Even if he’s no longer as brilliant as he once was, playing in the Pro Bowl still means something to the NFL. In 2026, fans noticed more players skipping events or treating them more like bonuses than badges of pride. Still, the Pro Bowl hasn’t lost some of its value. The money is real and for many players it is important.So how much do players actually get paid for playing? The answer depends on whether their team wins or loses. Star players with big contracts may see little difference, but younger players and reserve players often see a Pro Bowl check as a meaningful boost. For them, even a short appearance after a long season is a solid reward.
Consider NFL Pro Bowl payouts in the following ways: sam darnold salary example
The 2026 Pro Bowl will feature cash prizes for all participating players. Players on the winning side each receive $92,000. The person on the losing side still gets $46,000. That’s the price for several days of practice and one game with no contact. To understand what this means in practice, it helps to look at typical NFL salaries. The NFL’s minimum annual salary for the 2025 season is set at approximately $840,000 for rookies. Spread out over an 18-week season and you get just over $46,600 per week.That means even players on teams that lose in the Pro Bowl still make more than a typical week’s salary for a minimum-wage player.Then compare that to higher income earners. Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold makes approximately $92,000 per day under his contract. For a player at that level, a Pro Bowl win brings about the same reward as a normal workday. That’s great, but it’s not life-changing.Either way, Darnold won’t be playing in this year’s Pro Bowl since the Seahawks are in the Super Bowl. Still, his story illustrates why some veterans are apathetic about the event. The risk of injury may outweigh the reward. That being said, the Pro Bowl still makes financial sense for many players. Role players, young starters, and first-time selections can view this check as a powerful bonus at the end of the season. Even without the fame it once had, the Pro Bowl continues to provide ample reward for the time required.