NFL fans have been left baffled after it emerged quite how much of Saquon’s Barkley salary will not go to the Philadelphia Eagles star.
On Tuesday, it was revealed that the Eagles are rewarding the running back with a new two-year, $41.2million extension which includes $36m guaranteed at signing.
Barkley will earn an average of $20.6m a year but it’s estimated that he will take home little more than half of that amount over the next 12 months.
According to sports business expert Andrew Petcash, the running back’s net income will be $10.9m.
That is because he is slated to lose $7.6m in federal tax and $613,000 in ‘jock tax’ – which impacts the salaries, bonuses and championship rings of professional athletes.
It’s also claimed that Barkley will lose more than $1m combined on agent fees ($600k) and Federal Insurance Contributions Act/Medicare ($482k).
Saquon Barkley starred as the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl earlier this year
The Eagles are rewarding the running back with a new two-year, $41.2million extension
Saquon Barkley is now the highest-paid RB in NFL history. Here’s how much he will actually earn: 😲 $20.6M: Salary – $7.6M: Federal Tax $600k: Agent Fee $613k: Jock Tax $482k: FICA/Medicare= $10.9M: Net Income pic.twitter.com/oxG44CQDpm
— Andrew Petcash (@AndrewPetcash) March 5, 2025
That would leave Barkley with a take-home pay of less than $11million – much to the dismay of fans on social media.
‘I’d be so p***ed,’ one wrote on X. ‘Taxation is Theft,’ added another, while a third said: ‘Half of that money goes to people who didn’t work for (it).’
Those thoughts were echoed by a fourth fan, who wrote on X: ‘Biggest winner (is the) federal government (that) gets paid for doing nothing.’
Barkley does have the chance to earn $15million in incentives from the initial deal he signed last year.
The running back was allowed to walk by the Giants before he signed a three-year, $37.75million deal with their NFC East rivals.
That proved a bargain as he flourished behind a dominant offensive line and finished the regular season with 2,005 yards.
Barkley then helped the Eagles humiliate the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
