How Much Super Bowl Players Are Paid by Position
See how pay varies among the different positions.
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All football players are not alike. And neither are their salaries.
The combined salaries of the Kansas City Chiefs’ and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rosters is $355,681,906, but that’s not divided evenly among the 104 active players.
Find Out: The 10 Highest-Paid Players in This Year’s Super Bowl
The lowest-paid positions aren’t surprising, considering they are the lower-profile ones such as fullback, long snapper, kicker and punter.
Read More: The 10 Lowest-Paid Players in This Year’s Super Bowl
However, the highest-paid position in terms of average salary cap hit might not be what you’d expect.
GOBankingRates looked at the salaries for the active rosters for both teams and sorted them by positions. Read on to see all the positions, including the most expensive.
16. Fullback
- Number of players looked at: 1
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $887,500
- Average per player: $887,500
- Top-earning fullback on Tampa Bay: None
- Top-earning fullback on Kansas City: Anthony Sherman, $887,500 (0.4% of salary cap)
15. Long Snapper
- Number of players looked at: 2
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $1,695,000
- Average per player: $874,500
- Top-earning long snapper on Tampa Bay: Zach Triner, $675,000 (0.33% of salary cap)
- Top-earning long snapper on Kansas City: James Winchester, $1,020,000 (0.46 % of salary cap)
Find Out: Everything You Can Buy for the Cost of One Super Bowl Ticket
14. Punter
- Number of players looked at: 2
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $3,312,500
- Average per player: $1,656,250
- Top-earning punter on Tampa Bay: Bradley Pinion, $2,700,000 (1.32% of salary cap)
- Top-earning punter on Kansas City: Tommy Townsend, $612,500 (0.28 % of salary cap)
Did You Know: Past Super Bowl Stars Who Scored Big Endorsement Deals
13. Kicker
- Number of players looked at: 2
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $3,945,000
- Average per player: $1,972,500
- Top-earning kicker on Tampa Bay: Ryan Succop, $750,000 (0.37% of salary cap)
- Top-earning kicker on Kansas City: Harrison Butker, $3,195,000 (1.45 % of salary cap)
In the News: Super Bowl Gives Free Tickets to 7,500 Vaccinated Healthcare Workers
12. Guard
- Number of players looked at: 5
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $9,297,782
- Average per player: $1,859,556
- Top-earning guard on Tampa Bay: Ali Marpet, $6,900,000 (3.38% of salary cap)
- Top-earning guard on Kansas City: Andrew Wylie, $750,000 (0.34 % of salary cap)
Find Out: How Much Will You Save Watching the Super Bowl From Home?
11. Running Back
- Number of players looked at: 8
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $10,188,329
- Average per player: $1,273,541
- Top-earning running back on Tampa Bay: Leonard Fournette, $2,500,000 (1.22% of salary cap)
- Top-earning running back on Kansas City: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, $1,967,558 (0.89 % of salary cap)
Fun Facts: Most Expensive Super Bowl Rosters of the Past Decade
10. Cornerback
- Number of players looked at: 11
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $12,031,646
- Average per player: $1,093,786
- Top-earning cornerback on Tampa Bay: Ryan Smith, $1,750,000 (0.86% of salary cap)
- Top-earning cornerback on Kansas City: Bashaud Breeland, $2,318,013 (1.05 % of salary cap)
9. Center
- Number of players looked at: 3
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $14,508,334
- Average per player: $4,836,111
- Top-earning center on Tampa Bay: Ryan Jensen, $10,000,000 (4.9% of salary cap)
- Top-earning center on Kansas City: Austin Reiter, $3,758,334 (1.7% of salary cap)
8. Tackle
- Number of players looked at: 7
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $22,617,563
- Average per player: $3,231,080
- Top-earning tackle on Tampa Bay: Donovan Smith, $14,500,000 (7.1% of salary cap)
- Top-earning tackle on Kansas City: Mike Remmers, $887,500 (0.4 % of salary cap)
- Top-earning inactive tackle on Kansas City: Eric Fisher, $14,981,666 (6.78% of salary cap) — Fisher is inactive because of an injury.
Did You Know: Here’s How Rich Every NFL Team Is
7. Safety
- Number of players looked at: 8
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $27,025,753
- Average per player: $3,378,219
- Top-earning safety on Tampa Bay: Antoine Winfield Jr., $1,328,579 (0.65% of salary cap)
- Top-earning safety on Kansas City: Tyrann Mathieu, $16,333,333 (7.39 % of salary cap)
Looking Ahead: 11 NFL Free Agents Who Could Score Big Contracts in 2021
6. Tight End
- Number of players looked at: 6
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $27,173,988
- Average per player: $4,528,998
- Top-earning tight end on Tampa Bay: Rob Gronkowski, $9,250,000 (4.53% of salary cap)
- Top-earning tight end on Kansas City: Travis Kelce, $11,218,400 (5.08 % of salary cap)
Fun Facts: Which NFL Hall of Famer Has the Highest Net Worth?
5. Defensive Tackle
- Number of players looked at: 10
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $32,540,455
- Average per player: $3,254,046
- Top-earning defensive tackle on Tampa Bay: Ndamukong Suh, $8,000,000 (3.92% of salary cap)
- Top-earning defensive tackle on Kansas City: Chris Jones, $15,001,000 (6.79 % of salary cap)
Find Out: The 25 Richest NFL Team Owners
4. Defensive End
- Number of players looked at: 8
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $32,990,627
- Average per player: $4,123,828
- Top-earning defensive end on Tampa Bay: William Gholston, $4,750,000 (2.33% of salary cap)
- Top-earning defensive end on Kansas City: Frank Clark, $19,300,000 (8.74 % of salary cap)
Did You Know: 27 Richest No. 1 NFL Draft Picks
3. Quarterback
- Number of players looked at: 5
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $36,879,008
- Average per player: $7,375,802
- Top-earning quarterback, on Tampa Bay: Tom Brady, $27,375,000 (13.41% of salary cap)
- Top-earning quarterback on Kansas City: Patrick Mahomes, $5,346,508 (2.42 % of salary cap)
Find Out: How Much Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Other QBs Make Per Career TD Thrown
2. Wide Receiver
- Number of players looked at: 12
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $50,372,574
- Average per player: $4,197,715
- Top-earning wide receiver on Tampa Bay: Mike Evans, $8,387,500 (4.11 % of salary cap)
- Top-earning wide receiver on Kansas City: Tyreek Hill, $17,740,000 (8.03 % of salary cap)
Read More: The Richest Athletes in the World
1. Linebacker
- Number of players looked at: 14
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $70,215,847
- Average per player: $5,015,418
- Top-earning linebacker on Tampa Bay: Shaquil Barrett, $27,375,000 (13.41% of salary cap)
- Top-earning linebacker on Kansas City: Anthony Hitchens, $12,692,500 (5.74% of salary cap)
More From GOBankingRates
- These Are the Best Banks of 2021 – Did Yours Make the Cut?
- 31 Hidden Ways You’re Bleeding Money Every Month
- Top 100 Banks Leading the U.S. in 2021
- How To Rebound From a Bad Financial Year: 2020 Edition
Methodology: In order to find out how much the players in this year’s Super Bowl (LV) are paid by position, GOBankingRates used Spotrac’s team cap tracker for the 2020 season for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. GOBankingRates then combined the two team’s active rosters and sorted by position. For each position GOBankingRates found (1) number of players on both rosters within that position; (2) total cap hit for that position; and (3) the average cap hit for each player at that position. GOBankingRates also found supplementary salary info for each player, also sourced from Spotrac. All data was collected on and up to date as of Jan. 25, 2021.
View All
All football players are not alike. And neither are their salaries.
The combined salaries of the Kansas City Chiefs’ and Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rosters is $355,681,906, but that’s not divided evenly among the 104 active players.
Find Out: The 10 Highest-Paid Players in This Year’s Super Bowl
The lowest-paid positions aren’t surprising, considering they are the lower-profile ones such as fullback, long snapper, kicker and punter.
Read More: The 10 Lowest-Paid Players in This Year’s Super Bowl
However, the highest-paid position in terms of average salary cap hit might not be what you’d expect.
GOBankingRates looked at the salaries for the active rosters for both teams and sorted them by positions. Read on to see all the positions, including the most expensive.
16. Fullback
- Number of players looked at: 1
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $887,500
- Average per player: $887,500
- Top-earning fullback on Tampa Bay: None
- Top-earning fullback on Kansas City: Anthony Sherman, $887,500 (0.4% of salary cap)
15. Long Snapper
- Number of players looked at: 2
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $1,695,000
- Average per player: $874,500
- Top-earning long snapper on Tampa Bay: Zach Triner, $675,000 (0.33% of salary cap)
- Top-earning long snapper on Kansas City: James Winchester, $1,020,000 (0.46 % of salary cap)
Find Out: Everything You Can Buy for the Cost of One Super Bowl Ticket
14. Punter
- Number of players looked at: 2
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $3,312,500
- Average per player: $1,656,250
- Top-earning punter on Tampa Bay: Bradley Pinion, $2,700,000 (1.32% of salary cap)
- Top-earning punter on Kansas City: Tommy Townsend, $612,500 (0.28 % of salary cap)
Did You Know: Past Super Bowl Stars Who Scored Big Endorsement Deals
13. Kicker
- Number of players looked at: 2
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $3,945,000
- Average per player: $1,972,500
- Top-earning kicker on Tampa Bay: Ryan Succop, $750,000 (0.37% of salary cap)
- Top-earning kicker on Kansas City: Harrison Butker, $3,195,000 (1.45 % of salary cap)
In the News: Super Bowl Gives Free Tickets to 7,500 Vaccinated Healthcare Workers
12. Guard
- Number of players looked at: 5
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $9,297,782
- Average per player: $1,859,556
- Top-earning guard on Tampa Bay: Ali Marpet, $6,900,000 (3.38% of salary cap)
- Top-earning guard on Kansas City: Andrew Wylie, $750,000 (0.34 % of salary cap)
Find Out: How Much Will You Save Watching the Super Bowl From Home?
11. Running Back
- Number of players looked at: 8
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $10,188,329
- Average per player: $1,273,541
- Top-earning running back on Tampa Bay: Leonard Fournette, $2,500,000 (1.22% of salary cap)
- Top-earning running back on Kansas City: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, $1,967,558 (0.89 % of salary cap)
Fun Facts: Most Expensive Super Bowl Rosters of the Past Decade
10. Cornerback
- Number of players looked at: 11
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $12,031,646
- Average per player: $1,093,786
- Top-earning cornerback on Tampa Bay: Ryan Smith, $1,750,000 (0.86% of salary cap)
- Top-earning cornerback on Kansas City: Bashaud Breeland, $2,318,013 (1.05 % of salary cap)
9. Center
- Number of players looked at: 3
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $14,508,334
- Average per player: $4,836,111
- Top-earning center on Tampa Bay: Ryan Jensen, $10,000,000 (4.9% of salary cap)
- Top-earning center on Kansas City: Austin Reiter, $3,758,334 (1.7% of salary cap)
8. Tackle
- Number of players looked at: 7
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $22,617,563
- Average per player: $3,231,080
- Top-earning tackle on Tampa Bay: Donovan Smith, $14,500,000 (7.1% of salary cap)
- Top-earning tackle on Kansas City: Mike Remmers, $887,500 (0.4 % of salary cap)
- Top-earning inactive tackle on Kansas City: Eric Fisher, $14,981,666 (6.78% of salary cap) — Fisher is inactive because of an injury.
Did You Know: Here’s How Rich Every NFL Team Is
7. Safety
- Number of players looked at: 8
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $27,025,753
- Average per player: $3,378,219
- Top-earning safety on Tampa Bay: Antoine Winfield Jr., $1,328,579 (0.65% of salary cap)
- Top-earning safety on Kansas City: Tyrann Mathieu, $16,333,333 (7.39 % of salary cap)
Looking Ahead: 11 NFL Free Agents Who Could Score Big Contracts in 2021
6. Tight End
- Number of players looked at: 6
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $27,173,988
- Average per player: $4,528,998
- Top-earning tight end on Tampa Bay: Rob Gronkowski, $9,250,000 (4.53% of salary cap)
- Top-earning tight end on Kansas City: Travis Kelce, $11,218,400 (5.08 % of salary cap)
Fun Facts: Which NFL Hall of Famer Has the Highest Net Worth?
5. Defensive Tackle
- Number of players looked at: 10
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $32,540,455
- Average per player: $3,254,046
- Top-earning defensive tackle on Tampa Bay: Ndamukong Suh, $8,000,000 (3.92% of salary cap)
- Top-earning defensive tackle on Kansas City: Chris Jones, $15,001,000 (6.79 % of salary cap)
Find Out: The 25 Richest NFL Team Owners
4. Defensive End
- Number of players looked at: 8
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $32,990,627
- Average per player: $4,123,828
- Top-earning defensive end on Tampa Bay: William Gholston, $4,750,000 (2.33% of salary cap)
- Top-earning defensive end on Kansas City: Frank Clark, $19,300,000 (8.74 % of salary cap)
Did You Know: 27 Richest No. 1 NFL Draft Picks
3. Quarterback
- Number of players looked at: 5
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $36,879,008
- Average per player: $7,375,802
- Top-earning quarterback, on Tampa Bay: Tom Brady, $27,375,000 (13.41% of salary cap)
- Top-earning quarterback on Kansas City: Patrick Mahomes, $5,346,508 (2.42 % of salary cap)
Find Out: How Much Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Other QBs Make Per Career TD Thrown
2. Wide Receiver
- Number of players looked at: 12
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $50,372,574
- Average per player: $4,197,715
- Top-earning wide receiver on Tampa Bay: Mike Evans, $8,387,500 (4.11 % of salary cap)
- Top-earning wide receiver on Kansas City: Tyreek Hill, $17,740,000 (8.03 % of salary cap)
Read More: The Richest Athletes in the World
1. Linebacker
- Number of players looked at: 14
- Total 2020 cap hit for position: $70,215,847
- Average per player: $5,015,418
- Top-earning linebacker on Tampa Bay: Shaquil Barrett, $27,375,000 (13.41% of salary cap)
- Top-earning linebacker on Kansas City: Anthony Hitchens, $12,692,500 (5.74% of salary cap)
More From GOBankingRates
- These Are the Best Banks of 2021 – Did Yours Make the Cut?
- 31 Hidden Ways You’re Bleeding Money Every Month
- Top 100 Banks Leading the U.S. in 2021
- How To Rebound From a Bad Financial Year: 2020 Edition
Methodology: In order to find out how much the players in this year’s Super Bowl (LV) are paid by position, GOBankingRates used Spotrac’s team cap tracker for the 2020 season for both the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. GOBankingRates then combined the two team’s active rosters and sorted by position. For each position GOBankingRates found (1) number of players on both rosters within that position; (2) total cap hit for that position; and (3) the average cap hit for each player at that position. GOBankingRates also found supplementary salary info for each player, also sourced from Spotrac. All data was collected on and up to date as of Jan. 25, 2021.
