NFL quarterback pay, adjusted for inflation

[Red Dragon]

Just for perspective (I'm not saying that pay should have been higher or lower back then or today, just providing some stats to look at):

• In 2007, Tony Romo signed a 6-year, $67.5 million deal. Now, contract pay is never evenly averaged out among years, but just for perspective, let's average it out. That is about $11.2 million per year back then in that era's dollars. Today, after adjustment for inflation, it would be equivalent to about.........$14 million per year. In other words, not much difference.
• Fast-forward to 2019: Let's say that Dak gets $35 million a year in his new contract. That means that he would be getting paid roughly 2.5 times as much as Romo did back then in his contract - again, using the same dollars, inflation-adjusted.

In other words, NFL quarterback pay is rapidly spiraling upwards at a rate that far outstrips inflation. Not to make this a Dak vs. Romo thread in terms of each quarterback's caliber - I think it's fair to say that 2007 Romo and 2019 Dak are both pretty good quarterbacks - but just pointing out that the NFL is caught up in this fever frenzy of absurdly high pay.

 

[HungryLion]

I think it’s important to recognize that NFL player salaries are not tied to the inflation rate.

NFL player salaries are not rising simply as “cost of living increases”. NFL player salaries are increasing based on the fact that NFL revenue is increasing and thus the share of revenues that players get is increasing.

Yes NFL players contract values are increasing dramatically, but so is the amount of money that they make for the owners by playing the game.

I’m sure other nfl positions average salaries are growing much faster than inflation too. Not as fast as quarterback, but certainly more than the national inflation rate.

Again, because the NFL as a whole is making more money.

 

[Red Dragon]

I think it’s important to recognize that NFL player salaries are not tied to the inflation rate.

NFL player salaries are not rising simply as “cost of living increases”. NFL player salaries are increasing based on the fact that NFL revenue is increasing and thus the share of revenues that players get is increasing.

Yes NFL players contract values are increasing dramatically, but so is the amount of money that they make for the owners by playing the game.

I’m sure other nfl positions average salaries are growing much faster than inflation too. Not as fast as quarterback, but certainly more than the national inflation rate.

Again, because the NFL as a whole is making more money.

Is the league really much more popular today than before? I had thought that the NFL was always making big bucks. The average Super Bowl viewership hasn't surpassed about 125 million over the past few decades, for instance, despite any increase in popularity.

 

[408Cowboy]

Just for perspective (I'm not saying that pay should have been higher or lower back then or today, just providing some stats to look at):

• In 2007, Tony Romo signed a 6-year, $67.5 million deal. Now, contract pay is never evenly averaged out among years, but just for perspective, let's average it out. That is about $11.2 million per year back then in that era's dollars. Today, after adjustment for inflation, it would be equivalent to about.........$14 million per year. In other words, not much difference.
• Fast-forward to 2019: Let's say that Dak gets $35 million a year in his new contract. That means that he would be getting paid roughly 2.5 times as much as Romo did back then in his contract - again, using the same dollars, inflation-adjusted.

In other words, NFL quarterback pay is rapidly spiraling upwards at a rate that far outstrips inflation. Not to make this a Dak vs. Romo thread in terms of each quarterback's caliber - I think it's fair to say that 2007 Romo and 2019 Dak are both pretty good quarterbacks - but just pointing out that the NFL is caught up in this fever frenzy of absurdly high pay.

This is laughable. I can say a lot on the subject of pay vs inflation but it's not allowed.

 

[HungryLion]

Is the league really much more popular today than before? I had thought that the NFL was always making big bucks. The average Super Bowl viewership hasn't surpassed about 125 million over the past few decades, for instance, despite any increase in popularity.

I think internationally it is.

Plus things like fantasy football. NFL redzone, increased revenue from jerseys and things like that.

Even nfl franchises having their own podcasts and and internet shows about the team. That all beings in money. Look at the cowboys. All the podcasts and shows they put out online. Nobody would listen to the podcasts or watch the shows if actual nfl games weren’t getting played at some point.

The nfl is making more money than ever.

 

[HungryLion]

Is the league really much more popular today than before? I had thought that the NFL was always making big bucks. The average Super Bowl viewership hasn't surpassed about 125 million over the past few decades, for instance, despite any increase in popularity.

You are right though. That QB salaries are growing faster than other players salaries. And eating up a higher % is salary cap space.

Meanwhile, other positions that are deemed less value by nfl franchises are getting shafted. Like
RB’s, LB’s and safeties.

 

[Jake]

Just for perspective (I'm not saying that pay should have been higher or lower back then or today, just providing some stats to look at):

• In 2007, Tony Romo signed a 6-year, $67.5 million deal. Now, contract pay is never evenly averaged out among years, but just for perspective, let's average it out. That is about $11.2 million per year back then in that era's dollars. Today, after adjustment for inflation, it would be equivalent to about.........$14 million per year. In other words, not much difference.
• Fast-forward to 2019: Let's say that Dak gets $35 million a year in his new contract. That means that he would be getting paid roughly 2.5 times as much as Romo did back then in his contract - again, using the same dollars, inflation-adjusted.

In other words, NFL quarterback pay is rapidly spiraling upwards at a rate that far outstrips inflation. Not to make this a Dak vs. Romo thread in terms of each quarterback's caliber - I think it's fair to say that 2007 Romo and 2019 Dak are both pretty good quarterbacks - but just pointing out that the NFL is caught up in this fever frenzy of absurdly high pay.

NFL revenue has more than doubled since 2007. It was $7 billion in 2007, $16 billion in 2018.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/193457/total-league-revenue-of-the-nfl-since-2005/

https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2019/07/15/nfl-revenue-owners-players-billions/

 

[Red Dragon]

NFL revenue has more than doubled since 2007. It was $7 billion in 2007, $16 billion in 2018.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/193457/total-league-revenue-of-the-nfl-since-2005/

https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2019/07/15/nfl-revenue-owners-players-billions/

Good data. I would surmise that much of that increased revenue is simply due to steep hikes in prices, though, not necessarily much additional viewership or game attendance.