The Kansas City Chiefs have secured quarterback Patrick Mahomes through the 2033 season with a record-breaking contract extension that re-establishes him as the highest-paid player in the NFL.
According to contract details reported by ESPN, Mahomes will earn an average annual value of approximately $64 million, surpassing Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, who previously led the league at $60 million.
The new agreement adds two years to Mahomes' existing deal and makes him the first player in NFL history to sign a contract valued over half a billion dollars.
Chiefs Chairman Praises Mahomes' Impact
Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt praised the quarterback's impact on and off the field following the announcement of the extension.
"Over the last decade, Patrick has become one of the most iconic, beloved sports figures of all time," said Hunt.
"He has helped lead our franchise to five Super Bowl appearances and three championships; he has been instrumental in shaping the Chiefs’ brand and putting Kansas City on the world stage; and on top of it all he has been an outstanding role model in the community."
Mahomes previously trailed several quarterbacks in average annual salary after initially signing a 10-year, $450 million contract in 2020, which left him 13th in average annual value before this adjustment.
During the 2025 season, Mahomes earned a $50 million salary, placing him behind Prescott's $60 million and the $55 million benchmarks of Jordan Love, Trevor Lawrence, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow.
External Commentary on Mahomes' Pay
Media personalities like Pat McAfee noted that outside observers frequently questioned Mahomes' lower compensation relative to his peers despite his extensive on-field achievements.
"All these other quarterbacks start making a lot more than him average per year," said McAfee.
"And everybody outside the Chiefs was talking like Mahomes got to be pissed at some point that these, no offense, Trevor Lawrence making more, like a lot more."
Prior to the latest restructuring, football analysts like Mike Florio openly criticized the financial structure of Mahomes' original long-term commitment.
"It’s almost criminal what Mahomes’ representation did taking that deal," said Florio, analyst for Pro Football Talk.
Despite external commentary regarding his pay, Mahomes consistently maintained that his primary focus remained on team success and providing for his family.
"I know every time a contract comes up, everybody looks at my APY and everything like that," said Mahomes.
"I’m doing pretty well myself.
For me, it’s just about going out there trying to win football games, trying to make money for my family at the end of the day."
