Forging a successful career in the NFL is a blend of skill, opportunity, and a bit of fortune, especially if you’re playing as a quarterback. Notably, the top 16 highest-paid players in league history have all taken snaps at this pivotal position, including several who are still active on the field.

The elite circle of top-earning quarterbacks features some undeniably familiar faces. Among them is Matthew Stafford, who holds the title of the most recent league MVP. Then there’s Aaron Rodgers, a seasoned veteran of 21 years. Tom Brady, often hailed as the best to ever grace the sport, also makes the list. Even Russell Wilson, whose recent performance has dipped, once led the Seattle Seahawks to consecutive Super Bowl appearances.

One standout on this list, primarily due to his postseason record, is Kirk Cousins. With close to $322 million in career earnings, Cousins ranks as the fourth-highest earner in NFL history and is on track to overtake Brady, who currently sits in third. However, Cousins has only secured a single playoff victory to his name.

Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM

Here’s a closer look at the top-five earners and their achievements:

• Matthew Stafford, $408.3 million: 1 Super Bowl appearance, 1 Super Bowl win, 1 MVP, 3 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro, 7 playoff wins
• Aaron Rodgers, $394.8 million: 1 Super Bowl appearance, 1 Super Bowl win, 4 MVPs, 10 Pro Bowls, 5 All-Pros, 11 playoff wins
• Tom Brady, $333 million: 10 Super Bowl appearances, 7 Super Bowl wins, 3 MVPs, 15 Pro Bowls, 6 All-Pros, 35 playoff wins
• Kirk Cousins, $321.7 million: 4 Pro Bowls, 1 playoff win
• Russell Wilson, $316.9 million: 2 Super Bowl appearances, 1 Super Bowl win, 10 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro, 9 playoff wins

While Brady significantly skews the statistics with an astounding 35 playoff victories, Cousins’s teams have reached the playoffs only four times over 14 seasons with Washington, Atlanta, and Minnesota. His sole playoff triumph occurred in 2019 when he led his team to a 26-20 overtime upset against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Wild Card round, completing 19 of 31 passes for 242 yards and a touchdown.

Despite boasting impressive career statistics—44,700 passing yards, a 66.7% completion rate, 298 touchdowns, and 131 interceptions—Cousins’s teams have often struggled to find success. It’s not entirely his fault; during his stints in Minnesota and Washington, expectations were often low, and he even exceeded them early on in Washington. Meanwhile, in Atlanta, the situation was chaotic almost from the start, especially after the Falcons drafted a new quarterback in the first round shortly after signing Cousins.

Yet Cousins has been a model case study for shrewd negotiations. After leaving Washington to sign with Minnesota, Cousins agreed to a fully guaranteed three-year, $84 million contract. He later signed a two-year, $66 million extension with the team, and then a one-year, $35 million extension. These shorter contracts allowed him to earn a higher annual salary.

Cousins tore his Achilles tendon midway through the 2023 season, and the Vikings made it clear they weren’t going to re-sign him. However, he was able to point to his previous performance and recovery while looking at other teams to join. The Atlanta Falcons, desperate for strong quarterback play since Matt Ryan retired, offered Cousins a whopping $180 million over four seasons, with $100 million guaranteed.

Obviously, back-to-back 8-9 seasons and a public benching are not what Cousins had in mind when he joined Atlanta. But that hasn’t stopped him from earning incredible amounts of money from the team. That’s a skill only the best of the best possess.