Kirk Cousins has out-earned Tom Brady in career NFL salary, with $341.5 million vs. $317.6 million, according to CBS Sports. The gap stems from Cousins’ reliance on fully guaranteed contracts.
Career earnings (Cousins): $341M+ · Career earnings (Brady): $317M+ · Age: 37 · Current team: Las Vegas Raiders
Quick snapshot
- Cousins career earnings: $341.5M (dose.ca)
- Brady career earnings: $317.6M (Instagram reel)
- 99% of Cousins’ salary has been fully guaranteed (CBS Sports) (dose.ca)
- Whether Cousins will be the Raiders’ starting QB in 2026
- Exact net earnings after taxes for both QBs
- If Cousins signs another contract after 2027
- Whether the Raiders will exercise team options for 2027 and 2028
- $10M roster bonus due on day 3 of 2027 league year (Spotrac (NFL salary tracker))
- 2027 guarantee triggers could push Cousins past Brady in career earnings (Spotrac (NFL salary tracker))
- Cousins wants to return for 15th season in 2026 (dose.ca)
- Raiders hold team options for 2027 and 2028 (CBS Sports)
Eight key facts, one pattern: Cousins’ financial profile is built on guarantees that most quarterbacks never see.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kirk Daniel Cousins (CBS Sports) |
| Birthdate | August 19, 1988 (CBS Sports) |
| Height / Weight | 6’3″, 209 lbs (CBS Sports) |
| College | Michigan State (CBS Sports) |
| NFL Draft | 2012, Round 4 (Washington Redskins) (CBS Sports) |
| Current team (2025–) | Las Vegas Raiders (CBS Sports) |
| Estimated career earnings (NFL contracts) | Over $300 million (CBS Sports) |
| Spouse | Julie Hampton (CBS Sports) |
Who has made more money, Kirk Cousins or Tom Brady?
Career earnings comparison: Kirk Cousins vs Tom Brady
Three numbers, one takeaway: the gap is narrower than most fans think.
| Metric | Kirk Cousins | Tom Brady |
|---|---|---|
| Career earnings (CBS Sports) | $341,469,288 | $317,619,794 |
| Career earnings (Spotrac) | $341M+ | $333M |
| Fully guaranteed salary percentage | 99% | ~70% (estimated) |
Cousins earned $341M on 14 seasons; Brady took 23 seasons to reach $317M. The guarantee gap is the difference.
The implication: Cousins’ strategy of demanding fully guaranteed contracts allowed him to nearly match Brady’s career earnings in 11 fewer seasons.
How guaranteed contracts boosted Cousins’ total
- First quarterback to sign multiple fully guaranteed contracts (CBS Sports)
- 2026 season marks his 11th straight year with a fully guaranteed deal (dose.ca)
- Cousins’ $339,369,288 in guaranteed salary is an NFL record (CBS Sports)
This pattern highlights how Cousins’ contract strategy has upended traditional earnings hierarchies.
Is Kirk Cousins a free agent?
Current contractual status with Las Vegas Raiders
- Cousins is under contract with the Raiders for the 2026 season (CBS Sports)
- The deal is effectively a one-year, $20 million deal with team options for 2027 and 2028 (CBS Sports)
He is not a free agent as of the 2026 offseason.
Free agent timeline and projections
- A $10 million roster bonus guaranteed for 2027 triggers on day three of the 2027 league year (Spotrac). If the Raiders decline the option, Cousins could become a free agent in 2027.
The catch: Cousins’ control over his destination is limited by team options, but the guarantee clause still gives him leverage.
Will Kirk Cousins play in 2026?
Cousins stated desire to return for 15th season
“I want to play football in 2026 and compete for a starting job.” – Kirk Cousins (as reported by CBS Sports)
Injury recovery and team fit
Cousins started games at the end of the 2025 season for the Raiders, indicating he has recovered from the Achilles injury that affected his play in 2024. His fit in the Raiders’ offense under coordinator Luke Getsy remains a question mark.
If Cousins starts 17 games in 2026, the $10M roster bonus for 2027 kicks in, locking his total above Brady’s for good.
The coming months will determine whether Cousins can secure his place in the starting lineup.
Who is the richest QB of all time?
Top 5 NFL QBs with highest career earnings
Five quarterbacks, one ranking: the list is dominated by longevity and guaranteed money.
| Rank | Player | Career Earnings (as of 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matthew Stafford | $408 million (CBS Sports) |
| 2 | Aaron Rodgers | $400 million (estimated, per Instagram post (footballforeverhq)) |
| 3 | Kirk Cousins | $341M+ (CBS Sports) |
| 4 | Tom Brady | $317M+ (CBS Sports) |
| 5 | Russell Wilson | $300M+ (estimated, per Instagram post) |
The pattern: Cousins sits third all time without a Super Bowl appearance, reflecting his contract leverage.
Cousins vs Brady vs others in net worth
While career earnings favor Brady in total, Cousins’ guaranteed ratio is unmatched. Net worth includes endorsements, which favor Brady significantly, but in cash earned from playing, Cousins is closing fast.
What is Kirk Cousins doing now?
Current training routine and Free2Play challenge
Cousins is training with Free2Play, a quarterback training program, and preparing for the 2026 season (dose.ca). He has been working on mobility and footwork. For context on other athlete career trajectories, see Oleg Markov: Career Stats, Premiership & Where He Is Now.
Preparation for 2026 season
He has stated his intention to compete for the starting job. Similar stories of athlete reinvention are explored in Jalen Green: Bio, Ethnicity, Trade to Suns, Personal Life.
The trade-off: At 37, Cousins is betting his body can hold up for one more guaranteed year.
Timeline: Kirk Cousins’ career milestones
- August 19, 1988 – Born in Barrington, Illinois (CBS Sports)
- 2012 NFL Draft – Selected by Washington Redskins in 4th round (102nd overall) (CBS Sports)
- 2015 – Became full-time starter for Washington (CBS Sports)
- 2018 – Signed fully guaranteed 3-year, $84 million contract with Minnesota Vikings (CBS Sports)
- 2020–2021 – Signed extension with Vikings – first to multiple fully guaranteed deals (CBS Sports)
- 2024 – Signed with Atlanta Falcons (CBS Sports)
- 2025 – Traded to Las Vegas Raiders; started final games of season (CBS Sports)
- March 2026 – Cousins expresses desire to play 15th season in 2026 (CBS Sports)
What we know and what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Cousins is under contract with Las Vegas Raiders as of 2026 (CBS Sports)
- Cousins has made over $341 million in career earnings (CBS Sports)
- Tom Brady made over $317 million in career earnings (CBS Sports)
- Cousins wants to return for 2026 season (CBS Sports)
What’s unclear
- Will Cousins be starting QB for Raiders in 2026?
- Exact total guaranteed money earned by Cousins vs Brady in net terms after taxes
- If Cousins will sign another contract after current deal
- Whether the Raiders will exercise team options for 2027 and 2028
“I want to play football in 2026 and compete for a starting job.” – Kirk Cousins (as reported by CBS Sports)
“$10 million guarantee pushes Cousins past Tom Brady in NFL career earnings.” – Spotrac (via X post)
For the Raiders, the decision to hand Cousins $20 million for 2026 is a calculated bet on veteran stability. If his arm stays healthy, they get a playoff-caliber quarterback at a discount compared to the rookie-contract alternatives. If not, the cap hit is manageable. For Cousins, the outcome is clear: play out the guarantee, collect the roster bonus, and cement his place as the highest-earning non-Super Bowl QB in history — with or without a ring.
For context, Tom Bradys net worth in 2026 provides a detailed breakdown of his $350 million fortune.
Frequently asked questions
What is Kirk Cousins’ net worth?
His career earnings exceed $341 million, but net worth includes taxes and expenses. Precise net worth not publicly disclosed.
How many fully guaranteed contracts has Kirk Cousins signed?
At least four: with Vikings (2018), Vikings extension (2020), Falcons (2024), and Raiders (2025). The 2026 deal is also fully guaranteed for the first year.
Which team did Kirk Cousins play for before the Raiders?
He played for the Atlanta Falcons in 2024 before being traded to Las Vegas in 2025.
Has Kirk Cousins ever won a Super Bowl?
No. He has never appeared in a Super Bowl.
How does Kirk Cousins’ contract structure differ from other QBs?
Nearly 99% of his salary has been fully guaranteed at signing, a unique structure that gives him security but limits team flexibility.
What is Kirk Cousins’ career passing yard total?
As of the end of the 2025 season, Cousins has passed for over 45,000 yards.
Who did Kirk Cousins replace as starting QB for the Raiders?
He took over from Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew during the 2025 season.
Ethan Cooper is Senior Reporter at Oz Insightlab, covering breaking stories and explainers.