The average salary of a USFL player ranges from $4500 to $5350 per game. The agreement on paying structure was done in December 2022.
USFL is currently on its second football season as of April 15 and will crown another champion on July 1. With no other league like NFL and college football games in the schedule, USFL games have been here to quench the thirst of football fans even in the summer.
The reborn version of the United States Football League first hit the pitch in April 2022, which was previously in operation from 1983 to 1985. This football minor league is home to eight teams and nearly 400 football players.
USFL teams hail from two divisions; the North and South Divisions. The Birmingham Stallions are the first and defending champions, who clenched the trophy with their teamwork and impressive players.
This season, the league has also united another group of hard-working players and reviewed their paying figures for everyone's betterment.
The following list includes the eight USFL teams and their states:
USFL Teams and Their States
| Michigan Panthers | Detroit, Michigan |
| New Jersey Generals | East Rutherford, New Jersey |
| Philadelphia Stars | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
| Pittsburgh Maulers | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania |
| Birmingham Stallions | Birmingham, Alabama |
| Houston Gamblers | Houston, Texas |
| Memphis Showboats | Memphis, Tennessee |
| New Orleans Breakers | New Orleans, Louisiana |
How much does USFL players make?
USFL players normally make $53,500 if they stay on the squad for the entire regular season. The weekly salary for an active player is $5,350.
Moreover, the USFL minimum salary for an inactive player in the squad is $2,500 weekly. The maximum salary is set at $74,000 for the season.
The United Football Players Association (U.F.P.A) and the United Steelworkers (USW) formed an alliance in 2022 to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the United States Football League.
UFPA also represents the labor rights of the Canadian Football League (CFL) and USFL. CFL currently runs on a fixed salary cap of $5.45 million until the 2024 season, while their player makes an average salary of $71,000 per season.
Veteran Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros is currently the highest-paid CFL player, with a salary of $550,000.
Brian Woods' National Spring Football League Enterprises Co, LLC, and Fox Sports own the league. The two parties reportedly confirmed $150–$200 million in operations costs over three years to its operations.
They also plan to add another $250 million from investors for the upcoming seasons. However, the league's revenue was reported to be less than $10 million.
The less revenue audit also made the United States Football League ineligible to draft players from outside the US, per the P visa rule.
Highest Paid USFL Players in 2023
USFL and its players have maintained discretion regarding their salary figures. While the 2023 season is still running, the league and its teams have been far from revealing last year's exact payment numbers per player.
Even so, the average pay schedule for a regular player was $4,500 per week during the regular season. Hence, the regular USFL players in 2022 made between $45,000 and $75,000 based on team performance and contract terms.
Similarly, these active players were subjected to a $600 per week payment for their active participation in training camps. And they also took home a bonus of $850 for each win. Likewise, each player on the championship-winning team received a one-time bonus of $10,000.
Regarding the players in the practice squad, they received a confirmed salary of $1,500 per week during the regular season. On top of the payments, the $850 per win bonus condition was also applied during the postseason.
While the 50-man Birmingham Stallions roster took home the $10, 000 bonus each, the journey to find the next winner continues.
Amid the celebrations, the identity of the highest-paid USFL player remains behind. The same goes for the 2023 season; now that the league has added another 80 new talents, the payment numbers have increased.
The former NFLer Steve Young once signed a 10-year worth $40 million contract with Los Angeles Express, making him the highest-paid player in the league in history. However, the league collapsed within two years of its foundation, and Young received only $4.8 million from LA.
USFL minimum salary and contracts Breakdown
Per the new collective bargaining agreement between USFL and the affiliation of UFPA and USW has agreed on many terms to mark a minimum salary range for the upcoming football season.
The two sides agreed on a new CBA on December 2022 and agreed on the following USFL player contracts and pay structures for 2023:
- The weekly salary for an active player has been set at $5,350.
- The housing stipend will be at $400 per week.
- Each player will be subjected to a championship win bonus of $5,000.
Sporting News confirmed that the non-CBA benefits include $26,000 per player. According to the agreement, the payment figure is inclusive of retirement, training camp, and housing expenses.
Similarly, they will also receive tuition-free education online at Capella University or online/in-person at Strayer University.
As the USFL 2023 Draft ended on February 21, 80 new footballers joined the league. Their contract terms and payment conditions vary, but they will be paid on the above protocols on average.
OT Jarrett Horst from Michigan State was the first-round pick by Michigan Panthers in the draft, making him an eligible player to look out for this season. Similarly, his first value as the first overall pick makes him competent for a hefty contract with the team.
Similarly, the United States Football League teams have yet to release the complete contract values of their current roster.
