NFL agent cap 3%NBA agent cap 4%MLB agent cap 5%Top federal rate 2026 37%Bonus withholding over $1M 37%Texas state tax on wages 0%Florida state tax on wages 0%California top rate 13.3%NBA escrow 10% of each check held backNIL money 1099 income, add 15.3% self-employment taxAgent fees for team salary not deductible on your federal returnNFL players file taxes in about 10 to 14 states a year
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NFL | Detroit, MI

What a Detroit Lions contract really pays

Real 2026 take-home numbers for Detroit Lions players, from the NFL minimum up. Federal tax, Michigan tax, the jock tax, and the agent, all in.

At a glance

Home games taxed by
Michigan
Top rate there
4.25%
Rank for take-home
19 of 32
NFL agent cap
3%
Road duty days (est.)
11%
Taxing places visited
17

Take-home by salary

SalaryTaxesFeesKeeps
$885,000min$355,219$60,400$469,381 (53%)
$3,000,000$1,301,484$145,000$1,553,516 (52%)
$10,000,000$4,433,345$425,000$5,141,655 (51%)
$30,000,000$13,381,587$1,225,000$15,393,413 (51%)

Single, living in Michigan, max agent fee, 1% advisor fee, and $25K a year for a CPA and lawyer. Estimates for education.

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Statement of earnings

$10M with the Detroit Lions

One season. Lives in Michigan. Single.

Keeps 51%
Gross pay$10,000,000
TaxFederal income tax($3,650,000)

Top federal rate is 37% on taxable income over $640,600.

TaxMedicare($233,200)

1.45% on every dollar, plus 0.9% on pay over $200,000. No cap.

TaxSocial Security($11,439)

6.2% on the first $184,500 only.

TaxMichigan state tax (where you live)($384,194)

Your home state taxes all of your pay, minus a credit for tax you paid other states.

TaxCity tax at home games (Detroit)($106,800)

A local wage tax on pay earned at your home venue.

TaxJock tax (road games)($47,712)

About 11% of your duty days are on the road. Road states and cities with an income tax each take a cut. Estimated across 17 taxing places your league visits.

FeeAgent (3%)($300,000)

Taken from the gross, before taxes. For team salary it is not deductible on your federal return.

FeeManagers and advisors (1%)($100,000)

Business manager, financial advisor, and similar percentage fees.

FeeCPA and lawyer($25,000)

Multi-state returns, contract review, estate documents.

What you actually keep

$5,141,655

You keep

51%

Detroit Lions pay questions

Do Detroit Lions players pay state income tax?+

Yes. Michigan taxes the pay earned on duty days in the state, even for players who live somewhere else. The top rate is 4.25%. There is also a local income tax at the venue.

How much does a NFL minimum salary player on the Detroit Lions take home?+

On the NFL minimum of $885,000, a single player living in Michigan keeps about $469,381 after taxes and a 3% agent fee, or about 53%.

How does the Detroit Lions rank for take-home pay?+

At $10,000,000 a season, the Detroit Lions rank 19 of 32 NFL teams for what a player keeps, assuming he or she lives in the team's state. The top team on that list is the Dallas Cowboys.

KeepMyCheck is not affiliated with the Detroit Lions, the NFL, or its players association. Team names only describe where games are played.