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#5 Peyton Manning, QB ($248.7 million)
A first-ballot NFL Hall of Famer, few can hold a torch to Peyton Manning's incredible 18 years spent playing quarterback in the league.
Besides appearing in an incredible \14 Pro Bowls, Manning also won two Super Bowls; one with the Indianapolis Colts (2007) and another in the twilight of his career with the Denver Broncos (2016), cementing himself as one of the legends of the game.
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Unsurprisingly, Manning was well remunerated for his services throughout his career, earning $248.7 million, including $35 million in 2004 alone.
#4 Eli Manning, QB ($252.3 million)
Not to be outdone by his brother, Eli Manning managed to rake in $3.6 million more than Peyton Manning during his storied NFL career. Eli Manning has had career earnings of $252.3 million, giving him plenty to brag about over Thanksgiving dinner in the Manning household.
Besides making a proverbial ton of money during his 16-year career, Eli Manning twice helped the New York Giants to Super Bowl glory and was nominated to four Pro Bowls.
Manning is currently taking a year out of football after retiring in 2020. He is expected to return to the NFL in a coaching or scouting role somewhere down the line.
#3 Ben Roethlisberger, QB ($253.3 million)
The two-time Super Bowl-winning Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger has had a fine career in the NFL.
The no. 11 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft has featured in six Pro Bowls during his 17-year stint in the Steel City.
Having already earned an incredible $253.3 million from the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger agreed to restructure his most recent contract during the 2021 off-season, helping the Steelers get back under the salary cap; 'Big Ben' was due a $12.5 million roster bonus.
#2 Tom Brady, QB ($263 million)
What is left to say about the great Tom Brady?
Widely regarded as the GOAT by many, Brady has been a quarterback in the NFL for 21 years now, and there has been little indication that he plans on retiring his cleats anytime soon. Not least because the former Patriot lifted yet another Lombardi, doing so with the Bucs earlier this year, the seventh time he has done so during his illustrious career.
During his stint with the Patriots, Brady made news for accepting a lower base salary to ensure his team could afford to bring in the type of talents he needed to get him to the Super Bowl. In the process, he earned $50 million less in potential earnings.
Not that it made much difference to the great one's bank account. Tom Brady is the second-highest earning NFL player ever, having earned $263 million thus far.
#1 Drew Brees, QB ($269.7 million)
After a legendary 20-year career, the now-former New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees opted to retire earlier this year.
In his illustrious career, the man they called 'Breesus' earned just shy of $270 million, including $40 million in 2012 alone. Brees helped the Saints to the franchise's only Super Bowl win in 2010 and has appeared in 13 Pro Bowls.
However, Tom Brady is expected to surpass Drew Brees' career earnings sometime during the upcoming 2021 NFL season.
