Patrick Mahomes breathes rarefied financial air as highest-paid athlete in the world
Monday started with Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan owning the richest NFL contract in terms of total value and Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson as the league’s highest-paid per year.
By the end of the day, Ryan and Wilson had moved into second place — as had the highest-paid athlete in all of sports, Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout.
Patrick Mahomes now owns a 10-year break-the-bank extension on his contract that had two years remaining on the deal he signed as a rookie in 2017.
That gives Mahomes a 12-year contract through 2031. Mahomes’ agent, Leigh Steinberg tweeted on Monday that the deal was worth $503 million.
Ryan’s five-year deal for $150 million, signed in May, 2018, was the highest total amount in NFL contract history.
Wilson makes $35.5 million annually from a four-year, $140 million deal he signed in April 2019. Plugging in Mahomes’ numbers gives him an annual salary of nearly $42 million.
The total value of Mahomes’ deal also makes Mahomes the richest athlete in sports.
Trout signed a 12-year contract worth $426.5 million in 2019. No other athlete has a deal worth more than $400 million.
NFL teams rarely hand out contracts as lengthy as Mahomes’. A handful of quarterbacks previously have signed extensions of at least 10 years..
In 2001, Patriots quarterback Drew Bledsoe signed a 10-year contract worth $103 million. He was injured in the second game that season and replaced by Tom Brady. Bledsoe was traded to the Bills after that season.
Donovan McNabb signed a 12-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2002.
Michael Vick signed a 10-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons worth $130 in 2005, making him the game’s highest-paid player at the time. He lasted two more seasons in Atlanta.
Mahomes’ also now owns the longest active NFL deal. Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott is signed through 2026.
The Chiefs have invested heavily on Mahomes’ continued excellence. He’s coming off a season in which he led Kansas City to its first Super Bowl triumph in 50 years.
In 2018, he threw for 50 touchdown passes and 5,097 yards and was named the NFL’s MVP in his first year as a full-time starter.
Top NFL contracts in total value (before Monday)
$150 million: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
$141 million: Khalil Mack, DE, Chicago Bears
$140 million: Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Top total value contract in sports (before Monday)
$426.5 million: Mike Trout, MLB, Los Angeles Angels
$365 million: Canelo Alvarez, boxing
$330 million: Bryce Harper, MLB, Philadelphia Phillies
This story was originally published July 6, 2020 at 4:41 PM.