Every NFL player dreams of getting that life-changing contract. But for some, the big payday ended up being the beginning of the end rather than the start of a new chapter.
Whether it was injuries, effort, or just a sudden loss of form, these stars secured the bag—and then seemingly forgot how to play football. Let’s take a look at 18 NFL players who cashed in and then completely fell off a cliff.
18. Albert Haynesworth
After landing one of the richest defensive contracts in history, Haynesworth quickly became a cautionary tale. Conditioning issues, clashes with coaches, and a lack of effort tanked his career almost overnight.
17. David Johnson
He looked like a future superstar in Arizona before getting paid. Then injuries and inconsistency turned him into a shell of his former self.
16. Kenny Golladay
The Giants paid him like a WR1, but he barely looked like a WR5. Drops, disappearing acts, and zero touchdowns made his contract one of the league’s worst.
15. Carson Wentz
He was rewarded for one MVP-caliber season with a huge extension. After that, his decision-making and confidence completely unraveled.
14. Joey Galloway
After signing a big deal with the Cowboys, Galloway never quite lived up to the hype. Injuries and lack of chemistry with quarterbacks slowed him down fast.
13. Jay Cutler
Chicago made him one of the highest-paid QBs at the time. What they got in return was a rollercoaster of picks, shrugs, and missed expectations.
12. Jared Cook
Cook flashed enough to land multiple big deals over his career. But his post-contract production often left fans wondering what happened to all that promise.
11. Dunta Robinson
The Falcons made him one of the highest-paid cornerbacks in the league. He responded by delivering mostly average play and a lot of head-scratching penalties.
10. Nnamdi Asomugha
He was a lockdown corner in Oakland, but after signing with Philly, things went south in a hurry. He never looked comfortable and quickly became a liability.
9. Michael Johnson
The Buccaneers paid him big after one strong year in Cincinnati. He repaid them with an invisible season and was gone after just one year.
8. Brock Osweiler
Houston bet big on a small sample size, and it backfired in spectacular fashion. Osweiler never came close to justifying his massive contract.
7. Le’Veon Bell
He sat out an entire season to get paid, and when he did, the magic was gone. His stint with the Jets was a disaster, and he never bounced back.
6. Sam Bradford
Injuries were always a problem, but teams kept paying him anyway. Every new deal brought more hope—and more disappointment.
5. Tre Mason
He looked like a breakout running back with the Rams before signing a solid deal. Then came off-field issues and a rapid fade into obscurity.
4. Larry Johnson
After back-to-back monster seasons, the Chiefs gave him a big extension. His workload caught up to him fast, and he was never the same.
Read More: 15 Highly Paid Quarterbacks Who Never Played Like It
3. Mike Wallace
Speed got him paid, but consistency never followed. Teams kept giving him big money only to get burned by minimal impact.
Read More: 10 NFL Players Who Got Wasted by Horrible Teams
2. Nick Foles
He got his Super Bowl moment and a hefty payday from Jacksonville. But injuries and poor play kept him from ever regaining that magic.
Read More: 15 Athletes Who Stayed Elite While Others Retired
1. Russell Wilson
Once seen as a franchise cornerstone, Wilson’s massive contract extension turned into a Broncos disaster. The fall-off was steep, unexpected, and brutal to watch. And let’s be honest, his time in Pittsburgh wasn’t that much better. Maybe New York will be different?!
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