NFL athletes are some of the richest in the country. In the glitz and glamour of the NFL, where multi-million-dollar contracts are the norm, it’s hard to fathom the existence of a player who earns less than the average waterboy. In a league where stars like Lamar Jackson and Aaron Rodgers command nearly $50 Million a year, it is definitely surprising to see NFL players functioning on the bare minimum. But such is the case of the former teammate of Russell Wilson.

Wilson himself is signed to a $245 Million contract with the Denver Broncos, after picking up an extension with the team following his trade from the Seattle Seahawks. But during his time with the Seahawks, where Wilson delivered a Super Bowl by defeating Tom Brady, his own teammate was setting records as the lowest-paid player in the NFL. 

Meet Russell Wilson’s former teammate, the lowest-paid player in the NFL

Over the years, Wilson has had hundreds of teammates during his time with the Seahawks and now the Denver Broncos. But one of his most remarkable teammates was backup QB Tyrone Swoopes. While he may not be a household name, his salary predicament has raised many eyebrows over the years. During his tenure with the Seahawks, Swoopes earned a mere $27,353 annually. 

While the number seems whimsical in front of contracts like those of Wilson and Rodgers, the salary figures fall flat in front of the pay of an average NFL player as well. According to AS USA, an NFL player earns up to $860,000 annually on average. Especially when compared to the lowest salary mark set by the NFL’s CBA, Swoopes’ $27,535 falls short of the $660,000 mark. But why is it like this?

Unraveling the salary conundrum and the waterboy juxtaposition

To comprehend the salary disparity faced by Swoopes, it’s crucial to understand the intricacies of the NFL’s payment structure. The league establishes different minimum values depending on the players’ contracts and their designation as active or inactive. Swoopes, being a practice squad player for most of his career, falls within this framework. A practice squad player, although not on the active roster, trains and practices with the 53-man squad. 

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Hence, the salary structure for such a player falls drastically short of the NFL’s pre-requisite salary mark. The most surprising aspect of his contract, however, might be the comparison to an average NFL waterboy. According to Yahoo.com’s Dillon Thompson, the average salary of a waterboy in the NFL sits at around $53,000, outshining the contract of a professional football player like Swoopes. As of now, Swoopes still remains a free agent as he continues his journey across the 2023 NFL offseason.

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