2023 Hall of Fame Class Financials

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertFebruary 10, 2023
Share
#darrelle revis #joe thomas #demarcus ware #ronde barber
© USA TODAY Sports

Darrelle Revis

A first ballot football & business of football Hall of Famer, Revis still sits atop the cornerback career earnings mountain, amassing $124.2M in his 11 NFL seasons. The closest active player currently is Patrick Peterson, who sits at $106.75M.

Drafted #14 overall by the Jets out of Pitt, Revis signed a 6 year, $32M rookie contract in 2007. He would go on to play out half of that deal before a 4 year $46M extension was signed, 60% of which was guaranteed at signing. 3 years later the Jets traded Revis to Tampa Bay, who ripped up the deal for a 6 year, $96M blockbuster extension- $0 guaranteed. He’d play out 1 year, $16M of that deal before a release, moving on to New England at a 1 year, $12M clip, signaling his decline toward minimum salaries to finish out his career right? Nope. The Jets came back one offseason later with a 5 year, $70M free agent contract, paying him another $47M over the next 2 ½ seasons.

So when will Revis’ $124.2M be surpassed? The answer is very much TBD, but for now, Jalen Ramsey’s current contract would allow him to reach $137.1M after the 2025 season - if he remains on it that long.

Ronde Barber

Drafted by the Buccaneers in the 3rd round out of Virginia back in 1996, Barber played 16 NFL seasons - all in Tampa Bay. He signed 6 professional contracts, including a 3 year, $940,000 rookie deal, maxing out with a 5 year, $24 million contract in 2006. In total, Barber earned $46.125M for his efforts on the field, 54th most among cornerbacks in NFL history.

Zach Thomas

The #154 overall selection by the Dolphins back in 1996 reeled in $48.3M across 13 NFL seasons with the Dolphins, Cowboys, & Chiefs. His career began with a 3 year, $577,000 rookie deal in Miami that quickly escalated with back to back extensions worth $22.65M, & $33.75M respectively. Unfortunately, a 2007 head injury derailed his career, forcing the Dolphins to release him the following offseason. Thomas would pick up a few near minimum deals with Dallas & Kansas City, but never made it all the way back thereafter.

DeMarcus Ware

Ware entered the league as the #11 overall selection by the Cowboys back in 2005, signing a 5 year, $13M rookie contract to begin his career. Dallas handed him a healthy raise 4 years later to the tune of 6 years, $78 million, keeping him around for 5 seasons of it before he moved on to the Broncos on a 3 year, $30M free agent contract, his final career deal.

Ware earned $89.9M combined in 12 NFL seasons, which still ranks 5th all-time among Outside Linebackers.

Joe Thomas

Thomas kept things simple for us in his 11 season career. The #3 overall selection back in 2007 signed two professional contracts with the Cleveland Browns: a 5 year, $42.5M rookie deal, followed by a 7 year $80.5 million contract extension in 2011.

Those two contracts earned him $122.85M on the field, still #2 all-time among any offensive lineman to ever play the game (Trent Williams, $148.5M).


#darrelle revis #joe thomas #demarcus ware #ronde barber
Top