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Clinton Portis Career Earnings: A Detailed Look

Trends January 15, 2025

How much did Clinton Portis make during his NFL career?

Clinton Portis is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played college football for the University of Miami and was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft. Portis also played for the Washington Redskins and the St. Louis Rams.

Portis was one of the most productive running backs in the NFL during his career. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl three times. Portis also led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2003.

According to Spotrac, Portis earned a total of $43,475,000 during his NFL career. His highest-paid season was 2008, when he earned $7,500,000 from the Redskins.

Year	Team	Salary
2002	Broncos	$1,611,000
2003	Broncos	$2,016,000
2004	Broncos	$2,421,000
2005	Broncos	$2,826,000
2006	Redskins	$3,231,000
2007	Redskins	$3,636,000
2008	Redskins	$7,500,000
2009	Redskins	$6,000,000
2010	Rams	$4,265,000

Portis retired from the NFL after the 2010 season. He is now a sports analyst for ESPN.

Clinton Portis Career Earnings

Clinton Portis had a successful NFL career, earning a total of $43,475,000. Some key aspects of his career earnings include:

Total earnings: $43,475,000
Highest-paid season: 2008 ($7,500,000)
Teams played for: Broncos, Redskins, Rams
Pro Bowl selections: 3
NFL rushing touchdowns leader: 2003
Years played: 9
Earnings per season: $4,830,556
Earnings per game: $295,653

1. Total earnings

Clinton Portis' total career earnings of $43,475,000 is a significant figure that reflects his success and accomplishments as an NFL running back. This amount represents the total compensation he received from his teams over the course of his nine-year career, including salaries, bonuses, and incentives.

Portis' total earnings are a testament to his hard work, dedication, and talent on the field. He was one of the most productive running backs in the NFL during his career, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons and leading the league in rushing touchdowns in 2003. He was also named to the Pro Bowl three times.

Portis' total earnings are also a reflection of the value that NFL teams place on running backs. Running backs are essential to a team's success, as they are responsible for carrying the ball, gaining yards, and scoring touchdowns. Portis was one of the best running backs in the NFL during his career, and his total earnings reflect his value to his teams.

2. Highest-paid season

Clinton Portis' highest-paid season was 2008, when he earned $7,500,000 from the Washington Redskins. This was a significant increase from his previous salary of $3,636,000 in 2007.

Increased production: Portis had a breakout season in 2008, rushing for 1,487 yards and 14 touchdowns. This was his highest rushing total since 2003, and it helped lead the Redskins to a 10-6 record and a berth in the playoffs.
Contract extension: Portis' big season in 2008 earned him a contract extension from the Redskins. The new contract was worth $25 million over three years, with $15 million guaranteed. This contract made Portis one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.
Market value: Portis' salary in 2008 was a reflection of his market value as a running back. He was one of the most productive running backs in the NFL, and he was in high demand. The Redskins were willing to pay top dollar to keep him in Washington.

Portis' highest-paid season was a reflection of his success on the field and his value to the Redskins. He was one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he was rewarded with a lucrative contract.

3. Teams played for

Clinton Portis played for three teams during his NFL career: the Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, and St. Louis Rams. The teams he played for had a significant impact on his career earnings.

Portis' highest-paid season was 2008, when he earned $7,500,000 from the Redskins. This was due in part to his breakout season on the field, in which he rushed for 1,487 yards and 14 touchdowns. However, it was also due to the Redskins' willingness to pay top dollar to keep him in Washington.

Portis' earnings were also affected by the teams he played for in terms of their overall success. The Broncos were a perennial playoff contender during Portis' time with the team, and they reached the Super Bowl in 2005. The Redskins were a less successful team during Portis' tenure, but they did make the playoffs in 2005 and 2007.

Overall, the teams that Portis played for had a significant impact on his career earnings. He earned the most money with the Redskins, but he also had success on the field with the Broncos. The Rams were the least successful team that Portis played for, but he still earned a significant amount of money with the team.

4. Pro Bowl selections

Clinton Portis' three Pro Bowl selections had a significant impact on his career earnings. The Pro Bowl is an annual all-star game that showcases the best players in the NFL, and being selected to the Pro Bowl is a major honor. Portis' Pro Bowl selections not only brought him recognition and prestige, but they also helped him to earn more money.

Increased salary: Pro Bowl selections can lead to increased salary demands. When a player is selected to the Pro Bowl, it shows that they are one of the best players in the league at their position. This can give them leverage when negotiating a new contract, and it can lead to a higher salary.
Bonuses: Many NFL contracts include bonuses for Pro Bowl selections. These bonuses can be significant, and they can add up over time. For example, Portis earned a $500,000 bonus for his Pro Bowl selection in 2003.
Endorsements: Pro Bowl selections can also lead to more endorsement opportunities. Companies are more likely to want to endorse players who are recognized as being among the best in the league. This can lead to additional income for players.

Overall, Clinton Portis' three Pro Bowl selections had a significant impact on his career earnings. They helped him to earn a higher salary, bonuses, and endorsement opportunities.

5. NFL rushing touchdowns leader

In 2003, Clinton Portis led the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 14. This was a major accomplishment, as it showed that he was one of the most productive running backs in the league. Portis' rushing touchdowns also helped the Broncos to a 10-6 record and a berth in the playoffs.

Portis' rushing touchdowns in 2003 had a significant impact on his career earnings. For one, it helped him to earn a Pro Bowl selection. Pro Bowl selections can lead to increased salary demands, bonuses, and endorsement opportunities. In addition, Portis' rushing touchdowns helped the Broncos to win games, which led to increased ticket sales and merchandise sales. This, in turn, led to increased revenue for the Broncos, which they could then use to pay Portis a higher salary.

Overall, Clinton Portis' NFL rushing touchdowns leader in 2003 had a significant impact on his career earnings. It helped him to earn a Pro Bowl selection, win games, and increase his salary.

6. Years played

Clinton Portis played in the NFL for nine seasons. This is a relatively short career for an NFL running back, as most running backs start to decline in their late 20s or early 30s. However, Portis was able to have a successful career despite his relatively short tenure in the NFL.

One reason for Portis' success is that he was a very productive running back. He rushed for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons, and he led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2003. Portis was also a very durable running back, as he only missed two games due to injury during his nine-year career.

Another reason for Portis' success is that he played for some very good teams. He played for the Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, and St. Louis Rams, all of which were playoff contenders during his time with the team. Portis was also able to play with some very good quarterbacks, including Jake Plummer, Mark Brunell, and Donovan McNabb.

Overall, Clinton Portis had a successful NFL career despite playing for only nine seasons. He was a very productive and durable running back who played for some very good teams. As a result, he was able to earn a significant amount of money during his career.

7. Earnings per season

Clinton Portis' earnings per season were a significant part of his overall career earnings. Over the course of his nine-year career, Portis earned a total of $43,475,000, which means that his average earnings per season were $4,830,556.

Portis' earnings per season were influenced by a number of factors, including his individual performance on the field, the success of his team, and the overall salary cap in the NFL. In seasons where Portis had a high number of rushing yards and touchdowns, he was able to command a higher salary. Additionally, when his team performed well and made the playoffs, Portis was able to earn more money through bonuses and incentives.

Understanding Portis' earnings per season is important because it provides insight into the financial value of his contributions to his teams. Portis was one of the most productive running backs in the NFL during his career, and his high earnings per season reflect his value to his teams.

8. Earnings per game

Clinton Portis' earnings per game were a significant aspect of his overall career earnings. Over the course of his nine-year career, Portis earned a total of $43,475,000, which means that his average earnings per game were $295,653.

Games played: Portis played in a total of 147 games during his NFL career. This means that he earned an average of $295,653 per game.
Individual performance: Portis' earnings per game were influenced by his individual performance on the field. In seasons where Portis had a high number of rushing yards and touchdowns, he was able to command a higher salary. For example, in 2003, Portis led the NFL in rushing touchdowns and earned a salary of $2,016,000. This means that he earned an average of $336,000 per game that season.
Team success: Portis' earnings per game were also influenced by the success of his team. When his team performed well and made the playoffs, Portis was able to earn more money through bonuses and incentives. For example, in 2005, Portis' team, the Denver Broncos, reached the Super Bowl. As a result, Portis earned a bonus of $500,000, which increased his earnings per game that season.
Salary cap: Portis' earnings per game were also influenced by the overall salary cap in the NFL. The salary cap is the maximum amount of money that NFL teams can spend on player salaries. In seasons where the salary cap was higher, Portis was able to command a higher salary. For example, in 2008, the salary cap was $123 million. As a result, Portis was able to sign a contract with the Washington Redskins that paid him $7,500,000 that season. This means that he earned an average of $468,750 per game that season.

Overall, Clinton Portis' earnings per game were a significant part of his overall career earnings. His earnings per game were influenced by a number of factors, including his individual performance on the field, the success of his team, and the overall salary cap in the NFL.

FAQs on Clinton Portis Career Earnings

This section provides answers to commonly asked questions regarding Clinton Portis' career earnings.

Question 1: How much did Clinton Portis earn during his NFL career?

Clinton Portis earned a total of $43,475,000 during his nine-year NFL career.

Question 2: What was Clinton Portis' highest-paid season?

Portis' highest-paid season was 2008, when he earned $7,500,000 from the Washington Redskins.

Question 3: Which teams did Clinton Portis play for during his career?

Portis played for the Denver Broncos, Washington Redskins, and St. Louis Rams during his NFL career.

Question 4: How many Pro Bowl selections did Clinton Portis have?

Portis was selected to the Pro Bowl three times during his career.

Question 5: What was Clinton Portis' average salary per game?

Portis' average salary per game was $295,653 over the course of his 147-game NFL career.

These FAQs provide a comprehensive overview of Clinton Portis' career earnings and related information.

Conclusion

Clinton Portis had a successful NFL career, earning a total of $43,475,000. He was one of the most productive running backs in the league during his career, rushing for over 1,000 yards in each of his first six seasons and leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2003. Portis was also named to the Pro Bowl three times.

Portis' career earnings are a testament to his hard work, dedication, and talent on the field. He was a key part of some very good teams during his career, and he played a major role in their success. Portis' earnings are also a reflection of the value that NFL teams place on running backs. Running backs are essential to a team's success, and Portis was one of the best running backs in the NFL during his career.