NFL contracts are not merely about salaries, bonuses, or playing time-they also contain unique, often surprising clauses that go far beyond the field. Here are a few of the strangest ones.
These provisions are carefully drafted to manage risk, protect team investments, and at times, steer player behavior whilst others are simply amusing in a bizarre way.
Some terms are standard across the league, others raise eyebrows with their specificity or creativity, often coming so far out of left field that nobody could anticipate them.
Beyond the headlines of multimillion-dollar contracts, teams include specific clauses that cover everything from weight control to apocalyptic scenarios. Here are six of the most unusual examples.
Weight incentive clause
Several contracts in the NFL include weight-based incentives, especially for players in physically demanding positions like offensive linemen and running backs.
Athletes can receive bonus payments for reporting at or below a designated weight during training camps or regular check-ins. This clause supports fitness standards and reduces injury risks.
Players have been known to earn thousands of dollars simply by meeting their target weight, underlining how closely teams monitor physical condition.
Study requirement clause
One quarterback’s contract made headlines after revealing a clause mandating weekly film study hours. The requirement involved logging study time through a team-issued tablet.
Designed to ensure proper mental preparation, the clause stirred controversy before being removed. Nonetheless, it demonstrated how teams may attempt to control off-field commitment in measurable ways.
It reflects a broader trend of holding players accountable not just physically, but intellectually.
Behavior monitoring clause
Some players, due to previous conduct concerns, have been subject to behavior-related stipulations.
In one instance, a wide receiver was required to adhere to a personal conduct plan, which included attending weekly counseling, avoiding specific nightlife venues, returning home by a certain hour, and hiring private security.
These clauses are designed to prevent further incidents and protect both the player’s focus and the team’s public image.
End of the world clause
In a particularly surreal example, a contract once specified that the agreement would remain valid “up to and including the end of the world.”
While the clause may appear humorous, it is a legal safeguard to ensure payment even under catastrophic circumstances.
It illustrates how exhaustive contract language can become, even addressing improbable scenarios.
Performance escalator clause
These clauses reward players for exceeding expectations, though the targets are often difficult to meet.
One offensive lineman, for instance, had a bonus tied to blocking a punt or contributing on special teams, unusual responsibilities for his position.
Performance escalators are used to motivate players to contribute in unexpected ways, although they’re rarely triggered.
Offset guarantee clause
Offset guarantees are contentious clauses that allow teams to reduce their financial obligations if a released player signs with another franchise. For example, if a rookie is cut but signs elsewhere, the original team can offset the amount owed.
Agents often oppose these terms, leading to prolonged contract negotiations or unsigned rookies. The clause has long-term implications on player mobility and financial security.
Patrick Mahomes’ Kansas City Chiefs contract clauses: What is he allowed to do?
Mahomes, who signed a record-breaking 10-year in 2020, is no exception when it comes to detailed terms but does the Kansas City Chiefs‘ star quarterback have some unusual catches in his $450 million deal?
Though his deal is largely focused on financial guarantees and long-term commitment, it also reportedly prohibits participation in high-risk activities such as basketball and jet skiing.
These restrictions are meant to ensure Mahomes avoids unnecessary injury risks that could jeopardize his availability.
While these types of terms aren’t as bizarre as some found elsewhere in the league, they do highlight how teams safeguard elite players with comprehensive clauses.
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