The United Football League’s (UFL) inaugural season was largely considered a success. Now, as the league kicks off its second season, players have received a raise, but the players’ union filed unfair labor practice charges against the league after talks stalled on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Let’s examine how much UFL players and coaches make, and how their salaries compare to those in the NFL.
Comparing UFL vs. NFL Salaries
During the 2024 season, UFL players on the active roster earned $5,500 per week, and the camp paychecks were $850 per week.
This is an increase from what players earned in the USFL, which was $5,350 per week during the season and $150 per week in camp.
In the past, quarterbacks have earned significantly more than their spring-league peers, but that’s not the case in the UFL. QBs are paid the exact same salary as everyone else, which is a big departure from the XFL, where they were reportedly earning between $200,000 and $400,000.
“Our quarterbacks are paid the same as everybody else,” UFL football operations chief Daryl Johnston told ESPN. “The approach is to be fiscally responsible there. We’ve gotten some pushback from some of them, which is understandable because they can say everybody knows how valuable this position is and how it should command a higher salary.
“We’re a start-up league trying to get our feet underneath us to be successful here and for a number of years moving forward. There’s a good argument for both sides. How do we manage this situation in a way that is positive and good for both sides of the equation? … It’s hard to thread that needle.”
It is estimated that players received an average salary of $55,000 in the UFL during the inaugural season, and they received a “negligible” raise in 2025.
Meanwhile, the NFL’s highest-paid player is Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who makes $60 million per year.
While UFL players on the active roster earn $5,500 per week, any inactive players receive a weekly salary of $2,500. This remuneration structure ensures that all players, regardless of their playing status, receive a competitive wage during the season.
By comparison, the average salary of an NFL player is about $2.8 million, or roughly $53,000 per week.
During training camp, UFL players are compensated at a rate of $850 per week. In addition to their salaries, players receive a housing stipend of $1,600 per month, breaking down to $400 weekly.
Besides their regular pay, players can earn various bonuses attached to accolades such as Player of the Week (a $1,000 bonus), earning a spot on the All-UFL Team ($2,500), Player of the Year award ($5,000), and the coveted MVP award ($7,500).
Last year, UFL coaches had to agree to a pay reduction in order to stick around. This caused some coaches to depart the UFL, including Hines Ward, who decided to move on from the San Antonio Brahmas. Wade Phillips took over as head coach of the Brahmas, leading them to the UFL Championship.
In 2023, XFL head coaches signed multi-year deals and earned six figures annually. However, these XFL coaches (including Phillips, Reggie Barlow, Anthony Becht, and Bob Stoops) all agreed to a future reduction in pay in order to coach in the UFL.
It’s unclear exactly how much UFL coaches are making, but estimates range from $55,000 to $90,000. The average salary for an NFL head coach is approximately $6.6 million annually. The average yearly salary of NFL assistant coaches is $5.5 million. Pay scales for the top 10 NFL head coaches range from $8 million to $12 million annually.
As the UFL continues to grow in popularity, it’s very possible that salaries and bonuses will continue to increase. However, it’s hard to imagine the UFL coming close to NFL salaries at any point in the near future.
UFL Players File Unfair Labor Practice Charges Against the League
With unrest growing between the UFL and its players amidst negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, tensions escalated dramatically. On Friday, March 14, the players filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), accusing the league of 10 counts of unlawful conduct. Those 10 counts include:
- Threatening to cut players for participating in protected union activities
- Cutting Quinten Dormady in response to his participation in protected union activities
- Creating new rules regarding player discipline to discourage participation in protected union activities
- Creating disciplinary rules that have a reasonable tendency to deter players from exercising their rights
- Denying the union access to league facilities
- Threatening to remove union representatives from areas where they have lawful access rights
- Engaging in surveillance of player participation in protected union activities
- Creating the impression of surveillance regarding union participation
- Threatening to discipline players for participating in protected union activities
- Failing and refusing to provide the union with relevant and necessary information for collective bargaining
The UFL Players Association has filed unfair labor practice charges against the UFL today.
The season is supposed to start in two weeks. pic.twitter.com/rW0InrZvjG
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) March 14, 2025
This complaint comes after negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement have stalled. On its website, the UFPA highlights player welfare concerns as a key reason for its formation in 2020.
“We have seen professional players have poor protection and benefits, injured players released while under contract, among many other hardships due to lack of protection.
“This level of football is extremely important to many players, and making sure players are at the table to discuss the ways this level can be here for years to come is one of the highest priorities.”