XFL Players Get Shockingly Low Salary Compared To NFL Players

The XFL was branded as a cursed entity, as it failed for its two previous launches in the past two decades. It finally came back this month, with The Rock at the helm alongside his other business partners. While it is a legitimate league, it is nowhere near as big as the NFL. Therefore, the pay for XFL players is quite low compared to the NFL players as well.

The XFL has a distinct salary system that links player earnings to their on-field performance. As per Kevin Seifert of ESPN, the typical XFL player is projected to receive approximately $60,000 for the entirety of the season. The majority of contracts entail a weekly payment of $5,000, with an added incentive of a $1,000 bonus for each victory.

On February 21, 2023, Seifert reported that Whaley and Marc Ross, the executive vice president of football operations, had approached agents with a proposal to offer players a weekly salary of $5,000, along with a $1,000 bonus for each triumph.

With additional potential bonuses factored in, the average player’s earnings were estimated to be around $60,000 from training camp until the season’s end. Moreover, the XFL also factored in a benefits package worth approximately $20,000, and players would be provided with accommodation and two meals per day during the season.

“Whaley and executive vice president of football operations Marc Ross have pitched agents on deals that would pay players $5,000 per week with a $1,000 bonus per win. Including other potential bonuses, the average player would be estimated to earn about $60,000 from training camp through the end of the season. The XFL also valued its benefits package as worth an additional $20,000, in addition to paying for housing and two meals a day during the season.”

Although the average salary for XFL players is considerably lower, the league’s primary objective is to create a platform for outstanding players to showcase their skills and potentially attract the attention of NFL teams.

For context, NFL practice squad players will earn a minimum of $12,000 per week in 2023,” Seifert added. “The minimum salary for NFL players on the active roster in 2023 will be $750,000.”

We will have to wait and see whether The Rock’s iteration of the XFL will finally break the curse and manage to become a successful season of professional football, for the world to see.

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