As you read this, NFL clubs are in the process of finalizing their practice squads. Here’s an inside look at how and why this procedure works:
History of the Practice Squad
First, a little history. Jim Finks, Hall of Fame general manager and president of the New Orleans Saints, conceived the idea as chairman of the NFL Competition Committee, the league’s rule-making body, in 1989. He called it the developmental squad because eligibility was limited for rookies and first-year players only.
The developmental squad consisted of five players who could be signed by any team after they had cleared waivers. They were eligible only for practice purposes. While on the developmental squad, they were paid $1,000 per week. They could be cut at any time, but if they were on the developmental squad on Tuesday before the upcoming game, they were owed their full $1,000.
These were litigious times and some players sued, claiming various antitrust and labor law violations. The suits were finally settled and what we now know as the practice squad was memorialized in the collective bargaining agreement of 1993. There was a limit of seven players per team, increased weekly pay, and players were given the right to sign from the practice squad to the roster of any team in the league at any time.
The practice squad has since grown to 16 with far more liberal eligibility rules, largely because of COVID-19. Once the practice squad number and eligible standards were expanded and the coaches knew what they had, it was clear that, barring leaguewide financial collapse, the expanded practice squad genie was not going back in the box.
Why is a Practice Squad Needed?
Aside from helping to develop players, coaches — in an era of fully padded two-hour in-season practices — did not want the 30 or so players who saw the bulk of game action each week to have to act as a scout team for their teammates on the other side of the ball.
Previously, coaches had been using players who were on the reserve injured list but eligible to practice in that role. This was messy and contentious as many in the league believed that certain clubs were very “liberal” in their definition of the injuries that put their players on IR. Thus, they provided themselves with what amounted to a ready-made practice squad. Hence, Finks (the patron saint of all NFL GMs) and the competition committee greatly tightened IR practice rules and created the practice squad as we know it today.
Practice-squad eligibility rules are somewhat complex and written in legalese, so we’ll try to translate them to English as best we can. In the interest of time and your sanity, we will not cover every minute detail.
Rules of the Practice Squad
In the 2022 regular season and playoffs, the practice squad consists of a maximum of 16 players in any given week. Players may be waived off the practice squad at any time and they may sign an active roster contract with their own or any other NFL team, subject only to certain weekly time provisos.
There are three categories of players eligible for the practice squad. They are:
1. Standard: A player must be a rookie or first-year man who has not earned an accrued season (four games on the active roster). If he has one or more years of accrued seasons, he’s still eligible if he was not on the game day active list for nine games in every year he earned an accrued season.
2. Exception: A player is eligible as an exception if he has two or fewer accrued seasons, even though he was active for nine games in any of those two accrued seasons. A team may have no more than 10 exceptions on their practice squad at any one time.
(Confused already? Don’t worry. The league office has experts using computers to keep track of these things. They are quite competent and fair, and GMs trust them.)
3. Veterans: Any player not covered as a standard-eligible or exception-eligible is considered a veteran. A club may have no more than six veterans on their practice squad at any time.
A practice squad consists of 16 players. The combination of exceptions and veterans at any time on the 16-man squad may equal no more than 10. Of the 16 men on the practice squad, 10 will likely be men with two or fewer years of experience and four will be veteran players with more than two years of experience.
The pay scale is as follows: Standard and exception players receive $11,500 per week. If a player in either category is on any practice squad for the full 18-week season, he could earn a total of $207,000. A veteran player can receive between $15,400 and $19,900, as individually negotiated.
That’s a far cry from $1,000 per week in 1989. By the way, the same rules and wage scale applies in the playoffs, all the way through the Super Bowl.
Clubs begin scouting practice squad-eligible players from Day 1 of the preseason. The pro scouts develop a list of players from other teams that they like and are prepared to sign to their practice squad if and when they clear waivers. With an inordinate amount of pressure from media and fans to win the opener, most coaches don’t want a lot of upheaval and roster churn while preparing to open the season. Therefore, the bulk of practice-squad signings on teams I was with came from our own cuts. If unclaimed, most were happy to stay, and we were happy to have them.
What Do Practice Squad Players Do?
Essentially, the same thing players on the roster do, except dressing and playing on game day. Practice-squad players report to work on the same time schedule as every other player. They attend position, platoon and team meetings, and film sessions with their active-roster teammates. They are at every practice in the uniform (pads or no pads) of the day.
Every team I was on provided them notebooks containing the weekly game plan, which they turned in the day before the game. They participated fully in every practice, including group and individual drills. During special teams work, team work and seven-on-seven passing drills, they run the opponents’ plays drawn up on large cards and shown prior to the play by a coach.
At Indianapolis, coach Tony Dungy ran the scout team on both sides of the ball to ensure maximum effort and to show this group how much he cared about their work.
If a practice-squad player is injured, he is placed on the practice-squad injured list and is paid his full salary until he’s well enough to return to practice. Practice-squad injured players do not count against the 16-man limit.
All practice-squad players report to the stadium on game day dressed in club sweats and most go through a full workout many hours before kickoff. Many clubs put them through an additional workout or two aside from their normal work during the practice week. The aim is to develop and improve their skills. Many teams will have them go through a separate walk-through prior to practice using the carded opponents’ plays. This is designed to make the practice more efficient once the whistle blows.
During COVID, many teams traveled all or most of their practice-squad players, as they had to have them ready at literally a moment’s notice to replace players who tested positive. We’ll see how the process continues to evolve now that we have a better understanding of the spread of the virus.
Practice squad makeup by position is determined largely by the numbers of active players at each position. There is a “recruiting” priority during the frenzied practice-squad signing time on the day following the cut to 53. It will vary from team to team depending on competitive status (i.e. are you a genuine contender or a rebuilding team?) and offensive and defensive systems.
Priorities for Choosing the Practice Squad
Our general priorities with the Colts were as follows:
1. A third quarterback. A veteran was preferable unless we had a young player, such as Sam Ehlinger with the Colts and Sam Howell with the Commanders.
2. Ninth and 10th offensive linemen (same guideline as above).
3. Pass rusher. Best available regardless of eligibility category.
4. Hot-shot rookies. Players we cut or cuts from other clubs who we felt had a high chance of success with us in the future. There are not a lot of these players available, something of which we were reminded in 2009.
In preparing for that year’s draft, we knew we needed a punter and debated whether to select Pat McAfee with a late-round draft pick or try to sign him as a collegiate free agent. We decided to draft him in the seventh round. We were concerned, however, that he wasn’t quite ready for the top job. If that were the case, we hoped to get him through waivers at the cut to 53 and sign him to the practice squad.
After his preseason performance, we realized there was no way we would get Pat through waivers. So, we gambled and kept him active, anticipating we would get him through to the practice squad after the first game if his performance didn’t measure up.
Guess what? It did and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.
There will be a pop quiz on the practice squad next week to see if you’re qualified to be an assistant GM. Be sure to study hard.
As told to Vic Carucci
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Bill PolianIndianapolis ColtsPractice Squad+ View all tags
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FAQs
What Do Practice Squad Players Do? Essentially, the same thing players on the roster do, except dressing and playing on game day. Practice-squad players report to work on the same time schedule as every other player. They attend position, platoon and team meetings, and film sessions with their active-roster teammates.
How much does a NFL player make on the practice squad? ›
Players on NFL practice squads earned a minimum of $11,500 per week, or $207,000 for an entire season, in 2022. However, that minimum was for players who had accrued less than two seasons. That number increased to $15,400 per week or $277,200 for 18 weeks if the player had accrued two or more seasons.
What does it mean when a football player is on the practice squad? ›
Practice squad players practice with the team. They do not play in games, unless they are elevated (see above) Practice squad players are paid per week and can be released at any point during the season.
What happens when an NFL player is released from the practice squad? ›
Every player who has entered free agency and fits the eligibility criteria can sign with a practice squad. A player who is released from a practice squad is also free to sign with another practice squad.
Do practice squad players get a Super Bowl ring? ›
Per the CBA, players that were on the winning team's practice squad at the time of the Super Bowl victory are also entitled to a ring, but it can be one of lesser value.
Do practice squad players count for 53-man roster? ›
Mechanism. Players may be signed to a practice squad for several reasons: for lack of space on the team, due to injury, or because they require more development. Practice squad players can be signed to any team's 53-man active roster, without compensation to their former team, at any time during the season.
Do NFL practice squad players get benefits? ›
When you make a regular or postseason game roster with a qualifying status (Active, Inactive, Reserve/Injured, Reserve/PUP or Practice Squad), you and your eligible dependents receive Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug, and Work/Life Resources coverage.
Do practice squad players get Super Bowl bonus? ›
Also, unlike active roster players, practice squad players receive no bonus for playing postseason games. “Last year, the bonus for winning the Super Bowl was like over $100,000, and we still got the regular pay!” says Davis, laughing.
Do practice squad players suit up for games? ›
He is on their practice-squad, which includes nine other players. Practice-squad players are not allowed to dress for games or travel to road games unless it's a extended four-day trip like the Jaguars made to London last month to play the Baltimore Ravens at Wembley Stadium.
Do practice squad players go to home games? ›
When the team is playing a home game, practice squad players are allowed into the stadium, but they cannot be present on the sidelines. They are required to watch games from the locker room, or the stands.
Practice squad players don't receive playoff money but continue to get a paid salary (minimum of $8,000 per week) during the weeks their respective teams are in the playoffs. Occasionally, a practice squad player will be paid as if he was on the 53-man roster at his league minimum salary.
How many times can an NFL player be elevated from the practice squad? ›
Teams can promote up to two players per week from the practice squad to the active roster via standard elevation (bringing the 53-man roster to 55 players). These players can be elevated three times during the course of the season, reverting to the practice squad the following week.
How many years do you have to be in the NFL to get a pension? ›
NFL players become eligible for pensions after playing three seasons and health insurance after retirement if they play for five years.
How many times can a player be elevated from practice squad? ›
– Practice squad player may be elevated for gameday a max of 3 times. He shared that an NFL team can get as many as 16 players, ten of which have two accrued seasons at most.
Do Waterboys get NFL rings? ›
The Average NFL Waterboy Gets Paid More Than You, And If Their Team Wins The Super Bowl – They Get A Ring. I'm not sure which rabbit hole I was going down when I learned this information. But when a team wins the Super Bowl, the members of the staff usually all get a ring, too.
Do janitors get Super Bowl rings? ›
(Those, however, can be of a “lesser value” should the team owners prefer.) And, of course, the owners can offer rings to anyone else they want on the team, from janitors to cheerleaders.
How much does a water boy in the NFL make? ›
NFL waterboys typically make between $53,000 and $58,000 per year. However, not every waterboy you see on TV is paid. Many waterboys and assistants are unpaid or are working at a discounted rate on an internship for high school or college.
What is the lowest paid NFL player? ›
While Tyrone Swoopes was the lowest paid player in the NFL in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners in 2022 isn't as transparent.
What is the lowest NFL salary? ›
The minimum for an NFL player's salary is $750,000 in 2023, according to Spotrac, but that number changes based on experience. The minimum for a rookie is $750,000, but that increases to $870,000 for players with one year of experience and $940,000 for players with two years of experience.
How much do NFL practice squad players make after taxes? ›
This season, a practice squad player in California who is employed all six weeks of training camp and all 17 weeks of the regular season — a highly unusual situation — makes around $88,000 after taxes: $7,600 a week before taxes during the regular season, and $1,075 (rookies) or $1,900 (veterans) before taxes during ...
After Ten Years
NFL pension after 10 years is $43,560 a year, pre-tax, for the player who played prior to 1993. A pension of $105000 per year is lower when we compare it to the maximum pension that is offered by the MLB and NBA for 10 years. NBA 10 years veterans get paid $215000.
Do NFL players get paid after retirement? ›
Severance is paid as a lump sum post-retirement check. You will receive the payment on the quarter-end date following one full year without any NFL contract activity. The amount you will receive is based on the number of credited seasons you have, and the years in which you played.
What is the point of practice squad? ›
Players a team likes and hopes to add tot he active roster at some point. Sometimes a player needs some more seasoning or experience and practice squad (PS) is a way for the team to keep them around and see how they develop in the system. Players can spend up to 3 years on PS.
How many days a week do NFL players practice? ›
During the NFL's regular season, it's not unusual for players to work about 10 to 12 hours a day, six days a week. This includes practice, meetings, film sessions, and travel. During the offseason, players may have less structured schedules, but typically still put in about five to six hours a day, six days a week.
Do NFL players get bonuses if they win? ›
GLENDALE, Ariz. — A Super Bowl win is what every pro football player dreams of, but the title comes with more than just glory. Making it to the NFL's championship game also comes with a guaranteed bonus in players' paychecks.
How much do NFL players make for winning the Super Bowl? ›
According to the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL, each member of the winning team will pocket $157,000, a $7,000 bump over what the Los Angeles Rams earned last year. Winners of Super Bowl LVIII next year will receive $164,000. They'll get those checks within 15 days of the game.
How many practice squad players do NFL teams get? ›
Out of the 16 players on the practice squad a team can have: Any number of players who have not accrued at least nine games in an NFL season. Up to four players who have accrued no more than two NFL seasons. Up to six players with no limitations on experience.
What is the highest paid NFL position group? ›
Unsurprisingly, quarterbacks are the highest paid position on most any NFL team, and it's not particularly close no matter how you measure it. Looking at the average salary for every player in the 2022 season, quarterbacks are due to make an average of over $7 million.
When can practice squad players be signed? ›
Poaching. Teams are allowed to poach players of another team's practice squad if they are signing them to the active roster. A team can sign a player from their next upcoming opponent's practice squad, but it must be done six days before the game, or 10 days if it is during the bye week.
How much does a guy make on the practice squad? ›
How much money do NFL Practice Squad Players make annually? The minimum weekly wage for players with two or fewer NFL seasons is $11,500, or $207,000 for an 18-week stint on the practice squad. When a player is on full-time pay status for at least six regular-season games, they have accrued a season.
Most coaches know that players party, and in interviews with players and coaches, what's clear is that few care how much players go out as long as they practice hard, compete in games and don't break any curfews. "Players party," one NFC assistant coach said.
Is Squad hard on new players? ›
Squad may seem overwhelming for a newcomer, whether it's weapons, vehicles, controls, command or communication. It has a steep learning curve at first, but it can all be studied and mastered by reading the following guides to get you started.
Can anyone try out for the NFL? ›
To be eligible for the draft, players must have been out of high school for at least three years and must have used up their college eligibility before the start of the next college football season.
How much money are NFL players paid for losing division games? ›
Players on the losing team receive $82,000 per player. The amount increases each year. Last year, winning players made an extra $150K.
Do NFL players get paid every week? ›
NFL players are generally paid on a weekly basis during the regular season. According to reports, salaries are deposited into their bank accounts at the start of every week, however, the exact days when they get paid could vary.
Do NFL players get paid during bye week? ›
Yes, NFL players get paid during their bye week as they are part of a player's salary for the season which is divided into 17 equal portions, one for each regular-season game. During the bye week, players receive their regular salary as it is part of the contract they signed with their team.
Do practice squad players have to clear waivers? ›
If a player signed from another team's Practice Squad is released from the new team's 53-man roster, he must again go through Waivers before he can be added to any team's Practice Squad.
Do NFL players lift every day? ›
On both the college and professional levels, most teams have at least two lifting regimens a week during the season. NFL players are weighed weekly to make sure they maintain their ideal playing weight, and pumping iron is a key component to ensure their hard-earned muscles aren't wasting away.
Can a player lift another player in football? ›
The official NCAA rule book in 1950 stated, "The runner shall not grasp, or be pulled by, any teammate, nor shall any teammate push the runner or lift him from the ground while the ball is in play.
Do NFL players get lifetime health insurance? ›
The NFL only covers healthcare for five years after retirement. After that, their health plan can cost up to $35,000 a year in premiums. While the NFL does provide healthcare stipends, they do not even amount to the premium payment on the league's own plan.
And, of course, the cause isn't “helping retired players” generally, it's paying Hall of Famers specifically. And Hall of Famers were usually among the highest-paid players while they were active, and can still make good money with endorsem*nts and autograph shows today.
Do NFL players get life insurance? ›
Your life, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), medical, and dental coverage are effective on the day of the first regular or postseason game when your name is on an eligible list (including Active, Inactive, PUP, IR, or Practice Squad) until the end of the Plan Year (August 31st).
Can practice squad players be picked up by other teams? ›
The NFL allows practice squad players to be signed by other teams, but there are some rules governing the process: Players cannot be signed directly from one practice squad to another. They either have to be released first or added to the active 53-man team.
Do all practice squad players get paid the same? ›
Players on NFL practice squads earned a minimum of $11,500 per week, or $207,000 for an entire season, in 2022. However, that minimum was for players who had accrued less than two seasons. That number increased to $15,400 per week or $277,200 for 18 weeks if the player had accrued two or more seasons.
What happens if a team has too many players on field? ›
In gridiron football, if a team has more than the allowed number of players on the field during a play (eleven in NFL, twelve in CFL), the offending team is penalized five (American) or ten (Canadian) yards for too many men on the field (also called twelve/thirteen men on the field).
What are the benefits of being on NFL practice squad? ›
When you make a regular or postseason game roster with a qualifying status (Active, Inactive, Reserve/Injured, Reserve/PUP or Practice Squad), you and your eligible dependents receive Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug, and Work/Life Resources coverage.
Do NFL practice squad players travel to games? ›
NFL practice squad players are not allowed to travel with their team to road games. Even though they put in the same work during the week as players on the active roster (and sometimes more), they'll watch road games from the same places many fans would; the comfort of their couches at home.
Do NFL Waterboys travel with the team? ›
“My son is a PT, but 53K a year is way too small for the amount of schooling,” another argued. That said, Thieneman was sure to point out the benefits of the role. As he explained, water boys also get to travel with the team and spend time with players, in addition to other perks.
Can teams steal practice squad players? ›
Poaching. Teams are allowed to poach players of another team's practice squad if they are signing them to the active roster.
Who is the lowest paid NFL player? ›
While Tyrone Swoopes won the title of the lowest-paid NFL player in 2021, looking at the low end of league earners isn't as simple. NFL players face different minimum values that depend on their contract and designation as active or inactive players.
The minimum for an NFL player's salary is $750,000 in 2023, according to Spotrac, but that number changes based on experience. The minimum for a rookie is $750,000, but that increases to $870,000 for players with one year of experience and $940,000 for players with two years of experience.
How many practice squad players can be protected? ›
Now, beginning on each Tuesday, they can designate up to four players as protected from being signed by other teams. That about covers all the main points of the practice squad this year.
