Patrick Mahomes leapfrogs Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson to become NFL's highest-paid player

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson’s reign as the highest-paid player in NFL history ended Monday with the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes inking a record-setting contract.

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Mahomes agreed to terms on a 10-year extension with Kansas City worth up to $503 million, which includes $477 million in guarantee mechanisms, his agency confirmed. Mahomes could see an average annual value of $50.3 million, which blows Wilson’s APY out of the park. The Seahawks quarterback is making an average of $35 million per year on the four-year extension worth $140 million he signed last April.

Wilson’s reign as the NFL’s highest-paid player lasted 15 months.

Mahomes not only became the highest-paid player in NFL history, but also the highest-paid athlete ever in sports history. His deal is the first half-billion contract for an athlete.

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Mahomes surged past Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout for the honor of holding the richest contract ever in American sports history. Trout signed a 12-year, $426.5 million ($35.541 million/year) contract extension with the Angels in March of 2019.

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Ben Arthur covers sports for SeattlePI. He can be reached by email at benjaminarthur@seattlepi.com. Follow him on twitter at @benyarthur.