Professional athletes make a nice bit of money to play in front of a national audience.
Sure, not every league is going to make NFL, MLB, or NBA money, but it's safe to say most fans watching these athletes on TV would be happy to trade salaries with just about any professional athlete.
The United Football League, which merged between the USFL and XFL, is no different. It is not paying athletes NFL money, but the UFL is paying its athletes a decent amount of change to play football for just a handful of months out of the year. Some players will even turn these few months into a chance to play football in the fall for NFL teams, giving them another chance to earn more money.
How well are UFL players compensated? Here's what you need to know.
How much do UFL players get paid?
Unlike other leagues, there are universal payment standards. Any player on the active roster of a UFL team will earn $5,500 per week, according to UFL News Hub, while those under contract but not on an active roster will earn $2,500 per week.
There is more money that players earn during the season, however:
UFL salary structure
- Salary: $5,500 per week
- Housing: $400 per week
- Training camp: $850 per week
UFL players reportedly earn $850 per week during training camp as they get ready for the season to start. They also receive a housing stipend of $1,600 per month that helps cover living expenses.
There are also plenty of other incentives that can impact earnings. At the start of the season, the following honors were slated to receive these payouts, per UFL News Hub:
- Player of the Week: $1,000
- All UFL Team: $2,500
- Player of the Year: $5,000
- MVP: $7,500
However, the UFL Players Association announced in May that the payments for All-UFL Team members would be increased rather than pay out the Player of the Week bonuses, which are voted on by fans.
How much do NFL players get paid?
The minimum a player can get paid in the NFL in 2024 is $795,000. That comes out to just over $15,288 per week over the course of a full season, let alone just while the season is ongoing.
Even players on a practice squad earn a minimum of $12,000 per week, a number that still towers over the UFL salaries.
How much were USFL players paid?
Before the USFL merged with the XFL, the two leagues had different payout structures. Players in the USFL would reportedly earn $5,350 per week that accompanied a housing stipend of $400 and a championship bonus of $5,000. There were also $26,000 in benefits.
Inactive players would earn $2,500 per week.
How much were XFL players paid?
The XFL was just below the USFL in weekly paycheck. It doled out $5,000 per week to players, as well as $1,000 per win as a bonus.
The benefits package was estimated to be worth $20,000.
However, quarterbacks could reportedly make more than every other player. According to Pro Football Network, quarterbacks could make between $200,000 and $400,000 in the XFL.
