Congratulations to former Notre Dame offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey for signing a FIVE YEAR -- $87.5 million contract with the Denver Broncos! This contract extension move Mike up to fourth on Notre Dame's all-time list for projected career earnings in professional sports -- right behind his former Irish teammate Quenton Nelson!
Here's a look at the TOP 31 current and former Notre Dame athletes (football, basketball, baseball and hockey) who have been (and will be) paid the most as a professional athlete:
- Ronnie Stanley: $136,145,183 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2025
- Harrison Smith: $127,666,546 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2026
- Quenton Nelson: $118,819,452 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2026
- Mike McGlinchey: $116,981,766 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2027
- Jeff Samardzija: $116,341,666
- Zack Martin: $102,635,531 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2024
- AJ Pollock: $91,498,327 -- guaranteed contract to 2023
- Anders Lee: $66,044,038 -- guaranteed contract to 2026
- Troy Murphy: $66,000,000
- Kyle Rudolph: $59,936,853 -- free agent
- Golden Tate: $56,421,672 -- free agent
- Stephon Tuitt: $55,710,551
- Brad Lidge: $55,335,000
- Pat Connaughton: $50,727,479 -- guaranteed contract to 2026
- Kyle Palmieri: $50,192,154 -- guaranteed contract to 2025
- Bryan Rust: $46,670,000 -- guaranteed contract to 2028
- Romeo Okwara: $45,385,025 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2023
- Bryant Young: $44,000,000
- Justin Tuck: $43,248,463
- John Sullivan: $35,800,027
- Jerome Bettis: $35,122,500
- Jeff Faine: $34,456,892
- Will Fuller: $34,246,582 -- not guaranteed, contract to 2022
- Jaylon Smith: $31,985,997 -- free agent
- Matt Carroll: $29,537,032
- Ian Cole: $28,949,694 -- guaranteed contract to 2023
- Tim Brown: $28,432,686
- Laphonso Ellis: $27,939,000
- Rocket Ismail: $27,885,021
- Tyler Eifert: $26,310,317
- Joe Montana: $26,000,000