What do USFL contracts look like in 2023? How much does the USFL pay per week? Boardroom goes inside all the numbers.
The United States Football League is back! Eight teams, including the debutante Memphis Showboats, will fight it out in 2023 for the USFL Championship in the race to dethrone the Birmingham Stallions, who won top honors in 2022 thanks to the talents of standouts like wide receiver Victor Bolden Jr. and linebacker DeMarquis Gates.
A new team in the mix isn’t the only notable development around the USFL this year, however. In January, 100% of the league’s players voted to adopt a first-ever collective bargaining agreement with the league, securing key advances regarding USFL contracts, housing and quality of life benefits, and more.
So, as the football returns on April 16, what does the league’s pay scale actually look like for these eight teams?
Let’s dive into the details behind all the 2023 USFL salaries on the books this season.
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USFL Salaries 2023
How much do USFL players make? According to the bulk ofreporting around the league’s CBA with the players, the USFL pay scale works as follows:
USFL salary structure
Every active roster player receives a minimum of $5,350 per week during the regular season, up from $4,500 in 2022
Totals $53,500 for the full 10-week regular season
Inactive and practice squad USFL players get $2,500 per week during the regular season, up from $1,500 in 2022
Totals $25,000 for the full 10 weeks
Each player on the winning USFL Championship team receives a one-time $5,000 bonus
Players will earn $150 per week to contribute to a 401(k) retirement account
The league will provide housing for all USFL players during training camp; for the regular season, players will receive a $400 per week housing stipend
Players can reportedly earn a maximum annual salary of $74,000 in 2023. That includes a $400 weekly stipend and is predicated on a player not only being active for each of their team's 10 regular-season games and two playoff games, but also winning the 2023 USFL championship.
According to the league, each player gets a salary of $50,000 plus a weekly housing stipend of $400, which starts at the end of training camp and lasts for a minimum of 10 weeks.
By the numbers: Fox executives have previously said the USFL has been profitable and had planned to invest more into spring football, while the XFL lost $60 million for its first season under Johnson, Forbes reported.
USFL, XFL announce new league name in merger: United Football League. History was made on New Year's Eve, as the United Football League (the "UFL"), the new premier spring football league, was born from the merger of the XFL and USFL.
Furthermore, players earn $5,000 for every game played and $1,000 extra for every win. Their base wage, at $59,000, is nearly $5,000 more than the USFL's 2022 pay. The XFL also pays over $20,000 in additional amenities for every player, including health, housing, vision insurance, dental care and even meals.
Salary. UFL players' minimum salaries will be $5,500 per week ($2,500 for inactive players) and $150 a week toward 401K contributions, with $400 a week house stipend and $55-a-day per diem stipend during travel days.
As per the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement established in March 2020, NFL players' minimum salary measured up to $660,000 in the 2021 season, which went up from $610,000 in 2020. The minimum salary rose to $705,000 in 2022.
The merger of the spring football leagues is official. The XFL, owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Dany Garcia and RedBird Capital's Gerry Cardinale, will merge with the USFL, owned by Fox, to create a new league called the United Football League, or UFL for short.
The combined USFL-XFL has informed the USFL Players Association, which has informed its members, that four teams from the USFL will survice for 2024: Michigan, Houston, Memphis, and Birmingham. Gone are Pittsburgh, New Jersey, New Orleans, and Philadelphia.
The XFL lost about $60 million in its first year under Johnson's ownership and had to cut some jobs, according to Young. However, next season looks to be much more profitable as the league is projected to make about $100 million in revenue.
Fox Sports owns the league and has reportedly committed $150–$200 million over three years to its operations, with plans to attract an additional $250 million from investors.
The team is owned-and-operated by Dwayne Johnson's Alpha Acquico and Fox Corporation. The Brahmas play their home games at the Alamodome. The Brahmas have a franchise regular season record of 6-8 (0.428), the highest win percentage among UFL teams as of its 2024 season.
Brett Hundley currently holds the distinction of being the highest-paid player in the XFL, with a contract worth $200,000. His signing with the Vegas Vipers showcases the XFL's commitment to attracting top talent.
2024 season of merged USFL and XFL kicks off March 30. The 2024 UFL season will kick off on Saturday, March 30 when the 2023 champions of the USFL — the Birmingham Stallions — and XFL — the Arlington Renegades — meet at Choctaw Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
USFL coaches are paid modest sums compared to their counterparts in the XFL, CFL, and of course, the NFL. A USFL head coach is currently paid an estimated $50,000 to $100,000 per season. They also earn decent bonuses based on wins, performances, and shutouts.
The Cincinnati Bengals' Joe Burrow is the highest paid player in the NFL. The San Francisco 49ers' Nick Bosa is the highest paid defensive player in the league.
The WNBA continues to increase player's salaries year after year due to inflation and growing popularity. The average salary in 2022 was $102,751, and it increased to $147,745 ahead of the 2023 WNBA Draft. If the trend continues, the average salary will likely increase again for the 2024 season.
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