Average Salary For NFL Practice Squad Player And Rules

Publish date: 2024-05-09

Average salary for NFL practice squad player is $207,000 over 18 weeks. NFL practice squad salary 2023 is $12,000 to $20,600 per week based on their experience.

Each year, the 32 teams bring in a group of athletes not included in the main roster. Their primary purpose as this bunch is to be available as extra people while the team prepares for their upcoming matches.

They also go by ‘taxi squad’ or ‘practice roster.’ Their existence can be traced to the 1940s.

But only in 1965 the NFL officially provided recognition to attain such players. The sportsperson who signs with a franchise in the taxi squad remains there till the end of the season. However, teams have control over the contract and can terminate during the season.

There is a slim chance that those who appear in the taxi squad make it to the roster. The case of Arian Foster, Jason Peters, and James Harrison is evidence of such performers making their way to the league.

Salary Of NFL Practice Squad Player

NFL practice squad player salary was $3,300 for a week in 1993. It was increased to $3,650 per week in 1998.

From 2000 to 2002, another increment was noticed as footballers got $4K for a week. In the 2003 and 2004 seasons, an additional $350 increased the earning to $4,350 weekly.

In the present day, the weekly earning is subject to players’ experience. A rookie will be paid less in comparison to a seasoned veteran.

The involvement of quality members in the taxi squad can prove extremely helpful in player development. Playing against them can help the active members to understand the matches and develop a clear mentality before the game. As a result, it becomes an influencing factor in the match results.

2011

NFL practice squad salary 2011 was $5,700 per week. That year, anyone who stayed for the entire season earned $96,900.

Likewise, this pay structure was also carried out for the 2012 season. For the 2011 and 2012 seasons, teams could get 8 people in that category.

2013

NFL practice squad salary 2013 was $6K per week. A grand total of $102,000 for a regular season would be gained by performers.

Some names along with the teams signed were:

2014

NFL practice squad salary 2014 was set to $6.3K weekly. It saw an increase of $300 in a year.

In 2014, the number went up by 2, taking the tally to 10. Some faces who made the list that year were:

2021

NFL practice squad salary 2021 was $9,200 per week. Previously in 2020, it was set at $8,400.

The sum was higher for veterans with over 2 accrued seasons. They earned $252,000 for the regular season consisting of 18 weeks.

2023

NFL practice squad salary 2023 is $12K minimum for a week. NFL veterans’ pay ranges from $16,100 to $20,600.

The minimum weekly pay is expected to become $12.5K in 2024. Likewise, Sporting News hints at an increase in the weekly pay scale for veterans between $16,800 to $21,300.

NFL League Minimum Salary Practice Squad

NFL practice squad salary minimum was $207,000 for an entire season in 2022. For 2023, it is set to $216,000.

On a different note, the payment for those with more or equal to two accrued seasons was $277,200 in 2022. It means they were paid $15,400 for seven days.

A list of a few of the names who were taken into the taxi squad in 2022 is given below:

Cameron GoodeMiami Dolphins
Hamsah NasirildeenNew York Jets
Drue ChrismanCincinnati Bengals
Chapelle RussellPittsburgh Steelers
Paul QuessenberryHouston Texans
Sam OkuayinonuTennessee Titans
Vitaliy GurnamLas Vegas Raiders

How Many NFL Practice Squad Players?

NFL practice squad roster size for 2023 is 16. The previous policy of 12 footballers was amended in May 2022.

The sportspersons contracted in the taxi squad can play for the franchise. The process is called elevation; such performers can be part of the main roster up to three times.

The elevation period was two times in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. An alteration to the rule saw the extension of one week in 2022.

Likewise, the roster size of the taxi group was 10 from 2014 to 2019. It was eight from 2004 to 2018.

Do NFL practice squad players travel with the team?

No, the NFL practice squad players do not travel with the team. They stay at home while the main roster hits the road.

Likewise, in the home games, they are in the stadium in their complete kit. They run the drills and workouts.

There was an exception in 2020. When COVID spread globally, the franchise required most taxi group members to travel for away games.

It was a precautionary step to have enough members on the main roster. The taxi squad performer was an instant replacement if a player tested positive.

Do NFL practice squad players get rings?

Yes, NFL practice squad players get rings. But, the ones they receive are lower-quality than the ones the active roster gets.

Everyone part of the winning team gets the ring. It includes the 53-man roster, practice squad players, coaches, and executives. The 

The Super Bowl winners can ask for a maximum of 150 rings. The decision of its distribution depends upon the management.

Bill Belichick, the head of the New England Patriots, has eight rings. It is the most by any in the NFL history.

Tom Brady and Neal Dahlen are combined-second with seven rings. Likewise, fourteen people have six rings, including Robert Kraft, Dan Rooney, Josh McDaniels, and Ivan Fears.

When Are NFL Practice Squad Announced?

NFL practice squad are announced six days before a team’s next game. In case of a bye week, it extends to 10 days.

The signings of athletes in the taxi squad commence after the roster cuts. Once they are signed, the footballers will receive payment for seven days. This cycle continues until the end of the regular season.

However, an individual can sign with another team after seven days. The league allows the franchise to protect four of them to ease the uncertainty. It means other teams can’t bring in the four specified names.

NFL Practice Squad Rules

New NFL practice squad rules limit the number of athletes to 16. The size was increased because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The remaining essential rules that everyone needs to follow are as follows:

NFL Practice Squad Eligibility

NFL practice squad eligibility rules state the inclusion of up to 10 individuals with no more than two accrued seasons. They can take a maximum of six players with no restriction on experience.

Likewise, anyone with no experience in the NFL is eligible. Another criterion is that the person was featured in lee than nine matches in the accrued season. There is no limit on signing the individuals fulfilling these criteria.

Current NFL Practice Squad Rosters

NFL teams practice squad rosters include 14 reserve/future contracts for Jacksonville Jaguars. Las Vegas Rams signed 9 to the reserve/future contracts.

There is a helpful provision for the franchises to pile up their training camp roster. They can have the desired individual make a reserve/future contract agreement which automatically places that person in the PS.

Here is the complete list of all 32 teams with the people in PS:

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Rams

New York Giants

Kansas City Chiefs

Houston Texans

Baltimore Ravens

Cleveland Browns

Washington Commanders

Pittsburgh Steelers

New England Patriots

Las Vegas Raiders

Denver Broncos

Chicago Bears

Seattle Seahawks

Buffalo Bills

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Carolina Panthers

Arizona Cardinals

Tennessee Titans

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Las Angeles Chargers

Indianapolis Colts

New York Jets

Miami Dolphins

Cincinnati Bengals

Atlanta Falcons

San Francisco 49ers

New Orleans Saints

Dallas Cowboys

Minnesota Vikings

Philadelphia Eagles

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