Julian Edelman calls out NFL's ‘cheap' playoff pay: Even Tom Brady got screwed
Julian Edelman speaks out on NFL's 'cheap' playoff pay (Getty Images)
When fans watch NFL stars like Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes dominate in the playoffs, most assume they're pocketing millions for every throw, every touchdown, every win. But as former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman recently explained, that assumption couldn't be further from the truth.
NFL players take a major pay cut during the playoffs—even the superstars
Appearing on the Games with Names podcast, Edelman peeled back the curtain on how playoff compensation works in the NFL. Unlike the regular season, where paychecks are determined by massive contracts and performance bonuses, postseason pay is a fixed structure. Everyone—from the franchise quarterback to the backup kicker—earns the same per game, regardless of their regular-season salary.
'For the first round you'd get like twenty grand, twenty-five grand to the winner,' Edelman shared.
'The next round, you'd get like an additional thirty grand. We would get the first-round bye, do the same amount of work, and not get paid. It was only twenty grand, but I was making like one hundred grand at the time.'
How NFL Contracts ACTUALLY Work | Games With Names
That pay gap becomes even more jarring when you look at elite quarterbacks like Brady and Mahomes. 'Tom Brady usually gets $2 million a game,' Edelman explained. 'He's going to play for $20,000. Patrick Mahomes is getting $50 million a year, and now he's getting twenty grand, thirty grand… Same as the long snapper.'
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The league's playoff pay system, though controversial among players, does reinforce one unique NFL value: team unity. 'Everyone in the organization earns the same amount of money for playoff games,' Edelman pointed out. For trainers, assistant coaches, and lesser-known players, the extra checks are meaningful, even if they seem like a rounding error for top-tier stars.
Brock Purdy's big contract strikes a chord with Edelman
Edelman also took a moment to celebrate 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's new five-year, $265 million deal.
As a fellow seventh-round pick, Edelman knows the grind of proving oneself.
'As a former player, you always like to see guys get paid,' he said. 'Especially a guy that went his route. I was a seventh-round guy, he's a seventh-round guy. Now he's making $54 million per year.'
Also Read:
Tom Brady risks it all at Indy 500: NFL legend trades football fame for 200 mph thrill ride with Jimmie Johnson
Purdy's new contract averages nearly $3 million per week—a staggering rise from the $2.6 million total he earned in his first three seasons. His story is a reminder that in the NFL, humble beginnings can lead to massive paydays—just not in the playoffs.
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