Super Bowl Domination

Chapter 991: The First in History
In the 2018 season, the league produced the highest-paid quarterback and the highest-paid running back.

Rogers, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers, four years and $134 million, an annual salary of $33.5 million, of which $103 million is guaranteed.

All data set new historical highs.

Gurley, Los Angeles Rams running back, a four-year, $60 million contract with an annual salary of $15 million, of which $44 million is guaranteed.

This also sets a new record for running back contracts.

It is worth mentioning that the quarterback contract market has always been hot, with the cap being refreshed every year or every two years at a rapid pace; the running back contract is completely different. It was not until the 2024 offseason that McCaffrey and the San Francisco 49ers completed the contract extension, which finally set a new record.

However, it is not the case now——

Two hundred million dollars over ten years, what does this contract mean?
First, ten years.

Running backs are consumables. This trend is becoming more and more serious in the league. Teams tend to sign short-term contracts, two years or even one year.

Gurley's four-year contract is already considered long-term. This offseason, Bell's contract with the New York Jets was also four years and $52.5 million.

And now, the Kansas City Chiefs have signed a ten-year contract with Levi in ​​one go.

The confidence is evident from this.

It not only shows trust in Levi, but also shows the importance of Levi to the team. It tells other competitors with a ten-year contract:
Speculators, get lost.

Los Angeles Rams: Offended, thank you.

Whether it is last year's New York Giants or this year's Los Angeles Rams, it is obvious that there are quite a few teams that have been eyeing Levi. One or two of them are waiting for the expiration of Levi's rookie contract and are waiting for an opportunity to act. As long as the contract renewal negotiations between the Kansas City Chiefs and Levi do not go smoothly, they are ready to act quickly and pull out the teeth from the tiger's mouth.

However, Vic took the initiative and defeated all his competitors with his powerful move.

Second, $200 million.

With an annual salary of 20 million US dollars, this is undoubtedly a historic breakthrough.

Although the league's hard salary cap has been rising, the annual salary increase does not include running backs. The annual salaries of quarterbacks, wide receivers and linemen have been increasing, while the annual salaries of running backs, linebackers and safeties have been stagnant, and may even decline slightly.

Bell spent two seasons back and forth, but in the end he still failed to break the ceiling. Gurley's annual salary of 15 million US dollars is still the ceiling for running backs in the league.

In fact, let alone surpassing Gurley, there are only a handful of running backs with an annual salary of more than $10 million, and teams are turning their attention to young people.

Henry Elliott Buckley McCaffrey.

Including Levi.

Currently, the top running backs in the league are mainly young people on rookie contracts, cheap workers who are used and discarded as tools.

until now.

The Kansas City Chiefs teamed up with Levi to make history, raising the annual salary ceiling for running backs to 20 million US dollars in one go, subverting the entire situation.

The degree of shock is beyond imagination.

It exceeds Rogers' historic high-salary contract last season and Cousins' first fully guaranteed contract in the league.

Big news, could have been foreseen early on.

Third, the guarantee is $100 million.

In other words, as long as Levi signs, no matter what happens in the future, even if he doesn't play a single game, the $100 million is a sure thing.

This guaranteed money is second only to the $103 million guaranteed money in Rogers' contract last season, ranking second in league history.

This is a real big deal.

For running backs, the instability caused by injuries and age is undoubtedly the biggest obstacle. Except for the incredible Sanders, almost all running backs have to face this problem in their careers. Because of this, running back contracts, apart from annual salary and years, are often filled with a lot of performance clauses, such as the number of appearances in a season, the number of times the ball is carried or the number of yards, and the number of absences due to injuries. The team tries to restrict the contract through additional clauses.

As you can imagine, there is not much left for the security deposit.

Gurley's contract has a guaranteed sum of $45 million, which is rare.

It was because of Gurley's contract that Bell and the Pittsburgh Steelers argued over millions of dollars in guaranteed money and eventually broke down in negotiations, which led to the subsequent training strike and even the strike.

And now, the guaranteed money of Levi's contract has reached 100 million US dollars——

Big news, absolutely big news.

I am afraid that this is a historical record that has no precedent and will never be repeated.

Perhaps, compared with the quarterback, Levi's annual salary is really not high, and even lower than other positions. The plight of running backs is still clearly visible; however, the Kansas City Chiefs still show sincerity within their capabilities, and this guarantee is enough to make the entire league dumbfounded.

Step by step, the Kansas City Chiefs used their own way to keep Levi.

As Vecchi said, this is also to retain the team's leader for the next ten years.

put all one's eggs in one basket!
So, are the Kansas City Chiefs crazy?

Vicki doesn't think so.

Phenomenal performances for two consecutive seasons, double MVPs in the regular season and Super Bowl, two Super Bowl championship trophies, etc., these visible things are secondary. What they really see is Levi's leadership qualities.

Whether it was the courage to lead the team to consecutive reversals in the playoffs last season, or the charm to stimulate the team's potential and continue to move forward in difficult moments this season.

Whether it is the cohesion and appeal shown inside and outside the locker room, or the personal temperament that is like a stabilizing force at critical moments on the court.

Levi has proved himself more than once that he is the soul of this team.

What's more, Levi's market appeal is also a money-making weapon for the Kansas City Chiefs, and they have no reason to miss it.

Regarding this contract, there are still some differences among the team's top management.

This is a running back, after all.

However, Reed's determination and Hunter's trust finally led to the contract.

Veitch knows they are making history, and he believes they are on the right side of history, just like the 2017 draft.

Veitch believes that the future of the Kansas City Chiefs rests on the shoulders of the young people in front of them.

Levi: …

Levi had to admit that he was scared.

Although he had been talking with Donald and had a clear understanding of the contract negotiation process, when he actually heard about the contract with the Kansas City Chiefs, a strong sense of unreality came over him.

Unlike brand endorsements, a contract from a team is a form of trust, respect and recognition that weighs heavily on one’s chest.

Two hundred million dollars, what does this mean?
Levi raised his head and looked at Vic, with a smile slightly rising at the corner of his mouth.

"It seems like you guys are expecting me to squeeze out every last bit of my strength on the field."

A small joke, unusual.

Vic also smiled. "Why, you haven't played to your full potential in the past two seasons? Oh, it seems we've made a profit."

Levi shrugged lightly, palms facing the sky, and made a lifting motion, "The pressure is a little bit big, but for the check, I will try my best."

(End of this chapter)