“Please Don’t Feel Sorry For Me”: Retired NFL Legend Reveals He Obtained a Meager $7.46 From Merch Sales

Ryan Fitzpatrick spent 17 years in the NFL. The seventh-round pick from Harvard won just 40.4% of his career starts (59-87-1), but his electric personality and roller-coaster play made him an iconic figure in league circles.

“Fitzmagic” is doing well for himself post-retirement. He makes a good amount of money as a studio analyst for Amazon’s Thursday Night Football, a role that helps him maintain a presence in the limelight. Where he has seen less financial success since retirement (as expected) is in merchandise sales.

On Monday afternoon, Fitzpatrick revealed what he received from merchandise this year. He teased the small amount in a Twitter/X post, then joked about not needing sympathy from anyone because of “the checks” he gets OnlyFans.

Fans in Fitzpatrick’s comment section bantered about what his potential account on the site would feature. Another applauded Fitzpatrick on his international scope. Finally, one asked the most pivotal question on everyone’s minds: would he see every penny listed?

Fitzpatrick’s quip about OnlyFans was lighthearted, but the earning potential he mentioned is no laughing matter. Shannon Sharpe discussed one creator’s payout – which exceeded multiple NFL players’ combined salaries – earlier this year.

Despite the quip, “Fitzmagic” is doing just fine.

Fitzmagic is the highest-paid seventh-round pick in NFL history

At the moment, no player selected in the modern NFL Draft’s final round has accumulated more money from his playing career than Fitzpatrick.

That will likely change when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy signs an extension or reaches free agency (2026). For now, though, Fitzpatrick stands alone at the top.

Fitzpatrick’s highest team payouts came from three AFC East franchises: the Buffalo Bills, New York Jets, and Miami Dolphins. He made 109 of his 166 career appearances (65.7%) for those teams. The three rivals all paid Fitzpatrick more than $13 million.

• Buffalo Bills (2009-12): $26,575,000
• New York Jets (2015-16): $15,310,848
• Miami Dolphins (2019-20): $13,540,322

The only other organization to give Fitzpatrick more than $10 million was the Washington Commanders. He played 16 snaps for the “Washington Football Team” before suffering a hip injury. He went on injured reserve for the ailment, then retired the next offseason.

Fans can see Fitzpatrick on Amazon’s pregame, halftime and postgame shows later this week. His first team, the Los Angeles Rams, battles the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football.