing yards and scored a conference championship win, netting him $250,000.
He rushed for 1,000 yards and secured a Super Bowl win, giving him another $250,000. The grand total amounts to $1.75 million this year and for every year that remains on his contract with the Eagles. Barkley also gets the $171,000 given to each of his Eagles’ teammates too.