Lance Franklin is currently the highest paid player in the Arena Football League, earning more than $400,000 per game. He was born in Perth, Western Australia, and is of Aboriginal heritage. Before moving to the Arena, he played hockey for Victoria and later Western Australia. His parents are Derek and Ursula Franklin. His cousins are Jeff Garlett and Dale Kickett.
Despite his injury, Franklin has had a consistent season for the Hawthorn Hawks. In round eight against the Sydney Swans, he kicked his 400th goal. He then continued his goal-kicking form throughout the season, scoring eight goals in Hawthorn’s 165-point win against Port Adelaide in Round 21. In addition to winning the Coleman Medal, Franklin was named to the All-Australian team for the second consecutive season.
Franklin’s consistency has led to him becoming the highest paid player in the Arena Football League. In 2013, he kicked 63 goals, finishing third in the Coleman Medal, ahead of Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich and Brisbane Lions co-captain Jonathan Brown. Franklin was the leading goalkicker during the regular season and in the finals. Franklin was also named to the Dream Team of the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match.
AFL salaries are high, with the highest paid player earning over $1.5 million a season. Lance Franklin will be the highest paid player in the AFL until 2021.
T. T. Tolliver
In 2002, Toliver joined the Tampa Bay Storm. He played for the Tampa Bay Storm until 2005 and won the ArenaBowl in 2003. He also earned first-team All-Arena honors. In 2008, he returned 78 kicks for 1,398 yards. In 2010, he totaled 116 receptions for 1,423 yards. In 2010, Toliver was named the Russell Athletic Offensive Player of the Week.
His contract with the Valor is the highest in the AFL. In 2011 alone, he had 121 receptions for 1,525 yards and 32 touchdowns. In 2012 and 2013, he caught a total of 127 passes for 1,659 yards.
When the AFL was still in its prime, players were making five-figure salaries. Tolliver signed a $100,000 contract before the 2009 season. While the players’ salaries have remained the same since then, the average player has made less than $37,000 a season. Tolliver still asks his coaches if he’s going to be cut, and he asks for more practice reps.
T. T. Odom
After a brief off-season stint with the St. Louis Rams, Odom signed with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2002. He earned a five-figure salary in his prime, and his contract with the Storm has increased over the years. He now earns a maximum of $1,455 per game. Despite his hefty paycheck, Odom still asks his coaches for more practice reps and asks if he will be cut.
Arena Football players earn an average of $775 per game, and it varies depending on their position and tenure. QBs in Arena Football earn an additional $250 for their role. In addition to salaries, players earn bonuses based on performance, including postseason play.
Odom spent the first two seasons of his professional career in the AFL as a return specialist and defensive back. He was cut by the San Francisco 49ers midway through his rookie season. However, he ended up joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad later on that year. He was instrumental in helping the Buccaneers win the Super Bowl XXXVII.
In the United States, the average Arena Football Player makes $43,000 a year. In San Francisco, the highest-paid player earns $64,646. Players in San Francisco make 50 percent more than the national average. While the average salary for Arena Football Players is $39,900, the middle five percent earn between $39,900 and 99,249 a year, while the top eight percent earn $218,900 annually.
