Joe Flacco Pay Raise Makes Him Highest Paid In NFL

Joe Flacco, quarterback of the Super Bowl XLVII winning Baltimore Ravens, signed a contract on Friday to make him the highest paid player in NFL history.

Flacco came into the negotiations at the best possible time for the once-underrated passer. His old contract was up as he hit his peak – leading the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl win with a post season consisting of 11 TD passes and 0 interceptions. In the Raven's race to the big game, the Super Bowl MVP bested top league quarterbacks Tom Brady and Andrew Luck. After signing his $120.6 million contract, his salary now bests them too.

All of the above is impressive, but it's not all that's caused Flacco’s first five years in the league to lead to such a massive payout. With his post-season run this year, he’s now tied with Brady for most playoff wins by a quarterback in their first five seasons with the league. And, his 63 regular season wins boosted him to the top spot of the record books among quarterbacks.

Flacco had the benefit of a talented squad both on offense and defense with the Baltimore Ravens over the last five years. The defense led by the legendary Ray Lewis and running game in the hands of standout Ray Rice certainly contributed to Flacco’s impressive tally of wins.

Flacco’s deal earns him roughly $20.1 million a year for six years, narrowly eclipsing the New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees’ $20 million average. The Atlanta Falcons standout Matt Ryan has yet to renegotiate and Tony Romo is working on a new deal with the Dallas Cowboys, but neither team has been led to a Super Bowl win. Aaron Rodgers, the Packer’s QB is known as one of the best in the NFL, yet he only makes a yearly average of $12.704 million. It would come as no surprise if his salary eclipses Flacco’s when his deal expires after the 2014 season.

What makes Flacco’s story even more remarkable is his humble football beginnings. After beginning his collegiate career at Pittsburgh in the Big East, he decided to transfer due to a lack of playing time. He ended up playing with the Division 1-AA Delaware Hens. And now, he’s paid more in the NFL than any player in the league’s history.