The 25 Top-Earning CFL Players
Story by Rodney Reeves, Front Office Sports
In 2024, while the Canadian Football League (CFL) still operates under the shadow of its American counterpart, the NFL, some of its top earners are proving that playing north of the border can still be lucrative. Despite the league’s average salary of $73,200, the highest-paid CFL players are enjoying six-figure paydays for their on-field performance.
Leading the charge is quarterback Zach Collaros, who tops the list with an impressive $600,000 annual salary as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Collaros earned the highest salary spot after setting career-highs in both passing yards and average yards per completion in 2023. His lucrative deal, signed in 2022, came after he clinched back-to-back Most Outstanding Player awards.
Chad Kelly, quarterback for the Toronto Argonauts, claims second place, earning $583,000 per year. Kelly, who is the nephew of NFL legend Jim Kelly, was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player in 2023, further cementing his place among the top earners in the league.
In third place is veteran quarterback Trevor Harris of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, with a guaranteed contract of $473,000. At 38 years old, Harris is the oldest player on the list but continues to earn a significant salary based on his experience and leadership on the field.
Finally, McLeod Bethel-Thompson rounds out the top four with a salary of $461,000 as the starting quarterback for the Edmonton Elks. Bethel-Thompson’s deal also includes a $150,000 signing bonus.
These high salaries showcase the top-tier talent that the CFL continues to attract, despite the league’s financial gap compared to the NFL.
Source: https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/the-25-highest-paid-cfl-players/
