The NFL just announced it’s shelling out a massive $542 million this year through its performance-based pay program, making over two dozen players millionaires overnight. This is a huge jump from last year, when only five players hit the million-dollar mark, with twenty-five players now set to receive more than $1 million each. This program, which is part of the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the players’ union.
It’s specifically designed to reward those hard-working athletes who might not be on huge contracts but are still playing a ton of snaps for their teams. Basically, if you’re on a lower salary and you’re out there for a high percentage of your team’s downs, you’re going to see a nice bonus. The program measures salary against total snaps to ensure that players with the lowest pay, yet the highest playing time, receive the largest checks.
Since its start in 2002, the program has paid out nearly $3.3 billion to players, according to Daily Mail. That figure is set to climb even higher, hitting almost $4 billion after the 2025 season. It really shows the league’s commitment to recognizing contributions beyond just the superstar contracts. The highest-paid stars in the league don’t actually benefit from this scheme, which makes total sense since they’re already pulling in massive amounts.
That extra million definitely hits different
Leading the pack this year is former Chicago Bears defensive back Nahshon Wright, who’s getting a staggering $1.4 million. This bonus is wild because it more than doubles his 2024 earnings. Last season, Wright was paid $1.1 million by the Bears, and he certainly earned it. He had an absolutely incredible year, snagging five interceptions, recovering three fumbles and forcing two more. Those stats were instrumental in helping Chicago win the NFC North for the first time since 2018.
Wright’s performance was so good that he was only the second player in the past 15 years, alongside Minkah Fitzpatrick in 2019, to hit those impressive marks in a single season. This stellar play earned him his very first Pro Bowl selection, which is a huge deal for any player. He was a constant presence on the Bears’ defense, playing the third most snaps with 1,041 and logging an incredible playing time percentage of 97.02 throughout his single season at Soldier Field.
After his deal in Chicago wrapped up last week, Wright signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets, reportedly worth $3.5 million. The other top earners in bonuses from last season also saw some serious cash. These players all received approximately $1.15 million to $1.3 million in extra pay through the program. It really puts things into perspective. These guys earned every bit of it through hard work and consistency, unlike Logan Paul casually offering $1 million for a challenge.
The list includes Cleveland Browns safety Ronnie Hickman, Atlanta Falcons tackle Elijah Wilkinson, Carolina Panthers safety Nick Scott, Washington Commanders guard Chris Paul, Baltimore Ravens guard Andrew Vorhees, Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jalen Redmond, Pittsburgh Steelers guard Mason McCormick, Kansas City Chiefs safety Chamarri Conner, and New England Patriots safety Craig Woodson.
It’s awesome to see so many players getting this kind of recognition for their on-field grind.
Published: Mar 17, 2026 07:00 pm