How much do NFL players get for playing in the playoffs?
The NFL playoffs feature some of the most exciting games of the season, but a number of players actually get paid less during this period.
For a lot of NFL fans, the excitement builds up tremendously during playoff season. For the players though, the joy of being on the field will have to be a great motivator as this is a period where a lot of them see cuts in their usual paycheck.
READ ALSO:
During the regular season, the players receive their salary every week, depending on the rate that their contract states. Stars with big contracts get paid much more on a weekly basis than a player who makes the minimum annual salary of $705,000 in the 2022 season.
CBA-mandated pay
The playoffs level the playing field, in a way, because all the players of a team get paid the same rate depending on how the franchise performs, irrespective of the individual player’s contract salary.
There is a pool of money from NFL teams which pays the postseason salaries, and there is a set amount for each player per playoff round, as provided by the NFL collective bargaining agreement. Players must be paid within 15 days after a playoff game.
The weekly salary for the playoffs doesn’t differ much from what a player earning minimum wage would make in a week in the regular season.
NFL playoffs pay rates
Here is how much a player would get in each round of the NFL playoffs in 2023.
- Division winners participating in the Wild Card round - $46,500
- Other Wild Card teams- $41,500
- Wild Card first-round byes- $41,500
- Divisional playoff game- $46,500
- Conference Championship game- $69,000
- Super Bowl champion- $157,000
- Super Bowl losing team- $82,000
Incentives raise possible payout
This salary scale however doesn’t necessarily mean big-name players will not be getting a fatter paycheck during the playoffs. NFL contracts sometimes provide bonuses or incentives for the performance of a player or a team in the playoffs.