The NFL playoffs begin this Saturday after a 2025 regular season marked by parity, in which seven of the eight divisions crowned new champions. The Philadelphia Eagles, the reigning Super Bowl champions, were the only franchise to repeat as division champions.
A total of 14 teams will be looking to advance to Super Bowl 60, which will be played in February, with sporting prestige as the main objective, but also with significant financial incentives for the players.
How much money do players make in the playoffs?
The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, which runs through 2030, sets the postseason pay scale. In the first week of the playoffs, players receive between $53,500 and $58,500, depending on their status.
The divisional winners without a bye week get the highest payout, while the wild card teams and the clubs that did have a bye –the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks– receive $53,500 per player.
Although these figures represent a significant income for the average citizen, they are modest compared to the league’s usual salaries. A rookie on a minimum contract of $840,000 per year, such as Seahawks safety Nick Emmanwori, earns around $46,667 per week, not including his $5.1 million signing bonus.
The highest paid stars in the playoffs
Two Chicago Bears players, defensive end Montez Sweat and wide receiver DJ Moore, top the list of highest base salaries among ranked teams, at $20.9 million and $20.65 million, respectively.
In total, more than 50 players earned at least $25 million in 2025, including bonuses. Justin Herbert led the way with $60 million, followed by Josh Allen ($58 million), Tua Tagovailoa ($51 million) and Patrick Mahomes ($50 million).
Payments per round up to the Super Bowl
Players who reach the divisional round receive $58,500, while the payout rises to $81,000 for the conference championships. In the Super Bowl, each player on the championship team earns $178,000, and those on the runner-up team $103,000, figures that represent an increase over the previous season.
The maximum a player can earn in the playoffs is $376,000, surpassing the $357,000 earned by the Eagles last year.
Comparison with other professional leagues
The NFL postseason pool is funded by ticket sales, although much of that revenue goes to the league office. This makes the playoffs less lucrative for teams than in the NBA, MLB or NHL.
In the NHL, champions Florida Panthers handed out around $250,000 per player. In MLB, the 2025 pool was $128.2 million, with the Dodgers distributing $46.15 million. In the NBA, champions Oklahoma City Thunder received $828,000 per player.
Title favorites
According to the current odds, the Seattle Seahawks (+330) lead the odds to win the Super Bowl, followed by the Los Angeles Rams (+425) and Denver Broncos (+650). Among the teams that have never won the title, the Buffalo Bills (+1000) appear to be the best positioned to break the drought.
The race for the Lombardi Trophy is already underway, with millions at stake and only one champion possible.
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