Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts became the highest paid player in National Football League history after agreeing a five-year $255m contract extension, the team said on Monday.
The deal includes the first no trade clause in Eagles franchise history and $179m guaranteed, including $110m on the signing of the deal, and 24-year-old Hurts' average salary will be $51m a season.
"EXTENDED" screamed the headline on the team's website followed by "Eagles, Hurts agree to five-year extension through 2028."
Taken in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft, Hurts quickly established himself as a dual threat quarterback able to beat teams throwing and running the ball.
Last season Hurts threw 22 touchdowns and ran for 13 other scores, taking the Eagles to the Super Bowl where they fell 38-35 to the Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs.
Hurts' deal is the second-largest ever in total cash behind Mahomes who signed a 10-year $450 million contract extension in 2020.
However, it only makes him the second-highest paid player in American team sports. Steph Curry of the NBA's Golden State Warriors earns $54m per year under his latest contract extension.
LIV golfers Phil Mickelson ($102m) Dustin Johnson ($68m) and Bryson DeChambeau ($66m) were the top individual US earners in 2022.
Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo is believed to have become the highest earner in world sport when he joined Saudi side Al-Nassr in December, for a reported $200m annually, eclipsing Paris Saint Germain pair Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi.
