A Financial Look at the 15 NFL HOF Finalists

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertDecember 30, 2024
© USA TODAY Sports

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its 15 finalists this week, sparking us to open up the wayback machine to uncover their contract/earnings history.

CB Eric Allen 

Career Earnings: $25.4M
NFL Seasons: 14
Teams: Eagles, Saints, Raiders

Allen’s big contract came via a restricted free agent offer sheet from the New Orleans Saints. The Eagles refused to match the 5 year, $14 million contract that Allen would split between the Saints & Raiders through 1998.

DE Jared Allen

Career Earnings: $97.8M
NFL Seasons: 12
Teams: Chiefs Vikings, Bears, Panthers

Allen utilized free agency to his financial advantage, cashing in first with the Vikings ($73M+), then the Bears ($32M). He’s the 21st highest paid edge defender in league history at the time of this piece.

OT Willie Anderson

Career Earnings: $50.5M
NFL Seasons: 13
Teams: Bengals, Ravens

Spent 12 seasons with the Bengals, who drafted him #10 overall back in 1996, garnering contract extensions of $29.8M & $23.1M before moving on to Baltimore for one final year.

OG Jahri Evans

Career Earnings: $55.3M
NFL Seasons: 12
Teams: Saints, Packers

The 4th round selection back in 2006 secured a $56M+ free agent contract to remain in New Orleans 4 years later, setting up an 11-year run with the Saints.

TE Antonio Gates

Career Earnings: $70.9M
NFL Seasons: 16
Teams: Chargers

The undrafted free agent out of Kent State went on to earn over $70M in 16 illustrious seasons with the Chargers franchise, which still ranks 7th all-time among tight ends. 

WR Torry Holt

Career Earnings: $46.8M
NFL Seasons: 11
Teams: Rams, Jaguars

One of the key cogs in the Best Show on Turf, the #6 overall selection from the 1999 draft capitalized on a $42M contract extension with the Rams before the 2003 season.

LB Luke Kuechly

Career Earnings: $63.8M
NFL Seasons: 8
Teams: Panthers

The #9 overall pick in 2012 was a 5-time All-Pro, 7-time Pro Bowler and the beneficiary of a 5 year, $62 million extension with Carolina back in 2015. His career ended shorter than expected due to multiple injuries (notably concussion-based).

QB Eli Manning

Career Earnings: $252.2M
NFL Seasons: 16
Teams: Giants

The famously traded #1 overall pick back in 2004 helped the Giants secure 2 Super Bowls, while securing himself over $250M on the field (still 9th all-time). Eli’s contract history is fairly clean: a $45M rookie contract, a $97.5M first extension, and a final $84M extension.

WR Steve Smith Sr.

Career Earnings: $81M
NFL Seasons: 16
Teams: Panthers, Ravens

One of the more polarizing players of his generation, Smith, a middle 3rd round draft pick, secured three contract extensions from the Panthers before finishing off his career in Baltimore.

EDGE Terrell Suggs

Career Earnings: $108.2M
NFL Seasons: 17
Teams: Ravens, Cardinals, Chiefs

The 7-time Pro Bowl, 2-time Defensive Player of the year, 2-time Super Bowl champion compiled 139 sacks in 244 games, while his $108M+ earned still ranks 16th among edge defenders all-time. Baltimore took their time paying the #10 overall pick out of Arizona State, franchise tagging Suggs twice before finalizing a $62.5M extension back in 2009.

RB Fred Taylor

Career Earnings: $40.9M
NFL Seasons: 13
Teams: Jaguars, Patriots

The #9 overall pick out of Florida gave Jacksonville 11 great seasons, including 7 in which he compiled over 1,000 yards rushing. The Jags rewarded the Pro Bowler with contract extensions of $18.4M & $19.8M through 2008, before he finished off his career with a cup of coffee in New England.

K Adam Vinatieri

Career Earnings: $51.1M
NFL Seasons: 24
Teams: Patriots, Colts

One of the most decorated kickers in league history, Vinatieri essentially had two full careers: One as a Patriot, One as a Colt. The success and longevity scored him over $51M on the field, 2nd only to  Sebastian Janikowski ($53.2M) all-time.

WR Reggie Wayne

Career Earnings: $65.3M
NFL Seasons: 14
Teams: Colts

The 6-time Pro Bowler went over 1,000 yards receiving 8 times in his illustrious career, all with the Colts (he spent an offseason in New England but retired before Week 1). Indy locked in the #30 overall pick out of Miami to extensions of $39.5M & $17.5M over a 14-year span.

S Darren Woodson

Career Earnings: $28.2M
NFL Seasons: 12
Teams: Cowboys

A second round pick out of Arizona State, Woodson was a 3-time All-Pro and a 3-time Super Bowl champion for the Cowboys, securing 23 interceptions and a team-high 1,350 stops in 178 games for Dallas. He locked in extensions of $18M & $20M but a disc/back injury derailed his 2004 season and ultimately led to his retirement.

OL Marshal Yanda

Career Earnings: $70.2M
NFL Seasons: 13
Teams: Ravens

A 3rd round pick out of Iowa, Yanda’s $70M+ earned on the field still ranks 8th among guards all-time. The 2-time All-Pro secured contract extensions of $32M, $31.9M, & $10M over his 13 seasons in Baltimore.


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