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The Economic Realities of Paying a Star Quarterback—and How It Relates to the NFL Playoffs

There’s nothing more important to an NFL team than landing its franchise quarterback. And when a team finds its guy, the signing of his big second contract can seem like a knighting, an affirmation that the player has checked all boxes and the team wants to build around this player.

What’s rarely discussed on those days? The hurdles that are ahead beyond that signing.

Here’s a fact you may not be aware of: A quarterback on a deal worth $20 million per year or more has never won the Super Bowl. Drew Brees became the first player earn a contract of that value eight years ago.