- Philadelphia Eagles players, despite a short stint with the team, are reaping significant playoff bonuses thanks to their Super Bowl LIX victory.
- Playoff compensation differs drastically from regular-season salaries, relying on a league-wide pool rather than individual team budgets.
- A player’s playoff earnings are heavily influenced by their team’s progression through the postseason and their own roster status.
- The potential for “double-dipping” – earning from multiple teams in the same playoff run – exists, offering substantial financial gains for some players.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win is still paying dividends for some players, including former linebacker Devin White, who earned a combined $233,000 in playoff bonuses despite only briefly playing for the team. White received $109,000 because the Houston Texans advanced to the AFC divisional round, and an additional $124,000 after the Eagles secured the championship.
How Playoff Paychecks Differ From Regular Season Earnings
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Unlike the regular season, where players are paid directly from their team’s salary cap, playoff compensation comes from a league-wide pool. This means a player’s regular-season salary has little bearing on their postseason earnings; each eligible player receives the same amount per round.
| Round | Player Payout |
|---|---|
| Wild card round – other wild cards | $53,500 |
| Wild card round — wild card byes | $53,500 |
| Wild card round – division winners | $58,500 |
| Divisional playoff game | $58,500 |
| Conference championship game | $81,000 |
| Super Bowl – losing team | $103,000 |
| Super Bowl – winning Team | $178,000 |
During the 18-week regular season, Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, a 2025 first-team All-Pro, earned $888,889 weekly from his $16 million base salary. In contrast, he received $53,500 for the Rams’ wild-card win against the Carolina Panthers. Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua, also a 2025 first-team All-Pro, earned $57,222 each week of the regular season from his $1.03 million base salary, but saw a slight increase with a $58,500 payout for the Rams’ divisional playoff game.
Maximum Playoff Earnings and Team Eligibility
The maximum a player can earn from this season’s playoffs is $376,000. This figure is achievable only by a Super Bowl-winning team that also won its division and participated in the wild card round. Currently, the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots are the only teams remaining eligible to reach this maximum. Other playoff teams can earn up to $371,000.
For players like Houston Texans long snapper Austin Brinkman, a Super Bowl victory carries significant financial weight. Brinkman earned $850,000 in 2025, and an additional $371,000 would represent nearly 45% of his total football earnings for the year.
Roster Moves and Playoff Pay
Teams can expand their 53-man roster to 54 or 55 players by elevating practice squad players. These elevated players receive the same playoff pay as those on the 53-man roster and injured reserve for the first two playoff rounds. Chicago Bears linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin, for example, earned $58,500 for the Bears’ win over the Green Bay Packers after being elevated from the practice squad. He later secured a spot on the 53-man roster following an injury to T.J. Edwards.
- Players on the 53-man roster at game time who have been on the roster for at least three previous games (regular season or playoffs).
- Veterans (at least one year of service) placed on injured reserve during the regular season who are still under contract.
- Vested veterans (four or more years of service) placed on injured reserve during the preseason who are still under contract.
- Players not on the 53-man roster who spent at least eight games on the roster (regular season or playoffs), provided they aren’t under contract with another team in the same conference.
The San Francisco 49ers boast several players eligible for full shares, including perennial Pro Bowlers Nick Bosa, George Kittle, and Fred Warner. Warner could be activated from injured reserve for the NFC Championship Game if the 49ers defeat the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round.
49ers edge rusher Keion White stands to potentially earn $555,000 this postseason due to his prior time with the New England Patriots. He’s already secured $112,000 from the 49ers’ wild card win. If both teams reach the Super Bowl, White would receive both the winners’ and losers’ shares.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Shaquill Griffin, currently on the team’s practice squad, has a unique situation. Having been on Seattle’s 53-man roster for eight games this season, he’s eligible for increased playoff pay.
Griffin could earn $22,000 more than other Seahawks players for the final two playoff rounds, receiving both his practice squad pay and the elevated player rate, while quarterback Sam Darnold, Seattle’s highest-paid player, would receive $81,000.
- Players on the 53-man roster who have been on the roster for fewer than three previous games.
- First-year players placed on injured reserve during the regular season who are still under contract and signed a player or practice squad contract in a prior season.
- Non-vested veterans (one to three years of service) placed on injured reserve during the preseason who are still under contract.
- Players not on the 53-man roster who spent between three and seven games on the roster, provided they aren’t under contract with another team in the same conference.
Chicago Bears safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson finds himself in a similar position to Devin White, having been released by the Texans early in the season. He’s already earned $117,000 from Chicago’s wild card win and could collect an additional $129,500 if the Texans win the Super Bowl.
First-year players placed on injured reserve during the preseason who are still under contract are eligible for a one-quarter share, provided they have prior practice squad experience or game checks from a previous season.
Playoff payments must be made within 15 days of each game.
