Former Colorado Buffaloes football players Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter have set new records for licensing royalty payouts from the National Football League Players Association, according to figures disclosed in the NFLPA’s annual LM-2 filing on May 30. Both players achieved these milestones before completing their first full offseason in the league.
Sanders received more than $17.7 million in royalties and player marketing payments between May 2025 and February 2026. Hunter earned over $12.8 million during the same period. These amounts surpass the previous single-year record of approximately $9.5 million, which was held by seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady. Sanders and Hunter are now the only two players to receive more than $10 million in a single year from NFLPA royalties.
The report highlights how both athletes gained significant popularity during their time at Colorado, where they played key roles in raising the profile of the Buffaloes football program.
Hunter became one of college football’s most decorated athletes during his Heisman Trophy-winning season in 2024, capturing eight major national awards, including six individual trophies, and earning consensus National Player of the Year honors.
Sanders concluded his college career as one of Colorado’s most prolific quarterbacks, breaking over 100 school records while helping lead a resurgence for Buffaloes football and becoming one of college sports’ most recognizable names.
