The largest NFL contract ever by total value is Patrick Mahomes’ 10-year, 450 million dollar extension with the Kansas City Chiefs, signed in 2020.
Key details
Mahomes’ deal is a 10‑year extension through the 2031 season worth 450 million dollars in total, making it the biggest contract in NFL history and in North American team sports by total value. The contract averages about 45 million dollars per year, with complex guarantees and bonuses that can change how much he actually earns over the life of the deal.
Total value vs annual value
While Mahomes has the highest total contract value, several other quarterbacks have surpassed his average annual value on shorter deals, such as extensions for players like Justin Herbert, Joe Burrow, and others in the 50‑plus million per year range. Those newer contracts are smaller in total dollars but pay more per season than Mahomes’ 45 million average.
Highest-value contracts table
Measure| Player| Team (at signing)| Years| Total value (approx.)| Avg. per
year (approx.)
---|---|---|---|---|---
Largest total value| Patrick Mahomes| Kansas City Chiefs| 10| 450 million
dollars 2| 45 million dollars 2
Top AAV tier (example)| Joe Burrow| Cincinnati Bengals| 5| 275 million dollars
10| 55 million dollars 10
Top AAV tier (example)| Trevor Lawrence| Jacksonville Jaguars| 5| 275 million
dollars 10| 55 million dollars 10