Why Patrick Mahomes’ NFL Salary Is Dropping Almost $35 Million in 2026

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Patrick Mahomes’s paycheck is taking a big hit.

Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes will earn considerably less in the 2026-2027 NFL season, though it’s not a simple reduction in pay. The change in his salary is structured differently than a typical pay cut.

The three-time Super Bowl MVP, who earned $50 million playing football in 2025 according to Forbes, is having $54.45 million of his salary turned into a signing bonus. This will significantly reduce his team’s salary cap obligation for 2026, bringing it down from $78.2 million to $34.65 million, as reported by several sources.

This decision will free up $43.56 million in cap space for the Chiefs as they head into the offseason, giving them more financial freedom. However, because of Patrick’s 10-year, $450 million contract (according to Forbes), his salary cap hit is expected to exceed $85 million in 2027.

TopMob News has reached out to Patrick’s rep for comment.

Okay, last season was rough. Honestly, seeing the Chiefs miss the playoffs after a decade of them being in it was heartbreaking! And then Patrick… my Patrick! He got hurt! A torn ACL in December against the Chargers. I was devastated! But even through all that, he stayed so positive, which… well, that’s just Patrick for you. It was awful watching him go down, but he handled it with such grace, even with such a serious injury. I just want him to get better and come back stronger than ever!

Patrick expressed his confusion and pain in a post on X (formerly Twitter), saying he didn’t understand why this had happened. Despite the hurt, he shared his determination to remain hopeful and face each day with renewed effort, trusting in God to help him through it.

The father of three—Sterling, 4, Bronze, 3, and Golden, 13 months—who shares his children with wife Brittany Mahomes, made it clear he plans to return to playing, stating, “I will be back stronger than ever.”

Want to know more about your favorite athletes’ earnings? Keep reading…

Cristiano Ronaldo’s earnings are legendary in the world of sports. He consistently ranks as one of the highest-paid athletes globally. In June 2025, Ronaldo extended his contract with Al-Nassr FC in Saudi Arabia for two years. Though the specific amount wasn’t made public, reports suggest he initially earned around $200 million per year when he joined the team in 2022, following his departure from Manchester United.

Lionel Messi joined Inter Miami CF with a substantial contract. According to the MLS Players Association, his guaranteed compensation averages over $20.4 million per year. He currently earns a base salary of $12 million annually. Messi signed a two-and-a-half-year deal with the team, co-owned by David Beckham, in 2023, after playing for Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.

Despite progress towards equal pay, a significant gap remains between the earnings of male and female athletes. For example, the 2025 list of the top 50 highest-paid athletes published by Forbes included no women.

Alex Morgan, who retired from professional soccer in 2024, was the 16th highest-paid female athlete according to Forbes last year. They estimated her earnings at $600,000 from playing and $7 million from endorsements in 2024.

Although steps have been taken to close the pay gap – notably, U.S. Soccer equalizing World Cup prize money for its men’s and women’s teams – achieving true pay equity still requires substantial effort.

Caitlin Clark, the first pick in the 2024 WNBA draft, signed a four-year contract with the Indiana Fever. Her rookie year salary will be $76,535, and the total contract is worth $338,056, according to The Athletic. Many people were surprised by these numbers, as starting salaries in the NBA are significantly higher. In addition to her WNBA contract, Clark has secured several endorsement deals, including a $28 million deal with Nike, as reported by The Athletic.

Stephen Curry was the highest-paid NBA player for the 2025-2026 season, earning $59.6 million, according to ESPN. The Golden State Warriors then secured his future with the team by signing him to a $62.6 million contract extension through 2027, as confirmed by his agent to CNBC in August 2024.

And leading the charge in earnings? LeBron James. ESPN reports the Los Angeles Lakers forward made $52.6 million during the 2025-2026 season.

Coco Gauff is making waves both on and off the tennis court. In 2024, Forbes ranked her as the highest-paid female athlete, with total earnings of $34.4 million – $9.4 million from playing and $25 million from endorsements and other ventures.

Naomi Osaka is also proving successful with her sponsorships and endorsements. According to Forbes, she earned approximately $12.9 million in 2024, with a significant $12 million coming from sources other than prize money from tennis matches.

Simone Biles had a golden year both in competition and financially. Forbes estimates she earned $11.2 million in 2024, with most of that – around $11 million – coming from endorsements and other ventures outside of prize money.

Wondering how much Travis Kelce earns playing for the Kansas City Chiefs? He recently signed a two-year contract worth $34.25 million, as reported by NFL insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

Patrick Mahomes, his teammate, earned a substantial amount of money when he signed a 10-year, $450 million contract with the Chiefs in 2020, as reported by his agency, Equity Sports.

The Buffalo Bills made sure to sign quarterback Josh Allen to a long-term contract. In March 2025, he signed a six-year, $330 million deal, with $250 million guaranteed, according to Ian Rapoport.

Russell Wilson has joined the New York Giants. After playing for the Seattle Seahawks, Denver Broncos, and Pittsburgh Steelers, the quarterback signed a one-year, $10.5 million contract with the Giants in March 2025. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo reported that Wilson could potentially earn up to $21 million with performance-based incentives.

Aaron Rodgers is now the Steelers’ quarterback, having previously played for the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers. He’ll be wearing number 8, but his contract is significantly larger than that number suggests. He signed a one-year deal in June 2025 worth $13.65 million, with $10 million guaranteed, and could potentially earn up to $19.5 million more based on performance incentives, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

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2026-02-19 00:57