Over the course of the 2011 CBA, the NFL salary cap did not jump by more than $12MM in a single year. The 2020s look likely to produce another climb by at least $15MM.
The cap checked in at $224.8MM this year, marking an increase from 2022 ($208.2MM). While unresolved issues are holding up a projection for the 2024 cap, SI.com’s Albert Breer notes teams’ internal projections have placed the 2024 salary ceiling between $235-$240MM. Though, Breer adds the actual number is likely to come in a bit higher, potentially closer to $245MM.
Following the 2021 cap reduction that stemmed from the fanless or fan-limited 2020 season, the cap jumped by a record $26MM to the above-referenced 2022 number. A climb to approximately $240MM, the second-highest year-to-year increase since the cap was implemented in 1994, would be in line with the growth under the current CBA. The 2020 agreement has brought multiple additional revenue drivers.
The NFL expanded the playoffs to 14 teams in 2020, ending a 30-season run of 12-team brackets. In 2021, the league broke a 42-year string (strike years excluded) of 16-game regular seasons. The expanded playoffs and 17-game regular season has helped, with each factoring into the new round of TV deals that became final in March 2021. Those contracts run through 2033. The YouTube TV seven-year “NFL Sunday Ticket” agreement, worth more than $2 billion, will impact future salary caps as well.
Last year’s round of internal team projections represented an accurate number for the 2023 cap, so the 2024 range should be viewed as relevant here. OverTheCap’s prediction has also moved down to $242MM. No official projection will arrive until January, per ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter, who adds a league memo sent to teams recently indicated the NFL and NFLPA are still working on unresolved matters.
Here is how the salary cap has climbed over the past two CBAs:
- 2011: $120.4MM
- 2012: $120.6MM
- 2013: $123.6MM
- 2014: $133MM
- 2015: $143.3MM
- 2016: $155.3MM
- 2017: $167MM
- 2018: $177.2MM
- 2019: $188.2MM
- 2020: $198.2MM
- 2021: $182.5MM
- 2022: $208.2MM
- 2023: $224.8MM
The overseas games are still terrible.
I’m glad the game is growing. Look at basketball going after lots of European players. Same with baseball for Asians. Not trying to stereotype, but I hope football continues to become an international game like soccer is. The World Cup is awesome to watch!
Can’t stand soccer, but I’d love to see the world learn what “real” football is.
The model isn’t sustainable. Bubbles always burst. Fans have become tired of the greed and hypocrisy of the NFL. They rather play Pickleball than spend $30 for a cold hot dog and warm beer while watching bad football.