Tom Brady took pay cuts so often you’d think he had a loyalty card for team-friendly deals. But even after years of “hometown discounts,” the GOAT still ended up third on the all-time QB career earnings list. NFL fans are having a field day with the irony.
Some are praising his sacrifice for Super Bowl glory, while others are side-eyeing the numbers, wondering if he really missed out.
NFL Fans React to Tom Brady’s Career Earnings
Brady spent years leaving money on the table, yet he still finished third on the all-time QB career earnings list. Fans have got plenty to say about it.
Aaron Rodgers is on top with $380.66 million, followed by Matthew Stafford ($364.31M) and Brady ($333.96M). Russell Wilson ($305.36M) and Matt Ryan ($303.71M) complete the top five.
But here’s the kicker: Brady has seven Super Bowl rings. The others got just one each (except Ryan, who has none).
For many, the numbers don’t add up. “Tom Brady was underpaid. He took a hometown discount constantly while in New England,” one fan pointed out. It’s no secret that Brady structured his contracts to help the New England Patriots build winning rosters.
Tom Brady was underpaid. He took a hometown discount constantly while in New England.
— Michael Springer (@SpringerProject) February 15, 2025
Others believe he could have easily topped this list. “Brady took paycuts throughout his career or else he wouldve been the highest paid throughout his career by a mile,” another fan argued before calling him the GOAT.
Brady took paycuts throughout his career or else he wouldve been the highest paid through out his career by a mile. Brady truly is the one and only GOAT 🐐
— Tank Blades (@TankBlades) February 15, 2025
Then there’s the realization of just how much he sacrificed. “I didn’t realize how much Brady sacrificed financially to win. He should clearly be number 1 AND number 2,” one fan joked, stunned at Brady’s financial trade-offs for championships.
Meanwhile, some fans turned their attention to Rodgers. “What’s surprising is that people don’t associate the massive amount of money A Rod asked for every year with the fact that he only had one Super Bowl ring.”
At the end of the day, Brady didn’t chase the biggest checks; he chased rings. And with seven Lombardis in his trophy case, it’s safe to say he got the better deal.
Tom Brady vs. Father Time — The One Battle He Hated Acknowledging
Even the GOAT has his insecurities. And for Brady, it wasn’t about rings, records, or rivalries — it was about aging.
Former teammate Tristan Wirfs revealed on “The Pivot Podcast” that Brady hated being reminded of his age. “He was 22 years older than me,” Wirfs recalled. “I was like, ‘You were born a year or two after my mom, Tom.’ And he’s like, ‘Shut up. Don’t tell me that.’”
Brady may have defied Father Time on the field, winning a record seven Super Bowls, but what about off of it? Turns out, he wasn’t immune to a little existential dread.
But while his age may have been a touchy subject, Wirfs shared a different side of Brady — one packed with dad jokes. “He tells dad jokes — like, yeah, like a mother,” Wirfs laughed.
Even in retirement, Brady keeps stacking wins. His $375 million Fox Sports deal and recent $50 million bid for an English cricket team prove he’s still playing the long game. If this is what getting old looks like, Brady’s aging just fine.