Oct 25, 2023 - Sports

NFL payroll reveals UT's relative weakness

Asher Price

University of Texas football players celebrate. — Texas Longhorns celebrate after defeating Alabama in September. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Even though its football program has a storied history, lately the University of Texas has been sending fewer star players to the NFL than its blue-chip brethren.

The big picture: There are currently 34 NFL players who attended UT, and they cumulatively earn about $320 million, per Spotrac, which tracks money in sports.

That's $9.4 million, on average.

Yes, but: That sounds like a lot — it is a lot — but while UT has the 11th-most players in the NFL, their cumulative earnings don't even rank in the top 25, suggesting that many of them ride the pine.

Alabama, by contrast, leads with 67 active players in the NFL, and they make, on average, $17.8 million, per Spotrac.

Between the lines: For years, UT has had a relatively mediocre football program — and the NFL payroll numbers reflect that fact.

What we're watching: The Longhorns (6-1) are on the upswing, currently ranked seventh nationally.

Former Texas running back Bijan Robinson was drafted eighth by the Atlanta Falcons and has been crushing it his rookie season.
And Longhorns backup quarterback Arch Manning stands to earn a major payday if he's anywhere near as good as his famous uncles.

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NFL payroll reveals UT's relative weakness

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