$90M Rich Patrick Mahomes’ Star Power Fails as Chiefs’ QB Falls $70M Short of NFL Veteran’s Big Flex

You want to know who’s taking the bigger bag home? Cool. Let’s focus on the guy who has two MVPs, appeared in seven consecutive AFC Championships, won three Super Bowl rings in five years, and has a postseason record that almost seems like a cheat code. Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ golden boy, isn’t just the greatest QB, but he is also redefining what the position stands for. Even though he is only 29, he has already surpassed Joe Montana in playoff victories (17). Among quarterbacks with at least 10 games, his lifetime passer rating in the postseason (103.5) is the highest in NFL history.

The achievement list doesn’t end there. He is also the youngest player in NFL history to win both the league MVP and the Super Bowl MVP in the same season in 2022. He has records, rings, and a resume that most veterans would envy. But what about money and contracts? Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott just took home the largest bag in NFL history.

In a post announcing Mahomes’ $86.8 million bag this season, Chiefs Talk wrote: “Mahomes’ $86.8m (Salary + Endorsements) puts him with some pretty elite company in the sporting world Via Boardroom / Forbes.” They were right. On Forbes’ list of the highest-paid athletes, Patrick Mahomes came in at number 18, surpassing the majority of NFL players and trailing just behind Deshaun Watson ($91.8M). Even with $28 million in off-field earnings, no NFL player is touching his endorsement game. He has franchises in State Farm, Subway, Adidas, Oakley, and even flips Whataburgers in Kansas City.

Still, he’s not at the top of the mountain. The top belongs to Dak Prescott. Who earned an incredible $137 million within the same period (May 2024–May 2025). Compared to Mahomes, that is $70 million more. Prescott has surpassed Tyson Fury and Lionel Messi to become the fourth-highest-paid athlete worldwide and the highest-paid NFL player in the world.

So, how did Mahomes rank 14th in terms of quarterback salaries annually, according to Over The Cap? It’s easy: The goal of Mahomes’ long-term, team-friendly agreement was sustainability, not showmanship. He inked a 10-year, $450 million contract in 2020, but others may overtake him soon due to roster bonuses, restructures, and year averages. Prescott? He went full Wall Street by converting basic pay into signing bonuses and earning two years’ worth of money in one go. That’s a financial masterclass, not a contract.

Patrick Mahomes owns the game, but Dak Prescott just cashed the bigger check

A deal designed for maximum payout and cap flexibility lies behind that $137 million headline. In September 2024, Prescott agreed to a 4-year, $240 million contract extension with the Cowboys, which included a $231 million guarantee and a $80 million signing bonus. His yearly average now stands at $60 million, the most in the league.

Then came the restructuring. Dak was able to receive two seasons’ worth of money in one year when the Cowboys turned $45.75 million of his 2025 contract into a signing bonus in March. That sneaky move helped Dallas clear cap space while Prescott watched the millions pile up. The final garnish to his earning empire? $10 million in off-field endorsements through Jordan Brand, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Lowe’s.

But as Dak’s bank account rocketed off, his season took a turn for the worse. He missed the final nine games due to a hamstring injury sustained against the Falcons. The Cowboys collapsed without him. But there is hope again. Prescott looked well when he returned to OTAs, even if he wasn’t entirely cleared for contact. If Dak stays healthy, Dallas has a chance at redemption after Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb recovered from their injury-plagued seasons.

But making money isn’t the only goal for Prescott. “I’ve never played the game for that,” he said. But let’s face it, even your accountant’s accountant smiles when you pocket $137 million in a single year.

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